“Don’t twist my words. I said I might love you a little. I was wrong.”
He turned her around, pressing his body against hers, trapping her between him and the car, concentrating on his words and struggling to ignore the distracting softness of her body. No easy task. He’d been too long from her. “Liar. You haven’t stopped loving me. You’re angry. I get that . . . and trying to protect yourself. I get that, too—-”
“That’s right. I’m trying to protect myself from you. Now let me go.”
He leaned in, holding her gaze. “I love you,” he whispered . . . pleaded.
Something flashed in her eyes before disappearing. “I don’t love you,” she said resolutely, so firmly. For the first time dread gnawed at the edges of his heart. Could it be too late?
“No,” he growled.
Then he kissed her.
He slanted his lips over hers and poured all his heart, all his longing, into this kiss, coaxing her to respond, to soften. “Please,” he whispered over her quivering lips. “Kiss me back, Briar. Kiss me.”
With a whimper she caved, her lips yielding to him. A shudder racked him. He slid his arms around her and lifted her up off the ground and against his arousal. He let her feel what she did to him. Her hands looped around his neck and she clung to him, still kissing him back as hot and feverishly as he kissed her.
“There,” he growled, lust and satisfaction pumping through him. “You do love me.”
She stiffened and then fought to free herself from his embrace. Damn it. He let her go, barely having time to look down at her flushed face before she slapped him so hard he felt the force all the way to his teeth.
He fingered his stinging cheek, gazing down at her. Her chest heaved with emotion, eyes blazing up at him. “Stay away from me and stop manipulating me. Nothing has changed. You’re still the out--of--control animal you don’t want to be. And I do not love you.”
Her words gouged him as effectively as a swiping claw. Like she knew they would, but he had the taste of her still on his lips. Alongside the sight of her spitting rage, it was all the confirmation he needed. She still wanted him. Loved him. “Yes. You do.”
She stomped her foot and let out a muffled groan. “You’re crazy!”
“Just about you,” he returned, then in a more serious tone, he added, “I know I blew it, but I’ll wait until you realize I’m sincere. I can be patient. I spent years in prison waiting to be free. Waiting, even though I didn’t know it then . . . for you.”
An alarmed look crossed her face as she stubbornly shook her head. “You don’t mean that . . .”
“I do. And time will prove it.” He leaned in slowly, his mouth brushing her ear as he spoke, “And once you’re convinced, we’re going to hole up in your bedroom for a day at least . . . where I will convince you again and again and again . . . until neither one of us can walk.”
She jerked her head away from him, her eyes bright and heated. She shook her head again, this time almost sad. Yanking open her door, she slid into her car. He stepped away before she backed out and nearly ran her tire over his foot. He watched her go, telling himself she would relent and give them another chance.
She didn’t once glance back at him as she drove away.
KNOX DECIDED TO give her a little more space before coming around again. Two more days. He thought that would be enough time for her to start to wonder if he gave up . . . maybe enough time for her to worry that he had. Maybe enough time for her to miss him.
At her apartment complex, he noticed her car was parked in its usual spot, so he took the stairs to her condo.
He knocked. “Briar?”
Nothing.
“I know you’re in there. Baby, please . . .”
“She’s not home.” He spun around to face Shelley. She was leaning in her open door, a -couple of kids crowded around her, watching him with big curious eyes that looked a lot like their mother’s eyes.
“Where is she?”
She considered him a long moment before answering, “Now I don’t know if I should be telling you that.”
He nodded. “All right. That’s fair. You’re looking out for your friend. I get that.”
“Yeah, you haven’t been precisely stellar boyfriend material.”
He nodded. “I know that. I’d like to make it up to her.” He paused for a breath. “I love her.”
“She mentioned you said that. She doesn’t believe you, of course.”
“I’m trying to prove it to her.”
“Hmm.” Shelley eyed him. “Briar doesn’t have a lot of experience with men. Not like me. She doesn’t understand that men don’t usually profess love. Not after they’ve gotten what they want, if you know what I mean.” She shot a quick glance to her children and then looked back at him, lifting her eyebrows meaningfully.
“Yeah. I know what you mean.”
“They don’t chase you down and say those three little words over and over unless they mean it.”
“I mean it.”