Page 29

29

CONNOR

A llie hasn’t said a word.

She sits in the passenger seat, arms crossed, face turned toward the window, pretending last night didn’t happen. Like if she ignores me long enough, it’ll disappear.

She should know better by now.

I don’t let go of things.

Especially not her.

I let my gaze drop to the curve of her leg tucked beneath her, then trail up to the tank top stretched across her chest.

Her breath hitches.

I smirk and return my attention to the road.

She’s pretending. Acting like she’s not still aching from how I fucked her. Like she didn’t fall apart in my arms over and over again.

This ends now.

She doesn’t notice when I veer off the main highway.

But when the miles pass and the landscape changes, she finally speaks.

“Where are we going?"

I don’t answer.

“Connor,” she says, sharper now.

I remain quiet.

Her frustration builds in the silence, radiating off her like heat.

Good.

I pull into a deserted overlook. The sky is streaked with golden orange.

I kill the engine, then turn to face her.

She stiffens. "Why are we here?"

I lean back and stretch my legs out, appearing calm and unbothered. "Because I’m done with the games."

She scoffs. "There is no game."

I raise a brow. "You’ve been avoiding me all day, baby."

“Maybe I just don’t want to talk to you."

“Oh, yeah?” In one smooth motion, I unfasten her seatbelt, grip her wrists, and pull her straight into my lap.

She gasps, hands braced on my chest. "Connor?—"

“Still wanna pretend?"

“You can’t just manhandle me!"

“Pretty sure you like it when I do."

She sputters, squirming in my lap. But I press my hips up, letting her feel exactly what she’s doing to me.

She freezes.

Her breathing is ragged. Her face flushed.

“Say it," I murmur.

“Say what?"

“That last night meant something to you."

She shakes her head, remaining silent.

“Say you want more."

Still nothing.

I press my mouth to her ear and whisper the one thing she can’t outrun. "Say you’re mine."

Her hands fist my shirt. Her thighs tighten around me.

“I-I can’t,” she whispers.

Her voice cracks, and I see it—all of it. The pain behind her walls.

“Tell me what’s holding you back.”

She tries to retreat, but I don’t let her. I tighten my grip, refusing to let her go.

“There’s something deeper than Mark. I can see it.”

Her eyes glisten, but she doesn’t cave.

So I give her a piece of me.

“My parents divorced when I was eight," I say quietly. “It was ugly. They dragged my brother and me through it. My brother chose our dad. I chose my mom.” I swallow hard. “Dad and my brother cut us off completely.”

Her expression softens. "I’m so sorry."

I nod. “Ford, the team… they’re my family now.”

I look into her eyes. “And so are you.”

Her lips part. Her guard wavers but doesn’t fall.

“You care about me, Allie. I feel it. So why are you still running?”

Her voice is fragile. “I’m afraid… if you really saw me, your opinion of me would change.”

I cradle her face. “That’s never gonna happen.”

I place my hand over her chest. "Everything I need to know is right here." I pause. "And here."

I brush away a tear as it falls.

She breaks.

“My mom died when I was ten,” she whispers. “I blamed her for leaving me with him. My dad... he hated me for how I looked. Nothing was ever enough.”

Rage flares in me. “You’re beautiful. He didn’t deserve you.”

She nods, wiping her eyes. “Thanks.”

“I mean it.”

Her gaze steadies.

I lean in.

“I’m falling for you, Allie. I’ve been falling for you since day one. Nothing you say or do will change that.”

She stares at me, not breathing.

More silence.

Then, in the softest voice I’ve heard her use, she says, “I want more.”

I blink. “You want more?”

She smiles. “Yeah.”

“More of us?”

She nods again.

I smile, my breath coming out in a rush, before I grab her.

Then I kiss her, hard and desperate, full of everything I can’t say yet.

And when I finally pull back, I see it. She’s raw. Open. Ready.

I nuzzle her jaw. “And?”

She rolls her eyes, lips twitching. “And what?”

“Say it.”

She gasps when I suck on her neck, teasing her.

Then she whispers, her voice unsteady but sure "I’m yours, Connor."

Fuck, yes.

And I didn’t even have to kidnap her to make it happen.

I can’t wait to tell Ford.

I hum my approval. “Good girl.”

She shivers, grinding against me.

I kiss her again, slow and deep.

I’ve never felt more content in my life.

The words are out there now. She can’t take them back.

And I won’t let her.

She’s mine.

Forever.