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“You didn’t even try!” Zara’s temper flared,and her hand flexed. She wished she dared throw something at histhick skull. “You shoved me out the door before you even asked whatI wanted. Do you know what I need to be happy, Dane?”
He stared at her, shaking his head. “Tellme.”
Fine. He wants to know. His funeral.“It’s stupid.” Zara shoved his hands off her. “Because it turnsout, I need you. Just you. A giant dumbass with bullets where hisbrain’s supposed to be.”
“Then let me fix it!” If she didn’t know himbetter, she’d have thought he was begging. But Dane neverbegged.
“How the hell can you fix it?” She stifled asob and Dane’s arm rose, then fell. Like he didn’t know whether toreach out or not.
“I promise, sweetheart. No more closeddoors. No more pretending we’re better off without each other.”
“What?” He might as well have spoken inGreek.
“I can’t keep acting like I don’t love you.”Dane’s eyes shone, his voice shook. “I still don’t think I’m goodenough for you, but I need you, too. Zara, baby, I need you sofucking much. Just let me fix this.”
She stared. What else was there to do? He’dsaid more in three minutes than he had in the last five years.Well. More about his feelings anyway.And suddenly a lot ofthings made much more sense. She swallowed, fighting the urge tothrow herself at him, because then they’d stop talking and he mightnever start again. “Dane, there’s no such thing as not being goodenough.”
“I’m a fucking enforcer, Z. You know whatthat means.”
“What you do isn’t what you are. If that’sthe case, I’m a useless student who’s never going to have a realjob and wastes her parents’ money.”
“That’s not even half true.”
“I don’t even care if it is.” She grabbedhis hand and dared to move closer. “I love you, Dane.”
“Zara—”
“And I don’t think I’m capable of lovinganyone else, so you’re probably stuck with me.”
He squeezed her hand, and stared into hereyes. “I’ve made a lot of enemies. I’ll make more. I’m not tellingyou this to scare you off. But—”
“You know I don’t scare easily.” Sheshouldn’t have felt a beaming smile on her face at his confession,but try as she might, she didn’t care.
“If you’re choosing me, baby, you’ve got tounderstand the risks.”
Zara put her free hand to Dane’s cheek,moving closer until their bodies almost touched. “Listen to me,Dane Ryan. I would walk into an actual fire for you. Whateverenemies you make, whatever you do, you have my heart. But I can’tdo this if you’re going to change your mind again. I want youforever, or not at all.”
“You have me, love.” Dane’s broad handscaught her by the waist, splayed across her back, and he pulled herin, closing the last few inches between their bodies. “I’ll alwaysbe yours.” He bowed his head and brushed his lips over hers. “Iguess I won’t have to kill Joseph after all,” he added with asmile.
Her eyes flared, then narrowed, even as sheleaned into him. “Don’t you dare. I like Joseph.” She slid herfingers into his damp hair, drawing him into a deeper kiss. “He’sbeen a gentleman.”
Dane’s fingers curled possessively aroundher sides. “Don’t tease. I will fucking start a war if he touchedyou.”
“Liar.”
“Not really.” He squeezed her hip.
“Not even a kiss on the lips this wholetime.” Zara smoothed her palm along his back, tracing the strap fora holster. She sighed against his lips. “And none of my new guardswill flirt with me. I blame you.”
“Maybe you just haven’t noticed?” He seizedher hips and lifted her off the floor.
“Also your fault,” Zara retorted, trustinghis familiar hold. She wrapped her legs around his hips to feel hisheat, gasping at the ridge of his erection pressing againsther.
Dane moaned against her throat. “Not onekiss?”
“No.” She pouted and flexed her hips. Danepulled her in hard against his erection, then fell with her ontothe bed. His arms took most of his weight, but his hips presseddown, pinning her to the white duvet.
“I have a lot to make up for, don’t I?” Hisright hand found her side and cupped her breast. Zara could onlynod and rake her nails along his black cotton shirt. He claimed hermouth again, deepening the kiss and taking control until shewhimpered with need.
