Page 56 of Truth and Temptation
He gives me a half smile that is not entirely reassuring. “There’s more. It’s not just the fear of losing you, it’s the fear of putting you through the pain of losing me. My chance of getting the same cancer that took Ryder and my grandmother is significantly higher. I could get sick any time, and I don’t know if I would survive. They didn’t.”
“I was raised by parents who were constantly terrified for me and of my disease. And it suffocated me. I refuse to live my own life in fear of maybes and what ifs.” I sit up taller, strengthening my resolve. If this is what has been holding him back, then he needs to know how I feel. “Wyatt, I fell in love with you. And then you left. Knowing you are out there, and choosing not to be with me, hurts far more than the remote possibility of you getting sick one day. Life is never a guarantee, but I would far rather live mine with you in it than without.”
His lips crash into mine before I can say another word, and I let myself be pushed back against the arm of the couch as his warm weight comes over me. Kissing him is like facing the sun after being in dark shadows. It’s blinding, but warm and comforting at the same time.
“I couldn’t choose not being with you. Not without destroying a part of me. You’re my goddamn atmosphere, Paige. I need you to breathe.”
This time, my kiss finds him first. As I press my hands into his back, needing him as close as possible, I feel, more than hear, his groan of desire. “Baby, stop. I need to worship you properly and I can’t do that on a couch.” I feel the absence of his body when he lifts off of me, and an actual whimper escapes me. Wyatt holds his hand out and I take it, letting him pull me to stand and straight into his arms. When I slide my hands around his upper body, I see him wince and freeze. Wyatt’s face turns bashful and I cock my head to one side, confused by his reaction.
“I did some reading this week. You’re right, E. Peake is a talented writer. But here’s the thing. Your tattoo is missing the most important part of that line.”
He lifts his shirt, and I gasp. My fingers reach out and gently trace the words tattooed on his side, in the same position as mine, as I whisper them in awe, “Till I was loved by you.”
“I never knew love either, until you. I’m so sorry, Paige. I wasn’t the man you deserve, I failed you and left when you needed me the most.” His head hangs down, and I ache to tilt his chin back up so I can see his face. “I’ve realized just how selfish I’ve been, about a lot of things. And I don’t know if I can ever earn your forgiveness for that, but you need to know that you have my heart, and you always will. I just hope I still have yours.”
I tear my eyes away from the words that complete the line on my side. “You do, Wyatt. You have it and you always will.”
Hours later, after Wyatt reminds me exactly why orgasms are as wonderful and amazing as all of my friends claim, we lay in my bed, our naked bodies tangled together. He is lazily playing with my hair, twisting it around his fingers as my head rests on his chest.
The last thing I want to do is disturb the pure happiness emanating from us both, but there is one more answer I need from Wyatt.
“Why did you lie about who you really are and why you came to Dogwood Cove?”
His hand stills on my head for a beat, and his chest rises and falls under my cheek several times before he answers.
“There are a few answers to that question. Mostly because I didn’t want to be me. I didn’t want to be Wyatt Crawford. I wanted to just be a guy who could live the life he wants to live, instead of the one he feels guilted into living.”
“And the life you want to live — that’s what, exactly?” I ask cautiously.
“Not working for Crawford Books. The outdoor tour company was a real idea, something that Ryder and I dreamt up when we were younger. We had a whole plan to share a building, him running Crawford Books upstairs and me running WR Tours downstairs. Beachfront, of course.”
“And the other reasons?”
Wyatt lets out a small huff. “You’re gonna think I’m stupid. I was worried you wouldn’t want to talk to me if you knew I was a Crawford. You know, us being the competition and all? I guess I didn’t want to scare you away.”
I slap his chest gently. “You’re right, that is stupid.”
We both laugh, then fall silent again. His hand starts stroking my hair once more, and it would be so soothing if I didn’t feel the tension he’s holding in his body underneath me. As much as I desperately want to know what he’s thinking, I stay quiet, giving him the space he clearly needs.
“I want to stay here. In Dogwood Cove.” His head shifts to the side so he’s looking down at me “As long as I’m welcome.”
“Of course you’re welcome,” I answer quickly, earning a smile.
“You sure Ethan and the guys won’t show up to beat the shit out of me for leaving?”
I fight to hide my smirk but it breaks free. “I can’t promise anything, but I will fight them back as much as I can.”
“My knight in shining armour.” Wyatt chuckles. “Wait, what is a female knight called?”
I lift my head and glare. “A knight.”
Wyatt flips over so he’s hovering above me, propped up on his elbows, which frame my face. His head dips down and he kisses the end of my nose. Even without my glasses on, at this close distance, I can see him clearly. “In case it wasn’t clear, I want to stay in Dogwood Cove, with you. I love you, Paige Millstone.”
Hearing those words from the one man for whom I have ever felt the same way feels as if a part of me that was missing has finally come home.
“I love you, too. And I would love it if you stayed.”
“Good. I was thinking of taking Summer up on her offer to work together on the tourism company.”
