Page 88 of Ravage

I snuck out the door and tiptoed down the hall. When I got to Cole’s room, I took another quick look, making sure no one was around before I tapped on the door. Seconds later, it eased open, and Cole appeared in nothing but his boxers. “What are you doing up?”

“Couldn’t sleep.”

He looked down the hall, and as soon as he saw that the coast was clear, he pulled me into his room. “Is something wrong?”

“No… I mean, nothing more than before.” I shrugged. “I just wanted to see you and make sure everything was okay with you.”

“Me?”

“You had a funny look earlier.”

“Just had a lot going on, and I was worried about you.”

“Me?”

“I knew you didn’t want to be here.”

“It’s not so bad… You’re here.”

“I’m here because you’re here.”

That got me. Not just what he said, but how he said it. I stepped forward and wrapped my arms around him. He pulled me close as I buried my face against his chest. “Tell me it’s going to be okay.”

His arms tightened around me as he whispered, “Em…”

“Just tell me… Even if you don’t believe it.”

For a moment, he said nothing. He just stood there holding me close, and then he lowered his mouth to my ear and said, “It will be okay.”

“You mean it?”

“I do.” He kissed the top of my head. “It’s going to take some time, but it’ll be okay.”

I wanted to believe him, and standing there in his arms, I almost did.

Almost.

15

RAVAGE

Ishould’ve sent her back to her room.

I should’ve told her it was late and that she needed sleep. At the very least, I should’ve kept my damn hands to myself. I did none of those things. Instead, I stood there, holding her close, like some part of me was still afraid I’d lose her the second I loosened my grip.

She looked so vulnerable and tired, but also unbelievably beautiful. Her eyes lifted to mine when I whispered, “Em.”

Those damn green eyes.

That’s all it took.

Whatever restraint I had left in me vanished into the dark, and I leaned in, pressing my mouth to hers. Her palm splayed against my chest, and something inside me broke. Suddenly, every reason I had to stay away or stop the insanity went up in smoke. We shouldn’t be doing this. Not here. Not now.

Not when we were at the damn clubhouse, and someone could come pounding at my door at any second. Not when there were men out there threatening her and the club, and there was a war brewing around us. I pulled back long enough to look down at her and say, “Tell me to stop.”

She shook her head, and the tiny gesture nearly wrecked me.

She wasn’t just giving me permission. She was trusting me with something I wasn’t sure I deserved, and that hit harder than it should have.