He cares about you. Really, truly cares.
“I think part of me wants to dislike you for being mistrusting, but part of me can’t help but relate.”
He doesn’t move or breathe. “What do you mean? You’re the most trusting person of all.”
I release a sad laugh. After all he has confessed, it’s only fair to share my story. “My boyfriend at the time broke my heart and my trust the day I found him with another woman. She—God. It’s something I can never unsee.” I’ve tried to wipe the memory of them from my brain, but some parts still leak through. “And because one blow to my life wasn’t enough, Lance—my ex—demolished a part of my heart I’ll never get back.”
“What did he do?” His voice is low, carrying the same kind of lethality as his gaze.
I look away, unable to hold his stare. “He stole my Nebula Land submission, impressed the Creators, and used the bonus to buy his lover an engagement ring.” The words leave my mouth in a rush, sounding clunky and unrehearsed.
He leans over the table, gently cups my chin, turns my head to face him. “While I’m sorry he hurt you, I’m not sorry he let you go.”
I shoot him a wobbly smile. “Are you always so selfish?”
His eyes glint. “With you, yes.”
I shake my head.
He tucks my hair behind my ear before tracing my earrings with his finger. I shiver, and goosebumps explode across my skin.
“I might be many things but I’m no cheater. And while I lied to you about everything before, I won’t do it anymore. That I can assure you.”
I swallow, fighting the tightness in my throat. “So that’s it? I’m supposed to take your word for it and hope for the best?”
“No, I know firsthand how words mean nothing.”
“Then what?”
He leans in and presses a featherlight kiss against my lips. “I’ll prove it to you.”
“How so?”
His eyes brighten in a way I’ve never seen before. “Would you rather me show or tell you?” His husky tone makes my skin break out in a wave of fresh goosebumps.
And the smile on his face? Absolutely, positively devious.
But the way he crawls over to me on his knees?
I’d agree to anything from that one action alone.
30
Rowan
Zahra’s perfume wraps around me like an aphrodisiac. I take a seat in front of her before pulling her onto my lap. The side of her body remains tucked against my chest, giving her space to leave if she wants.
“What’s it going to be?” I tuck her hair behind her ear before leaning in to whisper. “Show or tell?”
I’m having an out-of-body experience where I want to do something for myself that defies my usual logic. That doesn’t require a list, risk analysis, or excessive thinking. I want to be free, if only for a few months while I’m still here.
My tongue darts out, tasting her skin before pulling back.
She sucks in a breath and leans into me. “Show. Always show.”
I chuckle low under my breath. I return my lips back to her neck to hide the way my cheeks burn. “There’s no going back after this.”
“I say there’s no time like the present.” She turns toward me and presses a soft kiss against my lips. Her tongue darts out, tracing the seam of my lips. Something inside me snaps. Months of buildup unleash, and I let it all out. Our lips fuse together as we kiss like never before.