Page 29 of Unbroken

Part of her still did.

But the other part of her was scared.

Everyone told her how lucky she was that she hadn’t been raped or killed like the other girls.

But she didn’t feel lucky.

She still remembered it so vividly sometimes that it felt like just yesterday. She would close her eyes and see him, smell him… It was almost suffocating.

Being with Aiden was like a weight had lifted off her shoulders. She didn’t have to pretend with him, didn’t have to put on a brave face. He’d held her, kissed her, and for the first time in months, she felt like she could finally breathe.

What was more, almost unbelievably, he seemed to like her.

He was attracted to her, but there was something else, too.

His words floated back to her.

Once I make you mine, Maya… I won’t let you go.

His voice had vibrated with promise, and she believed him.

He wanted her, and she wanted him.

The only thing standing in the way were her memories.

She hit the buzzer to admit Aiden, then shook out her hands nervously. Less than two minutes later, there was a knock at the door.

She checked the peephole, and her heart lurched in her chest when she saw Aiden’s handsome profile on the other side. She unlocked the deadbolts, then threw the door open wide.

“Hey.”

“Hey, yourself.”

A sexy smirk tilted his lips as he stepped inside, and she focused her attention on closing and latching all the locks before turning back to him.

Those dark eyes studied her for several seconds before he stepped closer, eliminating the distance between them. One huge hand moved to the back of her neck, and he dipped his head, brushing his lips over hers.

He pulled back a fraction. “I’ve been waiting all week to do that.”

Her worries melted away as heat filled her cheeks and a warm rush of pleasure spread through her chest. “I’ve been waiting all week for that, too.”

CHAPTER

EIGHTEEN

Aiden studied Maya across the table, watching her stiff movements as she gathered up the silverware and stacked it on her plate. Over dinner, he’d caught occasional glimpses of the old Maya, but she seemed… stressed. Something was off, though he couldn’t pinpoint exactly what it was.

When she carried their dishes to the sink, he followed and leaned against the counter beside her.

“You okay?”

“Yep.”

Her tone was full of forced cheer, and he placed one hand on her arm, stilling her movements. He waited until her gaze met his before speaking.

“You sure?”

She dropped her eyes back to the sink and blew out a little breath.