Contingency Plan (Blackbridge Security #3) - Marie James Page 0,92

than happy he did his job. The nights on the sofa watching stupid movies. The way he got territorial when Kyle was sniffing around the night before my birthday party. The way he fought resisting me like he warred with himself and lost the battle every time because he found me irresistible.

Jesus, the look in his eyes when he made love to me the first time, how I felt it then. All the things he’s said since, the promises, the assurances that he isn’t going anywhere. It’s all there, all lined out for me. Am I fool enough to walk away, to let my pride get in the way?

I’m ragged, once again a sobbing mess when I feel the heat of him at my back.

“You hurt me,” I say through my tears.

“I know, baby.” His arms bracket me, hands beside my own on the counter. His lips press to the back of my neck. “And I’ll wait for you, however long, whatever it takes to earn your forgiveness.”

I sob even harder.

“I’ll make sure you know every single day for the rest of your life how I feel. I’m going to shower you with attention, make it impossible for you to ever doubt what you mean to me again.”

My fingers twitch, desperate to tangle with his.

“And if you run, I’m always going to fucking chase you.” His arms circle me, wrapping around my middle, fingers splayed on my lower belly. “I’ll catch you a million times if that’s what it’s going to take.”

“How do you feel?” I ask, turning around and focusing on what he said just a moment ago. I search his face. “Exactly how do you feel?”

Warm fingers dash away the tears streaking my face, his thumb lingering on my lower lip. “Isn’t it obvious? I fucking love you, Remington Blair.”

I sob again, but he catches me on the chin before I can look away.

“I loved you the night I took you the first time, possibly even before that. I just couldn’t admit it to myself. Our worlds were so different. I knew I couldn’t fit into yours, and I couldn’t convince myself that you’d ever be happy in mine.”

I blink more tears from my eyes.

“Take time to heal, baby. I’m not going anywhere.”

I cling to him, to the idea that this man still wants me even though I can no longer give him much.

When he goes to pull away, to give me the space he thinks I need, I pull him closer, raising up on my toes to press my mouth to his. His tongue tangles with mine, but he’s holding back.

I clasp the front of his shirt, making him hiss as I line most of my body up with his.

He’s the one to pull away, his forehead against mine as we both pant.

“Remi,” he whispers, tilting my chin up with a single finger. My eyes focus on his red, swollen lips. “I’m not in this for sex that’s just good enough to override the shame you feel after. I want your heart. I want to spend the rest of my life with you. I hurt you, and I’ll spend the rest of my life making that up to you if you let me, but it’s going to have to come with your heart in exchange as well.”

He presses warm lips to my forehead before pulling back and walking away.

I’m left, standing in his sterile kitchen, with my mouth hanging open. It feels like a millennium passes before my brain tells my feet to get moving. I run down the hall with every intention of finding him, jumping on his back, and demanding he never kiss me like that and walk away again, but he turns at the last minute, catching me in his arms.

“The sex is better than just okay,” I say before lowering my mouth to his.

He doesn’t let the kiss land, his head snapping back at the last minute.

“Is this your final answer?”

I grin wide.

“Your heart—”

“Is yours,” I assure him.

And that’s all it takes for his mouth to connect with mine.

Jumping in his arms was more than a literal leap. It’s a leap of faith. I’m putting the shattered parts of me, the pieces broken by more than just him in his hands to fix. I’m asking a lot, but he also promised a lot. I just know that Flynn Coleman is up for the task.

Chapter 37

Flynn

I strip Remi on faith, faith that she won’t hurt me despite having hurt her, on faith that she