Page 117 of Indulge
“Bella. All this is doing is complicating things. I’m fucking this up.”
I push at his chest, he doesn’t move.
“Say it, Reggie,” I shout at him.
“Tell me you don’t want me. That’s why you picked protecting Lyla over me. That’s why you hit Rowan. You don’t want me.”
A growl erupts from his chest, his hand snatching my throat.
“Bella King. I want you. I want you more than anything I’ve ever wanted in my goddamn life. You don’t give up, do you?”
I shake my head.
“If you wanted me, why didn’t you let me hit her? Why stop me?”
“Violence doesn’t solve everything, Bella. Sometimes you gotta be smarter. Pick your times and your enemies. Strike when it’s safe.”
My blood boils. He’s hiding something, I know it.
“Or, you didn’t want me to punch your side piece.”
A growl escapes him as he shoves me against the counter.
“So what? You get to do as you wish, and I can’t?”
My heart sinks, and I try to look away, but he holds me in place.
“Reggie. That’s… different. You know it is. And you know what I really want.”
His eyes go wide and he takes a deep breath.
“Please, don’t give up on me, Irish.”
He presses his forehead to mine and I close my eyes.
“I don’t think I could, no matter how hard I tried. Losing you would kill me.”
“Then don’t lose me, Reggie.”
The door slams shut, but he doesn’t release me. I hear Rowan’s footsteps approaching, but I don’t take my eyes off Reggie.
Time stands still.
This is where I want to be. Right here. With them.
53
REGGIE
She’s still right there.
Pressed against me.
And I know I should step back, I should let her go before I destroy the last good thing I’ve ever touched.
But I can’t.
I can’t fucking do it.
