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“No. Not this, Grant. Not now,” she whimpered.

My name on her lips in that sad tone sunk knives deep into my soul.

“Please, Grant,” she whispered. “Kiss me. I don’t need this. I need you. I’m begging you right now.”

I wanted to. I did. But I knew that it wasn’t right. Every kiss led to more dependency on me. And if something happened to me, would she let Zaid step in to protect her?

I feared losing her. I didn’t care if I made it out alive, as long as Hazel was protected.

“Grant, please!”

Our lips met, and though she forced her tongue into my mouth, I was still resistant. I should have kept my distance. It was one thing to give her pain, but another to give in to what she needed afterward. What I needed too.

There was so much I wanted to give Hazel. I wanted her to be free. Unchained. By herself.

But we were intertwined.

Hazel needed me. She depended on me. And that was my fault.