Page 96 of The Score We Never Settled

Because, all in all, Briggs did nothing but defend himself against Cruz and then…worded in the most stupid way possible that he married me just so my fake-ex couldn’t.

He wouldn’t fight for me if he meant it. And, at the time, I believed he would do just about anything to get back at Cruz for all the shit he did in high school and beyond.

Now, it’s becoming water under the bridge, and I want to move on from it.

“You don’t have to,” Briggs acknowledges. “In fact, I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

I frown at that, but I don’t add any commentary behind it. Instead, Briggs leans closer, and I stop breathing altogether.

“I don’t want you to ever forget that you’re mine, Short Stop. That you pined for me and snuck away for private moments justso I could get my hands on you. Then there is Memphis, your drivin’ up to see me. The way you could never just let me go, despite your Uncle Ben and every complaint he has against me. You love me, deep down, it’s somethin’ you can’t rid yourself of, so why even try? There’s no universe where you and I don’t exist together, and that, Layla Jean, is why you’ll need to come to grips with the rest of what we’ve got. I’m never lettin’ you go. Unless you want to force me into signin’ divorce papers, you’ll need to get on your knees and beg me because I won’t do anything different than what you’ve asked me. You want freedom, a life without me, you’d better get creative as hell about it. Because if the only thing you had was going on a date with some dipshit who couldn’t get his life right, I’m going to be sorely disappointed.”

He’s nuts.

Insane even.

“How many balls did you say you’ve taken to the head?” I ask even when his mouth gets even closer to mine.

“Seven.”

“Concussions?”

“Four.”

“Brain injuries?”

“None.Yet.”

“You still need your head examined.”

“Why? It’s not going to change the way I feel about you, so what’s the point?”

“Because you’re torturin’ yourself, Briggs. You shouldn’t want to be with me. I’ve done nothing but drag this on for way too long, and there’s no point in you chasing.”

“That’s in my DNA, Mrs. Kerrigan. I’ll always run after what I want, and what I’ve wanted has been you since the first time you showed up in that damn dress looking good enough to be devoured by me. Since then, nothing’s changed.”

“It’s toxic.”

“It’s love, Short Stop. Catch up, read the room, move on, let it go.”

“You let it go.”

Briggs shakes his head, eyes dead set on me when he whispers ever so damn softly, “I’m never lettin’ you go, wife. You’re too damn good for me, and I’m too fuckin’ bad to ever give you that reprieve.”

Then his mouth captures mine in a kiss that sends me spiraling and gasping for much-needed air.

He forces my head to tilt upward so he can get more access, sliding his tongue between my lips, and I’m instantly done for.

His fingers tighten around my waist before his hard body drives mine harder against the door. He tastes like barley from the beer and every sin I want to keep committing.

Our breaths mix into a desperate necessity to end this madness and get on with it, but Briggs keeps his fingers wrapped around my waist and no further.

If he decides to be a damn gentleman tonight, I swear to God, I’ll skin him alive.

A low-toned groan comes off Briggs’s chest, and this is where I want him to break. Where he makes the decision for me to drop the shenanigans and fix this.

Make the decision for you, Layla, honestly.

Opening my lips wider, Briggs bites down gently on my lower lip, already picking up on what I’m trying to do and proving that he’ll move along at his own pace. His digits trail around my waist to my ass, but he again does not take it any further.