Page 73 of Always Love You More

“You’re not him,” she says, and her words cut through me. “You’ll never be him.”

“You don’t know that.”

“Yes, I do.”

“His shit has a way of bleeding into people,” I say. “You don’t know the stuff I’ve done.”

“It doesn’t matter.” She takes another step forward, and I take one back. “I know you.”

“But you don’t,” I tell her. “Not really.”

“Then tell me.”

“What?”

“Tell me who you are.” She takes another step forward, closing the distance I put between us. “You’re not gonna scare me away.”

“You don’t know that.”

“Stop telling me what I do and don’t know,” she demands. “And stop telling me what I should want.”

“I’m not trying to—”

“If I don’t want to be with you, I won’t.” She takes another step forward, forcing me back. “If I want to leave, I will.” My back hits the wall. “But until I tell you I want out, stop trying to push me away.”

I stare down at her, my jaw working. “Okay.”

She pulls her head back. “Okay?”

“Yeah,” I say, leaning in, closing the inch that separates us. “I hear you.”

“Well”—she straightens—“good, then.”

I bring my hands to her waist. “You’re bossy, you know that?” I tighten my grip on her, spinning us so now it’s her back that’s against the wall. “I kinda like it when you get mean.”

“Then do something about it,” she whispers.

I bring my hand up to her neck, angling her head to give me access to her lips, hovering over them until I feel her squirm.

“I never told you,” she breathes against my mouth. “Last night … with you …”

“Hmm?” I prompt, sliding my other hand up her body.

“That was my first kiss.”

I stare back at her. “You’ve never kissed anyone before?”

She shakes her head. “That surprises you?” Her eyes cloud with something I don’t like. “It’s not like I’m a sl—”

“Don’t finish that sentence,” I growl. “That’s not what I was thinking.” I make my voice softer. “That was never what I was thinking.”

She doesn’t look convinced, and I want to find anyone who’s ever called her that and teach them what’ll happen if they call her that again. “I just can’t believe I’m the first person who you’ve let kiss you.”

She bites her lower lip. “I’ve wanted you to kiss me for a while.”

“Oh yeah?”

She nods.