Page 23 of The Princess and the SEAL

I leaned into his chest as he stroked my hair. He was so kind and sweet, and everything he said reassured me that he was a good guy, but I wanted to find out more about him.

“Can you tell me a little bit more about yourself?”

His shoulders tensed up. “What do you want to know?”

“Just more about you. About your family. Where are you from?”

He shook his head. “I don’t know why it matters to you. You either trust me, or you don’t. Me telling you about my fucked-up childhood doesn’t change anything.”

Yikes. Regret filled me. “You’re right. I’m sorry I asked.”

“It’s okay. I just don’t like to talk about it.”

I pursed my lips and nodded.

What had happened to him?

I wished he would open up to me, but our time together was coming to an end.

I appreciated that he didn’t just lie to me and make up a story to answer my questions. Instead, Ryan had been careful about what he’d said.

I squeezed his hand. “Thanks for listening to me. I feel better. Let’s go see that waterfall.”

His hand cupped my face, and he kissed me. A sweet, gentle, soul-soothing kiss. The kind of kiss I had only dreamed about until now.

I still didn’t know much about Ryan.

All I knew was that when I was around him, I felt safe and happy. And seen. Ryan looked at me the way no other man had ever looked at me. Somehow, I trusted that he saw the real me, the woman behind the princess.