Dominant and dangerous and somehow chained by all his doubt.
Energy lashed. Whipping and inciting.
Compelling.
And God, I wanted to fight. Fight with him for lying to me. Fight for him because I wanted him so badly. Fight for what was right. The problem was, I wasn’t certain of exactly what that was.
Rex’s nostrils flared, and we stood there staring at each other. Captives to all those questions that bounded between us. Coming faster and faster and faster.
I saw the second he finally snapped. He pushed across the threshold, on me in a flash, the heat of his strong body lighting me up like a furnace.
My heart fluttered and drummed.
He wound a big hand in my hair, tugging, forcing me to look up at him.
“Little Thief.”
The accusation was gravel, and I sucked in a staggered breath. It only drew him deeper, his presence sinking in, penetrating every cell. Emotion swelled just as the pain of my past went rushing through my veins. A raging river that threatened to drown.
The fact of who Janel was. What she’d done.
I gasped over a cry. Unable to keep it in any longer.
“I married her, Rynna, I married her, and I knew all along, I shouldn’t. Maybe I was ashamed to admit it to you or maybe I was just afraid of your reaction when you found out I hadn’t severed it. But I promise, I promise you I was going to. When I told you I needed to get some things in my life in order, that’s what I was referring to. Ending that marriage like I should have years before.”
Another cry wrenched free.
He took my face in his big hands, fingers in my hair. “Rynna . . . baby . . . Rynna. Don’t cry.” He was kissing me through a tumble of frantic words he mumbled at my mouth. “I’m right here. I’m right here. I’m not going anywhere. I told her to go. I told her I was leaving and would be back in an hour and she and her things needed to be gone when I got back. I told her, Rynna. I told her my heart belongs to you, even if you won’t take it. But I want you to. I’m gonna fight for you, Rynna. I’m not giving us up. Not ever. You and me . . . we’re what’s right.”
I choked over a cry, and he kissed me deeper. The only thing I wanted to do was succumb.
Get lost in this man.
In his presence and his power and his overwhelming heart.
Another ripping sob tore from my throat. Unstoppable. Wounds fresh and raw. Too much. “It hurts so bad, Rex. I didn’t mean for it to. I thought I was over it. Bigger than it. And it’s right there. I don’t know how to handle what happened. It’s just . . . I think about it and it hurts all over again.”
Framing my face in his hands, he edged back, confusion a flash across those striking features. “What are you talking about, baby?”
A car engine churned to life from across the street. A reminder of who we were and what we were battling.
I could hear the car crunch on gravel as it backed up, accelerate when it took to the street.
Janel. I knew it was her. It only made me cry harder.
“Janel,” I hiccupped over her name.
He looked over his shoulder. “I’ve been outside pacing your lot for the last hour. I came home tonight, thinking that was the only thing I could do. Condemn myself. Walk away from you and pretend like this thing we’ve got doesn’t matter. I almost gave in because I thought it might be the right thing to do. But it’s not, Rynna. It’s not, because you and me? We’re what’s right. I’m not willing to settle or turn my back or act like I’m not dying for you. I walked out on her and right to you. And this whole time, I’ve been trying to get up the courage. Trying to find the words to convince you that we’re what’s right. Please, Rynna. Please put me out of this misery. I can’t lose you. I can’t lose you, too.”
“Janel.” Another whimper, and I knew I wasn’t making any sense, because none of this situation did.
“She doesn’t matter to me, Rynna. I promise you. Yes, I was waiting for her all those years. Stayed loyal because I had some messed-up notion that one day she was going to come back, and it was on me to keep our family intact. And then there you were, Rynna. My second chance. You changed everything. You became my loyalty. My heart. You and my Frankie. That’s all I need.”
“Janel hated me, Rex. She hated me so much. And what she did . . . I don’t know how to get past it. Forgive her and move on, because I know she’s going to be a part of Frankie’s life.”