Page 73 of Make Me Yours

“I’m afraid to ruin what we have,” she whispers. “You’ve been my friend for so long. I can’t lose you. I just… I need to think.”

My heart is beating so loud it drowns out everything else. The last thing I’m going to do is push her into something she doesn’t want or isn’t ready for.

“That’s fine. Take all the time you need. Whatever you decide won’t change anything between us.” My fingers slip beneath her chin again so she has no choice but to meet my eyes. “You understand that, right?”

Her gaze reluctantly finds mine before searching it for the truth. “Yes. I don’t want to make another mistake. I can’t afford to.”

It kills me that she sees this—us—as a potential mistake.

Because to me, it’s the only thing that’s ever felt right.

The only thing that’s ever made sense.

I force a smile and gentle my tone. “Then don’t think of it as some big decision about the future.”

Her brows pinch. “What do you mean?”

I take a step forward, watching her carefully. “I’m not asking for forever, Lilah. I’m not even asking for a relationship.”

Her eyes widen slightly, but she doesn’t interrupt.

“While you’re here,” I say, “we could just be…” I drag a hand through my hair. “Call it whatever you want. A break. A distraction. Friends with benefits.”

I hate the words as soon as they leave my mouth. But if they get me even a piece of her, I’ll choke them down.

Her brows lift as her expression turns amused. “Friends with benefits?”

I lift one shoulder in a casual shrug and force a crooked smile. “Sure. No pressure. No strings. You set the pace, and I’ll follow your lead.”

She crosses her arms like a shield across her chest, but I see the way her eyes darken with the idea. The hesitation that battles her curiosity. “I don’t know.”

The last thing I want to do is spook her.

It’s slowly that I lift my hand to her face until my fingers can graze her cheek. She doesn’t even realize it when she leans into my touch.

But I do.

I see it.

I feel it.

And it gives me the tiniest sliver of hope.

“Take some time,” I murmur, “and think about it. It’s your choice, Lilah. It always has been.”

Her lips part to say something, but I don’t give her the chance.

I lean in, brushing my mouth over hers just once. It’s barely a kiss. Just enough to taste her. Just enough to destroy every bit of control I have left.

I keep my eyes locked on hers. “If you want this,” I whisper, “I can give it to you. I’ll give you all the pleasure you can stand.”

She goes still.

And so do I.

It feels like we’re suspended in a moment.

My thumb traces the corner of her mouth. “And then I’ll give you even more.”