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Decker
She doesn’t wait for a reply before disco
She stands there, her arm falling to her side, the cell hanging limp in her hand as her back continues to face me.
“Was any of that true?” My question is barely audible.
“I’m not pregnant.”
The gentle utter of her admission has no effect on me. My mind is rabid. My face seeps with sweat.
“I have a hormone implant,” she admits. “I lied to Cole to buy us some time.” She turns to face me, an apology written in her features. “This way, even if he does learn the truth, he’ll pause long enough to contemplate the repercussions of his actions.”
He’ll pause.
She’s not pregnant.
“You lied to your brother for me?” She’s delusional if she thinks the deception will change Torian’s actions, but still, she lied. For me. “Why?”
“You know why.”
No, I’m pretty sure I’m clueless. Whenever I think I’ve got an edge on this woman, she pulls the rug out from beneath me.
“It’s only temporary.” She wraps her arms around her stomach, hugging herself in a show of such brutal vulnerability I have to fight the need to drag her against me. “Once you leave, I can tell him there’s no baby.”
I nod, strangely wishing the fake story she concocted had a possibility of reality. But like she said, that lie of hers will only buy a pause in time. It won’t stop Cole from gu
“What about the rest of the conversation, Tinkerbell? What else did you lie about?”
“Are you asking if I love you?”
Yeah. I am. I just can’t find the fucking balls to open my mouth and say it.
She nibbles her lower lip, her brows pulling tighter by the second as she glances away. “I think I’ve loved you since you stuck up for me months ago. I don’t think anyone could be exposed to your level of protection and care without falling hard, Sebastian.”
Her words cut to my core, her admission slashing deep enough to scar. “So it’s the badassery that won you over, not my sparkling personality?” I paste on a grin, hoping to suck the deep and crazy out of the conversation.
“You’re no badass,” she whispers. “You’re the opposite—A good Samaritan with a frightening death wish, and really inappropriate timing with your smartass comments.”
My grin lessens.
I can feel her fear. I can almost taste it.
“I don’t have a death wish.” I step forward, my feet falling hard against the dirt as she backs herself against the fence, keeping distance between us that I refuse to allow. “Not anymore.” I continue to advance, not stopping until my hips cage hers in place. “I just know what I want and don’t plan to stop until I get it.”
“Which is retribution, right?” Her eyes turn pained. “That’s all you’re focused on.”
“My hopes for retribution are delayed for now.”
“Because I exposed you?”
“No. Because I’m focusing on something more important.” I glide a hand into her hair, holding her possessively, never losing sight of those gorgeous eyes as I bring us chest to chest. “Right now, all I want is to make sure you’re safe. That’s all that matters to me.”
“Why? You’ve made it clear you don’t feel the same way I do.”
“Jesus, Keira.” I close in on her with my free hand, dragging my thumb over the softness of her lower lip. “Who says I don’t feel the same?”
Her face crumples, her baby blues tortured. “You do. In your actions and your plans.”
“You know this has been a fucked up mess from the start, but how can you not see that I’d kill for you? Despite knowing what your father has been doing, I put my life on the line for you. And I’ll continue to do the same, because there is no way in hell I’ll let you anywhere near Richard.”
“This isn’t about him. I’m talking about you not being excited to hear your secret is safe. Hunter didn’t tell Cole. And neither did I. But you never celebrated having more time with me. You don’t care.”
“I fucking care.” I bring us face to face. Almost nose to nose. “But I’ve also gotta keep it real clear in my mind that leaving is the only conclusion here. A few extra days with you is huge, but we don’t get a happily ever after. No matter how badly I want to give that to you.”
“You’re acting as if you’re already gone.”
“No, I’m not. I’m just trying to keep a level head. Your safety is the most important thing here. I can’t lose sight of that.”
“I’m scared you’re losing sight of me entirely.”
I wince.
Truth is, I wish I could lose sight of her. If that was a possibility I’d already be long gone. I would’ve taken my beating from Hunter yesterday and headed for the hills. My inability to let go of Keira is the only reason I’m still here. “I’ll never do that. Not even once I’m gone.”
“I’m going to do everything in my power to change things so you don’t leave,” she whispers against my lips. “I’ll keep lying to Cole. I’ll make that agent who’s blackmailing you disappear. I’ll do whatever it takes, Sebastian.”
“Shh.” I claim her mouth, brushing my lips over hers as she slays my fucking heart. “Let me handle it. I’ll work something out.”
She whimpers, her tongue sweeping mine.
I wish I wasn’t lying. I wish I had faith. But this hole I’ve dug is too deep. You don’t rat on the most powerful crime family in the state and live to tell the tale.
I’m a dead man walking. I can already feel the darkness of damnation.
“Promise me,” she pleads. “Don’t let this be another deception.”
Fuck. She knows me too well. Her insight creeps into the furthest reaches of my mind. She’s a part of me, stealing my secrets and reading my soul.
I kiss her deeper. Harder. With all my fucking heart and determination.
“Sebastian…” Her hand finds my chest, the pressure growing as she tries to push me away. “Please.”
The doomsday clock sounds another tick. I don’t want to betray her again. Not over this.
“Please,” she repeats. “I need to believe this can work.”
“It can.” I lean harder into her, grinding against her pelvis. “We’ll figure it out.”
Lies. All lies. But I’d promise her the world if it meant I’d get to continue hearing those needy little moans that vibrate against my mouth.
I’d do it all.
I’d do everything.
I fall into her. I burn. Every inch of me is attuned to every move she makes.
We’re one.
It’s intrinsic.
Fate.
At least for now.
I drown in her until I can no longer breathe. Long enough for me to pretend I’m someone else. Somewhere else. There’s no approaching detonation. I don’t have to walk away. I’m not going to break her heart. It’s just us. A happy couple, without a care in the fucking world.
“I want to drive back to Portland tonight,” she murmurs against my lips. “I don’t want to wait any longer.”
I turn numb. All the pleasure evaporates, leaving me cold and bitter.
“Okay…” I pull away, meeting the determination staring back at me. “But just so you know, I haven’t changed my mind about Richard. You need to let me and Hunt handle it.”
The hand on my chest grows talons, her nails digging into skin. “Don’t fight me on this.”
“I’m not fighting you, slick. I’m keeping you safe.”
Her chin hitches, a wealth of strength building in her features. “No.”
That’s all she says. One word. A single, adamant denial.
She slides to the side, leaving me with a look filled with more force than reason.
She doesn’t understand what she’s asking. There’s no fucking clue behind those gorgeous blue eyes as she leaps the fence and sashays her sexy ass toward the house while I’m stuck dealing with a hard dick and a hollow chest.