Page 120 of Ruin

And, no matter how much I want to stay here, in this bubble with him, and stretch out our time together, I have a little girl waiting for me at home.

“Do you think our clothes are dry by now?” I ask him. “I should really get home.”

Zeus’s wanting expression quickly changes into one of disappointment.

“I reckon so,” he says, sounding despondent.

“Hey…” I touch my fingers to his chin. “I don’t want to go. But I’ve been out for way too long already. It’s not fair for Aunt Elle,” I say gently.

“You don’t have to explain yourself. You need to get home to our daughter. I get it.”

“But?”

His eyes flash at me. “There’s no but.”

“There was definitely a but,” I challenge.

He sighs and looks up at the ceiling again. “It’s stupid.”

“Nothing you have to say is stupid.”

There’s a sizable pause, before he says in a low voice, “I’m worried.”

I cup his cheek and draw his eyes back to mine. “About?”

Another breath. “That you’re going to leave here…me… go home, and change your mind about us.”

I stroke my thumb over the scar on his brow. “I’m not going to change my mind.”

“I just…can’t be without you again,” he whispers, sounding vulnerable.

It tugs at my chest, making me ache for him.

I can’t recall the last time I heard Zeus sound this way. He’s always so sure of himself and others. Even when I was fighting against us being together, he was telling me that it was inevitable. And he was right.

I thought I was the only one with fears over losing him again.

But it’s clear he’s worried about losing me, too.

Zeus might have been the one to leave me all those years ago, but that doesn’t mean any of it was easy on him. It’s clearly left scars on him, too. And, somehow, that makes me feel less alone…less fearful of doing this with him.

“So, don’t be without me,” I say softly.

His hands come around my face, thumbs spanning my cheeks, as he stares into my eyes. “Babe, the only thing that could take me away from you is death. And I don’t plan on dying anytime soon. It’s not me I’m worried about. It’s you. I’m scared that you’re going to see sense and shut me out again.”

Scared.

Zeus Kincaid is scared. His whole persona revolves around him being fearless. Yet here he is, telling me that he’s afraid I’m going to leave him.

“I’ve never heard you say that you’re afraid.”

He lets out a self-deprecating laugh. His eyes stay steady on mine. “You fucking terrify me, Dove. You always have. The way I feel about you…”

Something inside me cracks wide open at his admission. “You terrify me, too,” I admit quietly. “My feelings for you. And you don’t have to worry about me seeing sense and leaving you because, clearly, I’ve never had any sense when it comes to you.” I grin to add levity to the seriousness of the moment.

His lips lift into that smile of his, the one that can heal and break my heart, all at the same time.

“Glad to hear it,” he says before kissing me one last time. “Now, come on.” He pats my ass with his hand. “Let’s check on these clothes to make sure they’re dry and get you home to our girl.”