“Tristan, are you okay?” Poppy asks from behind me.
I nod, unable to talk right at this moment because I need to calm down. My stomach churns with bile. I feel like I’m going to get sick. But I can’t continue to live my life like this. I can’t let Dimitri win.
I have to find balance. I need someone to help me because if I can’t get over the fact of what Dimitri did to me, then there’s no hope of ever being with anyone.
Turning to Poppy, I hold her gaze and slowly pull her to me and kiss her lip tenderly. She wraps her arms around my neck, kissing me back.
“I need you . . . I want you. Please come to bed with me,” I whisper, our lips brushing with each word.
“Okay.” She nods, and I release her and grab her hand, leading her to my bedroom.
If I had to pick anyone to be with-it would-be Poppy. She’s the only one I trust, and no one else will do. Since the first time I saw her on stage at Diamond Dancers, I wanted her. Getting to know her, I want more of her. And it scares the hell out of me because I fear the look she’ll give me when she sees the damage done.
In the bedroom, I pull Poppy flush against my front and hold her tight. This isn’t going to be easy for me. Not because I don’t want her, but because I’ve got to overcome my demons. Overcome the demeaning acts done against me.
Sliding my hands up either side of Poppy, I cup either side of her face and stare into her eyes. “You sure you want me?” I barely recognize my own voice as I ask.
“Tristan, I want you. More than that I want to be with you,” she whispers, pure emotions seem to flood out of each pore as she tilts her head into one of my hands.
I suck in a breath and close my eyes soaking in her words. I remember in the hospital when she thought I was asleep. She told me how she felt about me, and I know I could easily feel the same about her. Hell, I already do.