Page 42

He nodded. “Yeah.”

She looped her fingers around his wrists. “Including shutting me out today?”

His eyes darkened, and he didn’t answer.

In the silence that fell between them, she felt her heart begin to shatter, piece by piece. She’d tried everything to reach him, and she’d failed. “Never mind?—”

He didn’t release her. “Gordy saw a monster when he looked at me today,” he said quietly.

Her gaze snapped to his. “I know.”

“He saw me through the lens of his trauma. I thought I could help kids like Gordy because I’d been through what they’re going through, but I just scared him.”

Bella heard the pain in his voice, and her heart softened. “He asked if you were a monster. He didn’t say you were scary.”

Falcon blinked. “What?”

“You were like a monster coming out of the shadows the night we met, but you weremymonster, and that made me safe. Sometimes, we need monsters to protect us, because regular humans aren’t enough.”

Falcon stared at her, and she could see the doubt in his eyes. He didn’t believe he was good. He didn’t believe he could make the difference he wanted to make. “If I brought a kid into my life,it could make him a target, like it did with you. So I can’t keep him safe. I’ll put him in danger.”

Bella put her hands on either side of Falcon’s face, mimicking his pose with her. “You don’t know that my stalkers are related to your quest. But even if they are, it’s worth it because of what you give me.”

He cocked his brow. “What do I give you?”

“When you shut me out? Heartbreak. Pain. Loneliness.” When he started to pull away, she tightened her grip. “But when you look at me like you are doing right now, when you listen to me, when you talk to me about the things that matter to you, you become the beautiful man who makes me want to fall into your arms and never leave them.”

Her declaration hung in the air between them. Her heart was racing. She knew there was so much past between them, and so much space between them now, but in this moment, it didn’t matter. This was Falcon. Hero. Protector. A man with a heart shining bright with goodness and beauty, even if he fought so hard not to let it show.

He moved closer, sliding his fingers through her hair. “I don’t know what to do right now.” His voice was low, rough.

“What do you mean?”Kiss me, Falcon. Just kiss me.

He searched her face. “I cause you pain. I’m trying to be different, but I’m not good at it. I’m danger. I’ll probably fuck up every future dream you have. I?—”

“Do you want to kiss me?”

He met her gaze. “More than anything I’ve wanted in my life.”

“Then do it.”

He didn’t move, and her heart sank. He was going to make her kiss him first, wasn’t he? As he’d promised? She loved that he kept his promise, but underneath all her bravado, she still wanted a knight in shining armor to sweep her off her feet.

“Bella.” He whispered her name, so reverently that she felt tears well in her eyes.

“No one has ever said my name like that,” she whispered.

“Because no one has ever loved you like I do.” Then he angled his head, leaned down, and kissed her.

NINETEEN

Falcon had waitedyears for this moment. A lifetime…and beyond…to be able to lean down, pull this incredible woman into his arms, and kiss her like she was the light that carried the entire world in its rays.

But the moment he felt Bella’s mouth against his, he knew that he’d fully underestimated the impact it would have on his soul.

Her lips were warm, soft, perfection, magical luminaries that poured wholeness into the very depths of his being.

He’d meant to kiss her once and let her go, but when she kissed him back, there was no chance of him pulling away. And when she slid her arms around his neck and pulled him against her, he knew that he was lost to her. He always had been.