Page 100 of Face Off

“As long as he allows me to without abandoning myself.” I rested my head against the upholstered headboard. “I’m not asking him to trust a weekend. I’m asking him to look long enough to see the woman who will spend however long it takes proving she no longer disappears when loving him becomes uncomfortable.”

Bliss rubbed her thumb over the back of my hand. “That sounds more like redemption than seduction.”

“Oh, there will be a significant amount of seduction.”

Aura lifted her bottle. “Finally, a comprehensive plan.”

“I told him I wouldn’t fight fair.”

“What did he say?”

“He told me to do me while he fucked me senseless against the door I was trying to penetrate.”

Bliss’s mouth dropped open.

Aura stared at me for two full seconds before looking toward the door. “The metaphorical door or the actual one?”

“Both became involved.”

“Ryan said that?”

“Almost exactly.”

Aura pressed her lips together, visibly trying not to laugh. “That man has never encountered a feeling he couldn’t make obscene.”

“It’s one of his gifts.”

Bliss’s shock gave way to concern again. “You understand that line was also a warning.”

“I do. He believes the door is locked.”

“And you don’t?”

“I believe it’s locked. I also believe I heard him moving around on the other side.”

Aura leaned back against the pillows and studied me. “That was annoyingly good.”

“I’ve had fifteen months to think.”

“You’re still taking a massive risk.”

“I know.”

“He could enjoy every second of this weekend and leave anyway.”

“I know.”

“You can’t love him hard enough to force him to trust you.”

“I know that too.”

Bliss touched my cheek. “Then what are you asking from us?”

“Trust me.”

Aura’s expression remained skeptical but open. “With what?”

“Trust that I’m not mistaking sex for reconciliation. Trust that I can survive whatever Ryan decides. Trust that I know the difference between fighting for the man I love and changing myself until I become someone he might choose.” My voice tightened, but I kept going. “I hid everything from you before. My illness. My fear. Ryan. The way Lance controlled me. I’m not doing that again.”