Too Sweet (Hayes Brothers #3)(88)

“It sure was about money to that fucker tonight,” I snap, then ball my fists, shepherding my temper. “Jesus, Mia! You should’ve fucking told me! Why didn’t you say anything?!”

“I didn’t want you to think you were right.”

“Right? Right about what?”

“About not dating college girls,” she whispers, wiping her face. “I didn’t want you to wonder if you made a mistake.”

Now I’m sick to my stomach, ready to double over and throw up. The defeat tainting Mia’s pretty face, how she mindlessly toys with her rings, the tears, how she trembles... it has nothing to do with what happened tonight.

She’s afraid she’ll lose me.

I crouch before her, curling my fingers under her chin. “You think you’re on a probation period?”

She wipes her cheeks, sniffling pathetically. “You told me what your girl is supposed to be like.” She meets my eyes, no longer trying to keep the tears in. “I tried to be her.”

“Her?” The veins on my neck pulse, and my jaw works tight circles. “What are you talking about?”

“Courageous, adventurous, confident...” she lists quietly. “That’s what you want, but that’s not me. I’m none of those things.”

“Mia—”

“I tried, Nico,” she continues, not letting me cut in. “I tried to be the woman you want, but I’m not her.”

“You are. Your only problem is your self-esteem’s so fucking low. You don’t believe in yourself.”

“I’m none of the things you want. I’m not brave or—”

“You are. You just don’t see it. Mia, you jumped out of a plane with me. That takes a hell of a lot of courage, especially for someone afraid of flying.”

I grab her waist, haul her into my arms and sit back on the bed, maneuvering her until she straddles me.

“You’re confident, baby. You don’t shout, you’re not aggressive or rude, but you’ve put me in my place more times than I can count. And you’re the most adventurous person I know. I push you out of your comfort zone in bed, and you enjoy it.” I take her teary face in my hands, wiping her cheeks with my thumbs. “You’re all I ever wanted.”

She sighs, resigned to whatever lie she fed herself. “You were right that day in the cab. All I bring is trouble, Nico. Trouble and drama, and everything you don’t need. I don’t have anything good to offer. I don’t complete you the way you complete me.”

She has no fucking clue...

I had no idea I was living in a box until she came along, full of everything I didn’t know I needed, and let me out.

“You make me a better man, Mia. You calm me down, tame my fucked-up personality, and show me that life’s not just about work.” I pull her into my chest, wrapping my arms around her. “You’re not self-sufficient, baby, but that’s why we work so well. You want your man to be a man. You want me to take care of you, and that’s exactly what I want to do.” I stroke her hair, kissing the side of her head. “I’m sorry I made you feel you had to change. You don’t. You’re perfect.”

“I’m too young. Don’t deny it, Nico. You said I can’t talk about college, like you’re trying to forget I’m ten years younger.”

I push her away enough to see her face. “You’re right. I hate that you’re so young, but only because I need to take things slow. You’re nineteen, Mia. I have to stop myself making plans you’re not ready for yet. You need to finish college. You need to have fun so you won’t have any regrets.”

There’s something disturbing about our relationship. We’ve not been dating long, but I feel it in my bones that she’s it. I love everything about her. Despite spending seven months with Kaya, the feelings can’t compare.

I can easily picture Mia in my future in a beautiful white dress with a ring on her finger. I never thought about the future with Kaya, but Mia’s so deep under my skin I can’t shake her. I can’t cap my feelings, and I don’t fucking want to. I’m twenty-nine. I’ve met enough women to know Mia’s the one.

She sniffles softly, her green eyes dull. “What Jake did... I can’t take that back, Nico. Once I tell you—”

“Nothing will change. You’re mine,” I emphasize, holding her face so she can’t look away. “Do you understand? I love you, baby. I’ll always want you.” I close the distance between our lips, slipping my tongue inside her warm, sweet mouth.

She stills but doesn’t push me away. Her trembling fingers weave into my hair, and in a heartbeat, she melts against me the way she always does, like she’s feeding off my dominance to calm down.

“I love you more.” She breaks the kiss long enough to say it, then resumes the slow tempo of our lips working together, every tease of her tongue and touch of her fingers designed to show how much she cares.

I flip her over, covering her frail body. She’s locked between my arms, her moves limited the way she loves most. She told me she never felt safer than that day I held her immobile while teaching her self-defense.

“Mine,” I say in her mouth. “Always mine, baby. Say it.”

Another one of my favorite barely-a-suggestion kind of smiles blooms across her lips. Tears no longer well in her eyes and the tightness clutching my chest ebbs away.