Page 126 of Going for Gold (Sweet Cravings 3)

"I know what you must think of me," she said. "And despite what you said, it wasn't your fault. I was the one that agreed to all of it. I was the one that completely lost my mind. I wish I could take it all back, but I can't." Her eyes were getting teary. "You must think I'm disgusting."

That was so far from the truth. I thought she was perfect in every way. She was beautiful and sweet. And I hated that she was beating herself up over something that was my fault. I didn't want to see her cry ever again. And I wanted to be the one that was always making her smile and laugh. God, that laugh. It was my favorite sound in the world.

"Alina, I think you're perfect. I wouldn't change a thing about you."

"Even what I did?"

"Even what you did. To be honest, I was a little worried about being your rebound."

Alina laughed. "That's kind of you to s

ay, but I don't believe it."

"I'm serious. I wouldn't change a thing about you. When I was a kid, stuck in those foster homes, I used to wish every night that my parent's hadn't died. I would have given anything to have them back. Maybe it was just my way of coping with it, but over time, I formed a theory that everything that has ever happened to me, whether it's bad or good, has played an integral part in forming who I am and what my life is like. Sure, if I could hold all things equal and go back and time and bring my parents back I would, but that's not how it works. Bringing my parents back would change everything. Maybe I wouldn't have been as close to Em. Maybe I never would have started running. Maybe I never would have met you. Same goes for the tiebreaker. I don't know where I'd be at this moment if that tiebreaker had never occurred, but I know for sure I wouldn't want to be anywhere but here."

"Are you sure? Or are you just saying that you wouldn't want to change the fact that I'm clearly a sex maniac?"

I leaned forward slightly, pressing myself against her. "Did you mean what you said in your messages?"

She swallowed hard. "Every word, Bryce."

Chapter 56

Alina

Bryce let go of the counter and took a step back from me. For a second I thought he was going to kiss me. He had been looking at me the same way he had in Brazil. Like all he ever wanted to do was stare into my eyes.

"Bryce." My voice came out as almost a croak.

He walked around the counter toward the door. What the hell? A second ago he was telling me how he wouldn't change a thing about me, and now he was running away. He did think I was disgusting. I freaked him out for confessing my feelings too soon.

"Please don't go. I'm so sorry. You said you forgave me. You can't leave. I don't want you to go. What are you doing?"

Instead of opening the door and walking out of my life, he turned the lock.

The click of the bolt made me gulp.

He walked back over to me. There was a fire in his eyes that hadn't been there before.

"I'm doing what I should have done in Brazil." He grabbed my ass and lifted me up. I instinctively wrapped my legs around him as his lips met mine.

And there it was again. That spark that made my knees feel weak and my heart beat fast. I grabbed the back of his head, deepening the kiss. He missed me just as much as I missed him.

But we had made out in Brazil a lot. That couldn't be what he was talking about.

As if answering my thoughts, he pushed the bottom of my tank top up. His palms felt hot against my skin.

I pulled my face away from his and watched his Adam's apple rise and fall.

"Are you sure this is what you want?" I asked.

"Alina, I've never wanted something so badly in my life." There wasn't a single doubt in his voice or in the way he was looking at me.

I wasn't sure how I deserved him. But I was never going to question his feelings again. He wanted me despite everything. And I had never stopped wanting him. I grabbed the hem of my tank top and pulled it over my head. His eyes fell to my breasts. I wasn't wearing a nice push up bra like I had during my performance, but he was looking at me like I was his favorite thing in the world.

He immediately grabbed his shirt by the collar and pulled it off, revealing his perfectly sculpted torso. I vowed to memorize each contour of his muscles. I vowed to memorize every inch of him.

He grabbed my waist and pulled me to the edge of the counter, kissing me again. And this time there wasn't just want there, there was need. He needed me just as much as I needed him.

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