Page 29 of The Hunt

“If I’m just a challenge to you, why…” I hiccuped. “... why’d you come find me?”

His eyebrows knotted together. “Daph…”

“You heard me. Why’d you come find me?”

“Because I love you.”

I didn’t know why I had to have him say it again, but I… I just couldn’t believe it.

“Because I love you, Daph. I will tell you as many times as you need me to.” He rested his forehead against mine, his lips millimeters from my skin, his eyes closed softly, and his fingers making small, comforting circles. “I love you. I love you. Gods, I love you.”

Another stray tear fell down my cheek. “You’re not what I thought you were.”

“What’d you think I was?”

“Another cocky guy who thinks he can have anything—or anyone—he wants. Someone who I can’t trust, because I don’t want to trust you. I don’t want to trust anyone. I don’t want to be hurt. My family is cursed with bad relationships.”

He took my hands in his larger ones. “I know you don’t want to trust me, but you can. I know I’ve made it hard for you to trust me because of what I said, but I mean what I said to you. I’ll do whatever I can to prove myself to you.”

“This is a lot for me,” I whispered.

“I can be a lot, I know,” he said with a soft smile. “I’ll try to be better.”

“No, it’s not you. It’s me.” Because, really, it was me. “And I’m scared.”

I pulled my head away slightly and reached out before I could stop myself, brushing my fingers across his face. He leaned, almost unconsciously, into my touch, his eyes fluttering closed. “I haven’t felt any kind of love from a woman, from anyone, since my mom died.”

My eyes widened. “Your mom died?”

“In a car accident a few years ago,” he whispered. “A snowstorm.”

Tears filled my eyes again, mirroring him. “Apollo, I–”

“When I saw your car on the side of the road, buried in snow…” He stopped and looked away, tears wavering in his eyes. “I thought that I had lost you too, and I didn’t know what I was going to do. I have only known you for less than a month, but it feels like I’ve known you forever.”

“I’m so sorry,” I said, another sob leaving my mouth. “I shouldn’t have left.”

“Don’t apologize,” he murmured. “It’s my fault for letting that rumor start.”

I opened and closed my mouth a handful of times. “If I give you a chance… if I let myself believe you, will you promise not to hurt me? Please, promise me. I… I don’t think… I don’t want to think…” I trailed off, not even knowing where I was going with this anymore.

He curled his fingers into my thighs. “I killed for you, Daph. I’m not going anywhere.”

My breath caught, and for a moment, something warm filled my body.

Something that I didn’t dare name yet.

“Okay,” I whispered, leaning my forehead against his. “Okay, let’s do this.”

Maybe my family was cursed, but I’d rather break this curse for good, rather than letting it control every part of my life. I’d rather give him a chance and get heartbroken over and over, because this feeling inside my chest…

It was worth fighting for.