Page 78 of Make Me Trust Again
I won’t—can’t—leave her alone just like I can’t prevent myself from taking my next breath.
I’m not sure how long we just sit there, side by side.
Rose turns her head a few times as if she’s trying to wipe her face before she tilts her head so she’s facing me. For a while, we just stare at one another until she breaks the silence.
“What is wrong with me?” she asks softly, her hand falling by her side. “Am I that broken?”
“You’re not broken,” I grit out, each word spoken softly, deliberately.
She lets out an unamused chuckle, clearly not believing me. “My husband cheated on me. You kissed me, God knows why, since you clearly don’t want me, and it’s all just for pity…”
“Pity?” I scoff. “I don’t pity you. I think you’re one of the strongest women I know. And that asshole doesn’t deserve you.”
“But you don’t want me.” She shakes her head, pushing to her feet. “It’s fine, who’d want?—”
I grab her hand and pull her to me. She falls into my lap, her lips parting when she feels my arousal underneath her.
“Does that feel like I don’t want you? I shouldn’t want you. I shouldn’t even dare to touch you. And yet, you’ve been the only thing I can think about since that first day I stumbled upon you. But dammit, Rose, I’m not going to kiss somebody’s wife.”
She opens her mouth to protest, but I press my finger against her lips.
“I don’t care if it’s only on paper.” I slide my finger under her chin, tracing the outline of her mouth. “The next time I kiss you, you won’t be married to another man.”
Her throat bobs as she swallows, my words ringing in the air around us.
I tilt her chin higher. “Am I clear?”
Rose nods silently.
“Good.”
A shudder runs through her, and I’m not sure if it’s my words or if she’s cold.
“You should go inside.”
Before I do something stupid like kiss her again.
She shakes her head. “I can’t. It’s too quiet, which is silly in itself.”
“It’s not silly at all.”
Over her shoulder, I spot the blanket she left on the little table, so I grab it.
“What are you?—”
I slide the blanket over her and pull it tightly around her. “If you’re planning on staying outside, you should at least have a blanket on.”
Shadow is standing in front of the door as if she’s waiting for Kyle to come out. “He’s not there.”
She tilts her head to the side, her snout touching the door before it falls to the ground. Whatever she senses makes her tail fall, and she turns around, but instead of going to me, she goes to Rose, her body brushing against her leg.
“I know, girly.” Rose’s voice is gentle as she rubs her between her ears. “I miss him, too.”
“He’ll be back before you know it.”
I’m not sure which one of the two I’m trying to reassure.
Rose glances up, our eyes meeting for a heartbeat before she lowers her gaze. Once again, hiding from me.
