Page 40 of Cruel Salvation

“Why? I’m a mess. I’m stubborn and annoying. I’m a prickly bitch with a sarcastic sense of humour who usually offends people.”

“Yes, you are but I’m in love with you anyway.”

Lotus felt her heart stutter like it was going to stop, the blood pounding in her ears. “Don’t say that.” Her voice was a little more than a husk as she spoke.

“Why? It’s the truth. I love you, Naz, and I know you’re not there yet and I know it scares you because of what you’ve been through, and I don’t say it to put pressure on you. I just want you to know that I’m in this.”

He pinched her chin and brought her lips close before taking her mouth in a drugging kiss that was imbued with every emotion he’d just said.

“I’m not going anywhere, Naz.”

“You can’t make that promise.”

Damon cocked his head. “No, I guess I can’t control fate, but I can control how I am and what I do, and I can promise you that I won’t walk away from you. You’re stuck with me if you want me.”

A part of her wanted to get up and run, to hide from the big emotions threatening to crush her. But for the first time in a long time, she didn’t run. “I want you, I want us. But unlike you, I can’t guarantee I won’t get cold feet and run.”

Damon kissed her nose and hugged her tight.

“Don’t worry, baby, I have my running shoes. I’ll just chase you down and bring you home.”

Home!

It was a funny concept, for some, it was a place, and, for others, it was a person.

For her, it was in the arms of a man who was the exact opposite of her in an apartment under a mountain.