Page 75 of Ruthless Desires: Vol. One

I do. Fuck being careful.

“What if she doesn’t? Besides, we all know it’d be too complicated. Our sleep schedules are a mess, and it’s not like we can change that. And what about—”

“I know,” Oliver snaps, and I can just barely see him slump in his chair in my peripheral vision.

“Weneed to take her home, and then we need to leave her alone,” Elliot says. “This weekend has been amazing—a fantasy come true. But that’s all it’s been. Afantasy.We need to let her go and try to forget about her.”

No,I shout in my head. But the sound echoes throughout the room, very real andveryaudible.

“Fuck,” Rhett mutters, pulling me up and into his lap. “How much of that did you hear?”

Tears spring to my eyes, but I blink them back. This isexactlywhat I was afraid of. I caught fucking feelings, and they’re going to do their best to forget me regardless of what I want. Whattheywant.

I try to slide off his lap, but he holds me to him.

“What all did you hear, sweetheart?”

I turn to Elliot, and his face falls at my hurt expression. Yesterday, he made the claim that he cared about me more than any of the men who came before him. And I agreed with him. But now? Now, he just wants to forget me.

“Why?”

He sighs. “It’s…complicated, love.”

“Don’t call me that.”

He winces.

This was a mistake. This was a huge, giant mistake, and it’s going to make your life so much more fucking miserable.

“I want to go home.”

“Absolutely not.”

I think we’re all surprised when the words spill from Elliot’s lips. I try to squirm from Rhett’s arms, but he just holds onto me tighter.

“Not like this.” Elliot stands, coming to crouch in front of me. “I need you to understand, Wren. It’s not because I don’t want you. We all do. But our lives are…different from other people’s. It’s not easy, and it’s not always safe.”

As he explains, I remember how they’ve all avoided telling me what they do for a living. Are they spies? Assassins or something?

“I don’t understand,” I say flatly.

He rubs his face with his hands. “I guess I’m worried we’d add more stress to your life than happiness, lov- Wren.”

“But you won’t know unless you try,” I whisper. My tears have come back, and one falls onto my cheek.

He brushes it away tenderly, shaking his head. “I don’t think it’s worth the risk. You don’t know what you’re walking into.”

Then explain it to me,I want to yell.

Is this weekend the universe playing some cruel joke on me? Breaking my heart, showing me that therearekind men out there, and then ripping them from my grasp?

No.No.

I can’t watch myself fall apart again. I don’t care if it’s only been a weekend. Somehow these men have stolen my heart, in a much bigger capacity than I was prepared for.

And I can’t just walk away.

I twist, looking at Rhett. “Let me go.” When he hesitates, I brush my fingers across his cheek. “I won’t run.”