Page 48 of Dismantle & Prevail
Dammit Ari.
We sit in silence and for the first time; I allow myself to look at him. Really look at him.
Sitting in the swing that barely fits his muscular body, Ari’s long hair peeks out from a black beanie resting atop his head. Sticking to Christmas tradition, Ari abandoned his normal tee and jeans for a cream sweater and jeans.
The man is a creature of habit with what he wears, but when he’s in this sweater, his rich, dark eyes and dark hair contrast in an almost haunting, but beautiful way.
“I can feel you looking at me, Hellhound. If you have something to say, just say it,” Ari says, turning his attention to me with a devious smile on his face.
My brows furrow and because I never can back down when it comes to him, I say, “I have nothing to say, I was just taking in the yearly Christmas sweater. It's the only time we get to see you dressed nice.”
Shaking his head, his eyes roll and he tugs on the chain of my swing, bringing me face to face with him. A breath catches in my throat as our noses brush.
“Don’t forget, Hellhound, just because I am giving you time to think about last night, doesn’t mean I won’t use every opportunity you give me to convince you to be mine. Your compliment disguised as sass does nothing but prove to me you are meant to be standing at my side.”
“Ari.” His name on my mouth comes out almost breathless and his dark eyes turn almost black.
“Hellhound.”
Our lips are inches from each other.
All I have to do is move my head slightly and I will feel that exhilarating sensation again.
I mentally kick myself at my inability to tug on that bravery that Ari senses in me daily.
If I kiss him, that will lead him on. If I don’t kiss him, I remain in this confused state of uncertainty.
Ari must sense the mental gymnastics and pulls back, not entirely, but enough that I can still lean forward and touch my lips to his.
“I can hear the wheels turning in that beautiful mind of yours. Talk to me.”
My head falls forward again and I’m about to tell him no when his hand lifts my head back up, his gaze locking with mine.
“Hey. Remember, you’re the one in control. I don’t expect you to know right away. Like I said, I’ve had a long time to come to terms with this. Do I wish you would have jumped in my arms and said you felt the same all this time? Hell yeah. But life doesn't always align that way.”
“I know, but what if…” My words trail off, not wanting to show the raw, honest truth blaring flashing red sirens in my mind.
“Talk to me, Hellhound. You have never been afraid to stick me with the hard truth. Don’t shy away now.”
He’s right. I’m Taylor freaking Morgan. I don’t shy away from anything. Certainly not a man. And most definitely not the man who has never made me feel anything but safe, no matter what I say.
“What if we do this and it all goes up in flames? What if we do this and it turns out we are just meant to be friends? There is a reason many of us don’t hook up with team members.”
Ari furrows his eyebrows. “The answer is simple. I don’t want to hear about you hooking up with anyone because, as far as I’m concerned, I will be the last person you ever hook up with. If you find an ounce of feelings for me within that beautiful heart of yours, I can promise I will spend every day showing you that it wasn’t a mistake.”
This freaking man is making it impossible to do anything but want to kiss him right now. Calm Taylor. Be rational.
Adjusting the jacket to pull tighter around me, I let out a sigh. “I know, Ace. But you know as well as I do that life is unpredictable. It’s constantly changing. Braveheart is my home. My safe-haven. I’m not going to lie and say that since you got back that I haven't felt a shift or felt things I was terrified of feeling. But that doesn’t change the fact that if life plays games with us and dismantles the foundation we have strongly built around this team and us, things will never go back to the way they were and I can’t lose this community. Without it, I’d be dead.”
Ari stands abruptly as the words leave my mouth. Steadying the chain of my swing still locked in his hand, he holds the other out to me. I take his outstretched hand and allow him to pull me to stand.
He doesn’t release my hand as he stands toe to toe with me, his gaze locked on mine. “Taylor Sloane Morgan. I can confidently promise with my entire broken soul, if you give me a chance to be the keeper of your iron clad heart, I will obliterate anyone that threatens a love that can survive a thousand lifetimes.
“Call it crazy. Call it fast. Call it jumping the gun. I don’t care. If life has taught me anything, it's that it’s too short to play scared of the future. Because, truth is, life will always be unpredictable. It’s what you do with the challenges that show strength and the ability to prevail despite the difficulties.”
He’s right. Every word that comes out of his mouth is nothing but the truth.
Squeezing his hand, I smile. “You’re right. Every word.” I pause and point a finger at him as a devilish grin spreads across his face. “Don’t or I’ll take it back.”
