A Twisted Arrangement (Twisted Vows, #2)

by Jessa Wilder

I left her alone because it’s what she needed. She needed to break out of the holds her family had on her. The space and time to spread her wings and stand on her own feet. I know if I’d stayed, then I wouldn’t have been able to keep away from her, and even if she’s pissed now, back then, she’d have given in to me. What kind of man would I be if I didn’t listen to her only wish?

“What do you want me to say? That I’d get down on my knees and beg her? That I’ll bend to her every whim if it makes her happy? That I’ll uproot my life if she asks me? Because there is nothing I won’t do for my wife. She could ask me to walk off a bridge, and I’d ask her which one. Don’t fool yourselves—she’s not the one being strung along. I gave up any hope that I could live without her a long time ago. All I can do is do my best to show her I’m worth taking a risk on. That even though I’ve hurt her, I did what I did because it’s what she needed at the time. Not because I decided for her, but because it’s what she asked for.”

“You don’t need to do everything on your own. You are not alone. You’ve never been alone because even if you didn’t know it, you have always had me. I have belonged to you for so long I can’t remember what it feels like to belong to myself. Loving you has been the reason I wake up in the morning. There is nothing about you I would change. Not your past. Not your dreams. Not your family. Nothing. You are and you have always been it for me. I was a stupid fifteen-year-old kid, but even then, I would give you anything you wanted. I would wait for however long you needed me too. I was happy to sit by and watch you because it’s what you needed. But now you…” Matthias rubs my stomach, and tears pool in my eyes. “Now you both need me. There’s no end to how much I care about you. There’s no bottom to the well of my love. I want to be here for you. You don’t have to do any of this alone. So pull everything you need from me. I won’t break.”