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“Don’t lie to me, Shae.”

She slams her hands flat on the granite before spinning around to face me. When she crosses her arms again, it’s like a shield coming up between us.

“You’re going to have to slow your roll, Storm,” she says, her face serious. “I know you get a hard-on being all caveman and ‘mine, mine, mine,’ but I need time to get there, and I need you to respect that.”

My head spins at her sharp about face.

“Most people are happy after they come,” I grind out. I’m trying for a joke, but her shoulders just go up higher.

“Anyway,” Shae says, taking a big step to the side. “This was nice. I’ll catch you later?”

We blink at each other for a long moment before I blow out a breath, running my palm across the back of my head.

I have two options here: I can either keep pressing her to figure out what the hell is going through her head, or I can give her space so she doesn’t run.

And the idea of her running again has me on edge.

“Okay, Shae,” I say, keeping my voice calm. “I’ll go. But we’re going to work on that.”

Her brows crease. “That? Thatwhat?”

I grin. “Your attitude, Sweetness. And your tendency to push me away whenever something makes you uncomfortable.”

She frowns but looks down at the floor. Taking silent steps closer to her, I tilt her chin up.

“We’ll work on trust and honesty, Shae. I know you’re skeptical, but we’ll get there,” I vow.

Her lips twist before she drops her arms and sighs.

“Okay, Storm.” She doesn’t look happy still, but she looks less like she’s about to start throwing pans at my head.

I lean down and place a sweet kiss on her lips, keeping pressed to her until her lips open under mine.

That’s it.

Shae’s arms swing around my neck as we sway into each other, dancing to a silent song.

This. This feels right.

“I meant everything, Shae Olivya Rivers,” I whisper, pulling away to press my lips to her forehead. “If you choose to doubt anything, never doubt my feelings for you.”

She breathes in slowly, sinking into my body when she exhales.

“Okay, Storm,” she murmurs, speaking to my chest before moving back to meet my gaze. “I’m trusting you.”

The smile that moves across my face is slow but comes from my soul.

My fucking heart.

“That’s more than I could ever ask for, Sweetness.”

28

SHAE

“Shae Olivya Rivers, if you don’t open this goddamn motherfuckin’ door, Isweartogod!” Yenn’s shrill shout has me wanting to smother her with a pillow, but it’s not like I didn’t expect her to come banging on my door as soon as Storm left.

Storm…who has my mind tied up seventy-five different ways.