Total pages in book: 75
Estimated words: 77857 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 389(@200wpm)___ 311(@250wpm)___ 260(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77857 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 389(@200wpm)___ 311(@250wpm)___ 260(@300wpm)
Still, I’m not sure how to answer his question, so I wing it. “To see what your reaction would be.”
“What did you think my reaction would be?”
“Pretty much exactly what it was.”
He shakes his head then. “I give up. I freaking give up, Rory. I don’t know how to please you.”
“I’m just like any other woman.”
“But you’re not. You’re—” He rakes both hands through his hair. “You’re not. You’re beautiful and you’re bright. You light up the whole fucking room. And I’m—”
“What? You’re what?”
“Damn it!” He snaps his pants and paces throughout the kitchen. “I got drunk over you, Rory. I don’t do that.”
“You got drunk because you thought you might have gotten me pregnant,” I say.
“Christ! Don’t you hear what I’m saying to you?”
“I hear it very well. I’m not the one in an orgasm-induced haze right now.”
“Oh, sweetheart… Damn, you know how to cut me like a knife.”
His words gut me, but I continue. “Why does that surprise you? It was just a fuck, Brock. You didn’t do anything to make me come.”
“This is so not how I wanted tonight to go. I wanted to… I wanted to make it right between us, Rory. I wanted to…”
“I don’t know what the hell you’re trying to say.”
“Don’t. Don’t make me say what I’m not ready to say. Don’t make me say what you’re not ready to hear.”
“I’m ready to hear whatever you have to say.”
My heart speeds up. What does he think I’m not ready to hear?
I’m ready to hear whatever.
Now, the part about him not being ready to say? That I believe.
“I’m not a guy who gets serious,” Brock says. “Sure, in the future. I want all of that. A family, kids, everything my parents have. But right now? I don’t want that.”
“Yeah, you’ve made that pretty clear.”
“No, I’m not making myself clear. Don’t you see? This wasn’t supposed to happen to me. Not yet.”
“For God’s sake, Brock. Would you spit it out? I don’t give a shit that you’re not ready to say what you want to say. I can guarantee you I’m ready to hear anything you have to say. I’m a grown-up.”
He rubs his forehead, his temple, his stubbled jawline. “God, you can slice into my heart like no woman I’ve ever known.”
I soften then. I don’t want to hurt him. I never wanted to hurt him. Or anyone, for that matter. I’m not that kind of person.
Sure, I’m angry with him. But I also love him. I don’t want him to hurt because of me. I find my jeans and panties and put them on. Brock is still pacing around the kitchen. I go to him. I take one of his hands, entwine his fingers through mine.
“I’m sorry,” I say. “I don’t have any intention of going on the pill, and I shouldn’t have said that.”
“No, you shouldn’t have.”
“But Brock, you’re not being honest with me. What exactly is it that you want to say?”
CHAPTER TWELVE
BROCK
I love you.
I love you so damned much, Aurora Maureen Pike.
If only the words weren’t caught in my throat.
“Rory…”
I touch her then. I trail my fingers over the softness of her cheek. Then I trace her lips, her beautiful red lips still glistening from the kisses we shared.
I’m going to do it. She may not return my feelings, but I’m going to say it. I’m going to say those three words I’ve never uttered to another human being.
I clear my throat.
And I pause.
She rolls her eyes then. “I don’t have all day for this.”
“Damn it.” I kiss her lips. How soft they are. “I…”
She draws in a breath. Lets it out slowly.
“I love you, Rory. I fucking love you.”
Her beautiful lips form an O.
Is this really a surprise to her?
Hell, why shouldn’t it be? It’s a big surprise to me. Except that on some level, it’s not. It’s almost as if it’s always been with me, and Rory brought it to the surface. Fate brought her to me, and I fell so deeply in love with her.
I’ve put myself out there. I’ve given her love, and—
Her lips tremble. “Really?”
“Of course really. Do you think I said those words for my health? I’ve never said that to anyone before, Rory.”
“You haven’t?” She swallows.
“No.”
I don’t bother to ask her if she has. I know she has. She was with Raine for over a year. And I know she had two other serious relationships—one with a man and one with a woman—before Raine.
“I don’t know what to say,” she says.
“Say whatever you feel, Rory. I’m not going to ask you to say it back. I know you don’t feel—”
She presses her fingers to my lips. “But I do feel it, Brock. I never thought in a million years that you would.”
“You mean…”
“Yes. I love you too. I’m in love with you, and trust me, no one is more surprised than I am by that fact.”