Fallen Too Far (Too Far, #1)(66)

Our gazes locked, and she cried out. Her orgasm squeezed me tightly, sending me spiraling off after her. When the pleasure slowly faded, I looked at her, and I knew. Her eyes were telling me what I had feared. This had been her good-bye.

“Don’t do this, Blaire,” I pleaded.

“Good-bye, Rush,” she whispered.

I refused to accept it. I couldn’t let her do this. “No. Don’t you do this to us.”

She let her legs fall away from my body and go limp. Then she dropped her hands to her sides and turned her face away from me. “I didn’t get a good-bye with my sister or my mom. Those were final good-byes I never got. This final good-bye I needed. This one time between us with no lies.” The hollowness in her voice sliced me open.

I grabbed the sheets under my hands. “No. No. Please, don’t,” I begged.

She continued to look away from me and lay limply beneath me. How could I fight for someone who didn’t want me? Someone who hated me? I had no chance of winning. I had done everything I knew how to do. But she didn’t want me. Not now.

I pulled out of her and reached for my clothing. I disposed of the condom, then numbly went through the motions of putting my clothes on. She wanted me to leave. And I was just supposed to walk out of this room and leave her. How the f*ck could I?

When I was dressed, I turned to look at her. She sat up, pulling her knees up to her chin to cover her nudity.

“I can’t make you forgive me. I don’t deserve your forgiveness. I can’t change the past. All I can do is give you what you want. If this is what you want, I’ll walk away, Blaire. It’ll kill me, but I’ll do it.” I would do the only thing I could do: give her what she wanted.

“Good-bye, Rush,” she repeated, and she dropped her gaze from me.

I would leave my heart here. My soul, too. She owned them. I was empty without her. I would never be the same. Blaire Wynn had changed me. She had shown me that I could love with an all-consuming love and get nothing in return. I would never love again. She was the one. She was it for me. With one final look at the woman I loved, I turned and left the room, closing the door behind me.

When I stepped out into the night, I let the rest of my tears fall.

Loving someone you don’t deserve isn’t easy. It hurts like hell. But not one moment of my time with Blaire would I regret.





ACKNOWLEDGMENTS


When I wrote Fallen Too Far, I never imagined it would be the beginning of such a popular series. Going back and revisiting the beginning with Rush and Blaire was so much fun for me. I tried very hard to give readers new scenes and moments they missed in Fallen Too Far. I loved getting into Rush’s head in this book. I hope it makes all you Rush Crushers happy.

I need to start by thanking my agent, Jane Dystel, who is beyond brilliant. The moment I signed with her was one of the smartest things I’ve ever done. Thank you, Jane, for helping me navigate through the waters of the publishing world. You are truly a badass.

The brilliant Jhanteigh Kupihea. I couldn’t ask for a better editor. She is always positive and working to make my books the best they can be. Thank you, Jhanteigh, for making my new life with Atria one I am happy to be a part of. The rest of the Atria team: Judith Curr for giving me and my books a chance. Ariele Fredman and Valerie Vennix for always finding the best marketing ideas and being as awesome as they are brilliant.

The friends who listen to me and understand me the way no one else in my life can: Colleen Hoover, Jamie McGuire, and Tammara Webber. You three have listened to me and supported me more than anyone I know. Thanks for everything.

Getting Rush “right” in this book was so important to me. Having two beta readers who loved Rush and who I thought “knew” him were very important: Autumn Hull spent endless hours helping me search for the right cover model for Rush and cheered me on as I brought Rush’s story to life. Natasha Tomic is the creator of the “Rush Crush” slogan and the “Peanut Butter Scene” reference. So I felt like she knew him as well as I did. Thank you, girls, for your support. Always!

Last but certainly not least:

My family. Without their support I wouldn’t be here. My husband, Keith, makes sure I have my coffee and that the kids are all taken care of when I need to lock myself away and meet a deadline. My three kids are so understanding, although once I walk out of that writing cave they expect my full attention, and they get it. My parents, who have supported me all along. Even when I decided to write steamier stuff. My friends, who don’t hate me because I can’t spend time with them for weeks at a time because my writing is taking over. They are my ultimate support group and I love them dearly.

My readers. I never expected to have so many of you. Thank you for reading my books. For loving them and telling others about them. Without you I wouldn’t be here. It’s that simple.