She's Mine - Jenika Snow Page 0,61

his hearing blocked by the loud, angry music coming from his earbuds, he must have sensed her.

He lifted his head and opened his eyes, looking right at her.

For long seconds, she didn’t move, didn’t even breathe. Slowly, he stood and pulled his headphones off. His throat worked as he swallowed, and she could hear the force of it from where she stood. Now that she was so close to him, she didn’t know what to say.

“Keira,” he said her name in a broken pitch. “What are you doing here?” He swallowed again.

“I wanted to talk to you.”

“How did you know I was here?”

“I didn’t. I hoped you were. I stopped by the tattoo parlor and spoke with Max, but he didn’t know where you’d be. I figured maybe I’d try here.” Surprise filtered across his face at her explanation. She was twisting her hands together. “I…” The words stayed clogged in her throat, and she took a steadying breath. “I’m sorry, but please don’t shut me out anymore. I know you think this is what I want, and I know I made you feel that way.” She took another step closer, swore she saw and felt his nervousness. “I was stupid for thinking I needed time to think about things and work through whatever it was that bothered me.” Emotion was so strong in her that she couldn’t breathe. “This time away from you has been so hard for me—”

“It’s been hell,” he finished.

She nodded. “It’s not what I wanted,” she said again. She took another step and another until she stood a foot in front of him. She saw his big body shudder as if her very presence affected him so deeply he couldn’t control himself.

“I wanted to call you so many times,” he whispered. “I wanted to talk to you… hold you.”

“God, Reese, I love you so much.” She hoped he could see her words meant so much more. They held all of her emotions, all of her feelings, and most of all, all of her love for Reese Trenton.

“What?” He exhaled, that word coming out broken. “You love me?” He closed the foot between them, and she nodded.

“I love you, Reese, and I should have told you that before you left.” His gaze lowered to her lips then rose to her eyes once more. “Alex told me today what you said that day you came to my house, how you—”

“Are in love with you,” he finished.

Her palms were sweaty, and she rubbed them on her jeans. He stared at her for long seconds. “Say something, please.” She drew his scent into her lungs and waited with bated breath to hear what he’d say, if he still felt the same way for her.

For several seconds, all he did was stare at her. Then his hand lifted, and he cupped her cheek. She closed her eyes and leaned into his touch.

“Look at me.” His words were low. She opened her eyes and did what he asked. “I thought giving you space and time to think was the right thing to do. I fucking hated it though. I was so fucking miserable not talking to you, forcing myself not to even look at you.”

“I hated this time apart too,” she admitted, whispering. “I should have never let rumors or pictures ruin what I knew in my heart—that I trust you. I knew you’d never hurt me. But the shock at seeing them clouded everything, and I just reacted emotionally.”

He took a deep breath and let it out slowly, and she crashed into the hardness of his chest seconds later, unable to stop herself. She just needed to be close.

“I can’t tell you how sorry I am about everything and how I acted. I hate that I let Lindy, the school, and doubt get between us like it did.”

“You never have to apologize to me. I should be the one saying sorry. For everything.”

She shook her head and held him tighter. A second later, he pulled back, and she tipped her head to look in his face.

“I love you, Keira. I love you so fucking much that I can’t breathe at the thought of you not in my life.” He cupped her cheeks and leaned in close so they were eye-level. “I have never been surer of anything in my life than I am that you’re mine.”

Her breath caught at his declaration. His eyes were deep and meaningful, and his words moved through her like a wave of electricity.

He lifted her