Before We Came (Lakes Hockey, #1)

by Sloane St. James

“You don’t give anyone a chance to know you! And I never said you were weak. You are far from it.

Giving control doesn’t mean losing autonomy. No one can control you unless you hand over the reins and let go. But for the record, I get the impression you like when I boss you around a little, and I know personally you’re strong enough to take it too.”

I love the way she can read me and anticipate my needs. I want to do the same for her.

“When you answered ‘not yet’ earlier. What did you mean by that?” This is exactly why I won’t sleep with her tonight. She wants to know if there’s more to us than just sexual tension, and this is my chance to prove it. She’s asking if I plan on pursuing something with her or just looking to warm my bed for a night. Now it’s my turn to crawl to her. When we’re close enough to touch, I sit up on my knees, towering over her. “I meant that you are the only woman I intend on seeing.”

What if he could accept me and all my broken pieces as they are—with no conditions? Could walk with me through all the dark times and all the good times? And what if it’s the same guy who can reach into my fantasies and give me what I need?

I’ll never take for granted this second chance. A second chance to fall in love with you for the first time.

I steal this moment for myself. Memorizing every word from his mouth. Every fleck of gold in his eyes. That incredible smile—the one that makes me ache.

“I would have fucking married you whether you were going to leave or not. Hell, we would probably already be married if you had never gone missing.” “Why? Because of some childhood promise? Why won’t you give up on that?” My response is bitter in my mouth. “Because, you and me, we are goddamn inevitable.

“Darling, you were made for me. Look at you, even now you give your body to me so freely. But why is it that the second I ask for your heart, you shut down? Do I need to make you fall in love with me again? Is that it?”

My heart pounds, she takes my breath away.

“Listen closely to me. If you think what we’re doing right now is just a hookup, you need to open those big gray eyes and look around. I’m all in with you. So I want all of you in return. You are the only woman who will ever own my heart, but that doesn’t mean I’m going to let you tear it apart either. I won’t accept anything less than forever from you. Do you understand?”