Thrown to the Wolves (Big Bad Wolf, #3)

by Charlie Adhara

“Jesus, you’re going to kill me,” Park said softly, and Cooper had to tuck his chin even farther to try to hide his grin. “Then you’ll die happy,” he quipped.

“I want to be good for you.” “You are,” Park said fiercely. “So good. I’m not ashamed of you. I could never be,”

“I wasn’t trying to hide you or anything about you from anyone. I’m so proud of you, so proud I get to be with you, to be part of your life. That you chose me.”

“Loving you is the privilege of my already overprivileged life. I never wanted you to feel like I was hiding you from them. I was trying to hide them from you.”

He didn’t say “It’s okay” because it wasn’t, or “I know” because he didn’t. He didn’t say “I’m sorry” because it was an empty, ritualistic platitude, or “You don’t need her” because need had nothing do with it. It was about want. And at some point, at least once in a lifetime, no matter who or why or what came before, everyone wants their mom.

One person can’t love you enough to make up for all the people who don’t, but Cooper wasn’t trying for all the people. Just the one. Just for right now.

“Being open isn’t easy for either of us. Shit, maybe not for anyone. But I work on it because, to me, you’re worth it. And you know what, Oliver? I’m worth it, too. So pull your shit together so we can get on with being mates and in love and all that trash.”

Park laughed breathlessly. “You have to choose. Or do you need me to repeat the options?” “What is this, a game show? Who Wants to Get Fucked? Do I get to phone a friend?”

“Just want to please you. Love to make you happy. Love to love you. Please don’t make me stop loving you.”

“You’ve seen the worst of me. You are the best of me. I won’t ever risk losing that again.”