All Chained Up (Devil's Rock #1)(78)

He continued, “Look, I just came from seeing my brother at the prison . . . and hell, I know that doesn’t mean anything to you, but it got me thinking and . . . shit, I f*cked up. Can you just open the door so I can see you? So we can talk face-to-face?”

She started to open her mouth several times but didn’t trust herself to speak.

She felt a soft thud and risked another peek out the door. She could still see his shoulders. It looked like he had bowed his head against the door. He said something so softly, she couldn’t quite understand him. She pressed her ear to the door, trying to hear, and when she finally did hear his whisper, her chest squeezed tightly.

I need you . . .

She closed her eyes, reaching deep inside herself for strength. She had to be strong. Nothing had changed. He was still that guy that didn’t trust himself, that felt out of control around her. And it didn’t matter what he needed. She had to consider herself and what she needed or she would, in fact, be just like her mother.

“I’ll be back, Briar.” His voice rang loud and clear again. “I’m not giving up.”

Then she heard his retreating footsteps.

She turned and slid down the length of the door, hardening her heart. She would not give in to him. He’d eventually give up. She just had to resist him until he did.

HE WAITED OUTSIDE Briar’s apartment, telling himself this wasn’t stalkerish. She still loved him. He knew she did. And he loved her. She couldn’t have forgotten all her feelings for him in so short a time. He hadn’t screwed everything up that badly.

It was barely light out. Dawn streaked the West Texas sky, but he knew she left for work this early. Sure enough, at 6:55 he spotted her coming down her stairs in her scrubs. Her hair was still damp and pulled back into a tight braid that his fingers itched to unravel.

He was out of his truck and across the parking lot, planting himself in front of her car door before she could reach her vehicle.

She came to a hard stop when she saw him there. “What are you doing?”

“I said I wasn’t giving up.”

“I don’t want to see you.”

“Then close your eyes. Just listen to me.”

She shook her head, her gaze skittering around like she was looking for an escape. “I’m going to be late for work. Please move.”

So polite. And scared. She looked terrified, but not the kind of terror that worried him. No, this was wariness. As though she didn’t trust herself. Clearly, she didn’t want him to persuade her to do anything she didn’t want to do. It gave him hope. It meant at least a part of her still wanted to be with him.

“Briar,” he breathed, stepping away from the car and closing in on her. “I love you.”

Her eyes flared. “No! Don’t say that. Don’t you dare say that!”

“It’s true.”

“I’m bad for you, remember?” she flung out, anger and hurt ripe in her voice. Again, it gave him hope.

He closed his eyes in a tight blink. “I said that and a lot of other stupid shit, yeah. But loving you will make me stronger. I know it now. I can love you like you deserve if you’ll just let me.”

She snorted and stepped around him. “I don’t have time for this.” She hit her unlock button and started to open her door.

He came behind her and shut it with the palm of his hand. “Give us a chance.” He spoke into the nape of her neck, sending tiny hairs fluttering, tickling his lips. “You said you loved me—”

“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.”