When I did not stop her, she focused on the task at hand, not daring to question my kindness. She pushed the shirt over my shoulders, and I let it fall to the ground as her gaze danced over my tribal tattoo and back to mine. I took in every inch of her toned, milky skin. She pulled her lower lip between her teeth as she waited for me to make my next move. I lifted her in my arms again, wrapping her body around mine as I carried her off to the bedroom.

I wanted to take her to the third floor and keep her there forever to be mine whenever I wanted to take her. But I didn’t want that to be the last memory she had of us together. I needed to give her some semblance of normalcy. I wanted her to look back on our time together and not be completely revolted by who I was.

I laid her softly on the bed as I hovered over her, kissing the sweet flesh on top of her breasts. She lifted into me, pressing my lips harder against her as her nails raked over my back. I moaned and quickly undid my belt thenflexed under her touch.

“I want you, Emma. I want to possess you.” I groaned, hurting as I said the words. She would never be mine. I was so close to having the only thing I wanted in the world, and I was letting it slip through my fingertips. I didn’t know if this was what love felt like, but I didn’t want to feel like this for anyone but her. I wanted to please her and keep her safe, and that, to me, could be nothing else. I slid my jeans over my hips, not wanting to waste time kicking them all the way off. “Tell me that you’re mine.”

“Ahhh…” was the only sound she made as my mouth was once again on her. I slid my hand over her throat and gripped her jaw, jerking her head up so her gaze would meet mine. “Tell me.” I could no longer hide the desperation in my voice as I pushed my body harder against hers.

“I’m yours, only yours.” Her words were desperate as well but for other reasons. I didn’t want it any other way. I slipped my hand between us and loped them around her cotton panties, tugging harshly and ripping them from her body. Her hips lifted, and she ground against me, flesh against flesh. My eyes fell closed for a second as I let the pleasure wash over me.

I gripped the base of my cock and rubbed the head of myself against her wetness. She moaned, squeezing her eyes closed.

“Look at me. I want to watch you come.”

She squirmed beneath me, and I tried to memorize every curve of her beautiful face. I slid inside of her tight pussy slowly, wanting to savor every second. She panted with parted lips. I reached between us and ran my fingers over her clit. I ran the wetness over her lower lip and her tongue darted out; I lost all control. I slammed deep inside of her, hard. She bit down on her lip as I continued my furious pace.

“I…love…you…” I groaned as she met my thrust. Her legs tightened around my hips, and I knew she was close to coming.

“I love you,” she cried out, gripping onto the blanket as she tightened around the length of me. I came hard, binding us as one for what I knew would probably be the last time.

I collapsed on top of her, emotionally and physically spent. Her delicate fingers laced behind my neck. “I love you,” she whispered into my ear—her words the only sound I ever wanted to hear. I kissed along her neck until my lips reached her ear.

“I love you so much, Emma.” I held her tightly against me, not wanting to ever let her go, until she drifted off into a peaceful sleep below me.

My mind raced with thoughts of an empty future of solitude. How would I continue to protect her and keep her safe when her aunt filled her in on what kind of man I really was? I knew I had already asked too much of her, and she gladly accepted my faults, but everyone has a limit. Then the truth crept into the back of my mind. Emma wouldn’t need protection once she was rid of me. I was the reason her world was crumbling. If not for me, she would be starting her life as an adult. She would be falling in love and beginning a career. It made me sick to my stomach to know that I was the worst thing for her.

I tossed and turned the entire night until I decided to leave the bedroom so I wouldn’t wake her.

I was on my second pot of coffee when the bedroom door opened, and Emma stepped through, already dressed for the day. I couldn’t help but smile sadly at the sight of her. I never wanted to forget how absolutely stunning she was when she first woke in the morning.

“Sleep well?” I hoped she hadn’t noticed that I hadn’t slept at all. I couldn’t force myself to close my eyes and miss out on the last few hours we may have had together. She grinned widely as she made her way toward me. I opened my arms and hugged her tightly, lifting her feet from the ground. “Shame. I was going to say if you weren’t happy, we could try again.” I winked at her as I sat her back on the ground. I was good at hiding my emotions, as I rarely felt anything outside of anger, but this was a struggle. Stephen’s words replayed in my head. He was wrong. This was love. It had to be love, and it was the most intense pain I had ever felt.

She smacked my chest playfully. Without thinking, my hand shot up and grabbed her wrist tightly.

“Careful. You know I like to play rough.” A beautiful crimson crept over her cheeks, and I had to look away to keep myself from changing my mind about being the good guy. I turned around and grabbed her a mug of coffee, already made to her taste.

“Thanks,” she smiled as she closed her eyes and inhaled. “Just what I needed.”

“I thought I was what you needed?” I frowned, but I knew I wasn’t, even if she thought differently. She took a sip from her steaming cup.

“I need this to keep up with you.” She laughed. For a minute, we were just a normal couple standing in our kitchen and enjoying each other’s company. It was the perfect lie.

“I better put on another pot, then.” I looked her over, wishing I could get just one extra day with her, but I didn’t deserve it. Didn’t deserve her.

“We can’t. We have to go see my aunt today.” She took another long sip from her mug.

I sighed and drank down the rest of my drink. “I guess we’d better get it over with, then.” I couldn’t look her in the eye. I stared down at my empty mug, fighting the urge to throw it against the wall.

“It’s not life or death, William. Worst thing that is going to happen is she will call me a whore and things will be exactly the same as they have always been.” She rolled her eyes as she spoke of her aunt and took another drink.

I only wished that were the worst thing that would happen. Instead, she would learn about my frequent visits to the sex club her aunt worked at. She, no doubt, would learn of her aunt’s infatuation with me. And the cherry on the cake will be whatever my ex had confessed to her. I knew that my ex must have told J something to convince her that I was a danger to Emma. My eyes searched her beautiful face as I pictured tears streaming down her cheeks, and I wouldn’t be able to hold her and make it all better. “Fine.” I slammed my mug on the counter and made my way to my bedroom to get ready. I grabbed a dark-gray shirt from my dresser and pulled it over my head as I made my way back into the main living area. Emma’s eyes were on my stomach as I pulled the shirt down, covering myself.

“Are you sure you don’t want to have a little fun first?” It was a last ditch effort to delay the inevitable, to feel normal if only for a few more minutes.

“Come on. Let’s just get this over with.” She sat her cup down and grabbed her purse. She held her hand out to me to take, and I did, pulling her body against mine. My lips pressed against hers, needing to feel her love for me. Her body relaxed against mine, and her lips fell open, inviting me in. I ran my tongue along her upper lip before slipping it inside and pushing against hers. She moaned into my mouth, and I knew if I really wanted to, I could delay our demise just a little while longer. My cock grew painfully hard at the thought of taking her back to my bed. I was tired of manipulating her. I pulled back, hating how alone I felt just inches from her.