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A part of me was.

I wanted to answer her, to open my mouth and spew every last drop until my soul was clean and there was nothing left filling the air between us. Her eyes made my heart bleed, sending a shiver up my spine as she stared at me.

She looked like she was genuinely concerned for me and my feelings. I couldn't understand why, not after what I had kept from her. Why would she care about me? Why should she even give two fucks about how I felt?

I was the son of the man who had killed her family. I was the boyfriend who had let her believe she was abandoned, who nourished and manipulated her mind into believing what my father wanted her to believe. I was the lover who never told her who she really was.

I was a liar.

“I was afraid of losing you. I was afraid that you'd hate me, and I couldn't ever live with that thought. I've loved you since the first moment I saw you. I was scared that if you knew the truth you'd leave me. I couldn't handle that, I could never imagine my life without you.”

“Did you really think that I would leave you just like that? That my love for you was that weak?”

Weak, no. Misguided, no.

I never thought that her love for me was weak, but hate had the power to drive people away.

“I was afraid you'd hate me.” Wrapping my fingers around her hand, I placed her open palm over my heart. “My heart beats for you,Ilive for you, Cyprus. If there is one thing in this world I never lied about, it's how I feel about you. That was always the truth.”

Darting her eyes between mine, her fingers nipped my skin as she curled them into my chest. She didn't use her voice, remaining silent as she gazed up at me.

Inside my head I was praying that she could feel the sincerity in my tone. She had to know that I meant every word.

Parting her lips, I didn't wait for her to speak. I kissed her. I kissed her so she could taste my love, I kissed her to remind her of what it felt like when we touched. I wanted her to remember the passion we shared and the feelings that came alive when we were together.

My muscles tensed as I anticipated a slap to the face or a punch in the gut. She didn't do either of those things. Cyprus kissed me back.

Her tongue slipped into my mouth, back arching as she lifted her hand to my nape. A hearty moan rolled from her mouth into mine as our tongues danced over ridges and tangoed together.

There were a million quiet words in my kiss. I love you, I need you, I can't live without you, you're my world, you're my life, without you I'm nothing. . .

Raw and greedy, I scooped her cheeks in my palms, forcing every last breath I had into that kiss. In the back of my mind I wasn't sure if that was going to be the last kiss we ever shared.

This isn't it, this isn't ending here. Not like this.

Cyprus dug her nails into my hair, scraping my scalp and sending chills down my spine. We were nothing but heavy breaths and soft moans as we lost ourselves to a hunger that wouldn't be satiated until it felt complete.

Cradled in my lap, I held her firmly, unable to let her go. She was my earth, my air, my everything. If she wasn't in my arms I'd be empty, if she wasn't in my life, I'd be no one.

Looking in her eyes, I watched the tears dry as need swept in taking full control. I could see it written all over her, she needed me as much as I needed her.

Pulling back, I tickled my fingers across her forehead, twirling a thick curl of her hair around my finger. “I love you, I'll never stop loving you. I just want you to know that.”

A soft smile spread on her lips as she touched my chin. “I know, Birch.” Lowering her hands to the edge of her shirt, she tugged it off, dropping it into a puddle on the floor.

Her nipples poked through her light pink, satin bra, as her stomach clenched and goosebumps jumped down her skin. My cock jerked, thickening and throbbing as I ran my fingers over her stomach.

Moaning, Cyprus closed her eyes and tilted her head. She was so fucking beautiful. That woman was my strength and weakness all rolled up into one. She could hold me up and tear me down in a snap.

Arching her back, I plucked her nipples through the bra and watched her body shudder. Fuck, I loved that. The way she wriggled and tensed when my hands were on her, it was fucking magic.

Grunting, I placed her down on the floor and climbed on top of her. Brushing my fingers through her hair, I kissed her throat. “Tell me you love me, Cyprus. Tell me you still love me.”

Her eyes glazed over, spearing my heart and making me sweat. I wasn't sure what she was thinking, or if she was about to cut me loose. I couldn't bear hearing the words if she didn't feel the same anymore.

“Birch,” she said, stroking my cheek with a gentle smile. “I love you, I can't pretend that I don't. I love you, that's why this all hurts so much.”

“I won't hurt you ever again, I promise. I'll tell you everything, I'll answer all your questions. Just promise me you won't give up on us.”