Page 125 of Never Started
“What about the baby?” Izzy’s voice cracks with sadness. “How could you not hate me now, knowing what I did?” she asks firmly, showing me she truly needs this answer.
Her words cut through me. How the fuck could I ever hate her? I could never.She’s everything.
“Am I sad? Yes. Am I angry?” I swallow. “A little. I’m more hurt. I’m hurt, but not necessarily that it happened. I know you, Izabel.” I pause, stepping closer to her, our bodies almost touching. “Down to your core of what makes you tick, I know you. I know you wouldn’t have made that decision if you felt you had any other choice. I’m hurt, angry, and sad that you had to do it alone. I would give anything to turn back time and be there for you.”
Her entire body relaxes before me as her head falls, and a sob overtakes her.
The sound of her cries shreds my heart, the one that beats only for her. I take one more step, wrap one arm around her shoulders, and place the other firmly under her chin, lifting her head to mine. “I could never hate you, Iz. You are my air. My lifeline. Without you, I’m nothing. I know from experience, unfortunately.” I softly press my lips to hers through her tears.
As if she’s lost in the moment, she allows it, melting against our shared touch. The energy from our kiss is electric.
With my heart pounding in my chest, I reluctantly pull back.
“I love you with all that I am. I have always loved you,” I say, attempting to keep my voice even, but I fail. Miserably. I’m choked up. This woman—she’s everything. I’ve lost her once. I’ll be damned if I’m going to let it happen again.
Hell, I’m half tempted to tie her up and lock her away as it is. Who needs choices anyway?
“I… I love you… too.” Izzy’s soft whisper pierces the air between us, and possessiveness consumes me. She’s admitted her love for me.Finally.After all this time.
She’s mine.
It’s time for her to wake up and see that for herself.
“Choose me.You’re mine, Iz. You’ve always been mine.Choose. Me.”
Izzy pulls back in my arms, her features falling into the indecision I’m sure she’s feeling, mixed with a tinge of anger.
“I belong to no one, Jett,” Izzy snarks back, the anger clearly winning. “I am mine and mine alone. I will never be your property. And none of this is that simple.”
“I don't want to own you, Beauty. I want to make you my fucking queen. I want to hand you the world and watch you run it like the badass that you are. You are mine, as I am yours. Don't fight me—fight us—any longer.”
“Jett—” Izzy starts, but I cut her off.
“Where were you going?” I ask, glancing at Dessa sitting in the car, waiting for Izzy.
“Home, Jett. I need—”
“Time?” I ask, keeping my voice low.
“Mhm,”she hums, nodding and looking away again.
I nod back. “Take the time. Take as long as you need.”
“Thank you,” she says quietly, and now I’m shocked even more. Not only does Izzy never apologize, but she also never says thank you.
I plaster a smug grin on my face. “You’re welcome, Beauty.” Just like I knew she would, Izzy rolls her eyes, and I’m overjoyed when her own smile tugs at her lips.
Just then, Dessa rolls down the passenger window. “Iz, we should get going, especially if we need to get you a rental car.”
That’s right, her tires…
“No need,” I say. “I’ll fix your car and see if Ander or Via can leave earlier than planned and drive it back.”
“I already told her I would!” Via shouts from the porch.
Fuck, she heard everything. And if she heard everything, Dessa did too.
Strangely, Izzy doesn’t seem bothered by that, but somewhat relieved. I can only imagine how liberated she feels after carrying around this secret for so long.
