Page 6 of Erik's Redemption
He caressed the inside of her wrist. “Did you have a good day?”
She nodded. “Yeah. Work’s been busy, but I got away to have lunch with Henry and Brigid.”
“That’s good. You deserve a break.” He shifted his gaze between her eyes, wanting to drown in them. No part of him felt capable of leaving her, but he had a job to do. “I’m going back down to do some work before I leave tonight.”
Disappointment flashed in her blue eyes, gutting him. He lowered his head and kissed her temple. He’d just turned when she spoke.
“I’ve been thinking…I might move back to my place.”
Panic slammed into his gut so hard and fast it felt like a physical blow.
“No.” The word was a soft growl on his lips as he turned back toward her.
No fucking way was she leaving him. He couldn’t lose her. But then, he had no idea how to keep her.
She swallowed and turned, lifting her moisturizer. “I wasn’t asking for your permission, Erik. I think it would be good for us to have some space.”
Space… The word tasted like acid in his mouth. He was moving before he could stop himself, his hands going to her hips as he stood behind her, lips to her ear. In a voice that hid none of his pain, he whispered, “Stay with me.”
A loud breath shuddered from her lips. He touched a kiss to her neck, feeling her pulse thump beneath his mouth. Then another.
“Erik…” she whispered.
His hands moved to her thighs, shifting up the material of the shirt. “I can’t lose you.”
She leaned back into him, gasping when one hand trailed all the way up her body and cupped her breast. He found her nipple and rolled it between his thumb and forefinger.
She moaned.
God, he loved every sound she made. “You’re my entire world.”
Her breaths started to quicken, her hand sliding up into his hair.
He kept his lips on her neck. Kept sucking and nipping. He grazed his thumb over her nipple. He was just sliding his other hand up the inside of her thigh when she grabbed his wrist.
“Erik…tell me this is forever first. Tell me thatyou and meare forever.”
He stopped, his blood turning cold in his veins. He wanted to promise that. All he wanted was to spend his life with this woman. But would she feel the same when she knew his secret?
He moved his hands to grip her hips, his temple touching her head. “Hannah…”
“You can’t.”
The hurt that weaved through her tone gutted him.
Lie, Erik. Tell her that sweet fucking lie to save her the pain. Tell her there’s nothing that could break you apart.
But he couldn’t.
He stepped back. “I’m sorry. I have to go get ready for this job.”
He didn’t look up, because he didn’t want to see what he knew was there. What he knew he’d caused. But he felt it. The heartache. The pain. And every step he took away from her felt like another piece of himself was being left behind.
CHAPTER 3
Hannah’s fingers tapped the keys of her laptop. She was buried in paperwork today, but she didn’t mind. She loved her job, and after struggling to get homes to sell for nearly a year, she felt fortunate to have so many now.
And maybe a part of her was also happy to have the distraction.
