“Then let me go!” I try going around him, but he keeps blocking my way. “Elliot, please—”
“I just want you to understand that I need to go with you!” Elliot’s tone is taut. It’s not his attorney voice, and it’s certainly not his flirtatious tone he uses at work. This is just Elliot—
“I need to explain to him that I made you do it. I took advantage of your pain—”
And I finally realize that he’s saying all these things because he got everything wrong.
“He needs to know that you’re not at fault—”
“It’s okay.” It’s my turn to say this, my turn to cut him off with a smile that wobbles hard because I’mthisclose to breaking down. “It’s okay, Elliot. He’s never going to hurt me.” I didn’t know that before, but I know that now, and that’s why—
“Thank you, Elliot,” I say shakily, “for everything. But I really have to go.”
He slowly nods...before stepping to the side, and then I’m running out of Fred’s apartment—
Running past Rollo who looks at me like I’m a ghost—
And running into my apartment until—
Bam!
Nicolo is holding me in his arms, and he’s just like Rollo. He’s staring at me like I’m a ghost—
“I’m sorry,” I choke out. “I’m so sorry, I was never...I was n-never in danger—”
He cups my face with shaking hands, his dark eyes looking into mine as if he’s reading everything else that I don’t have the words to say—
“Juniper...”
The rawness of his voice has me choking back a sob.
“I’m s-so sorry, Nicolo—”
A powerful jerk rocks his frame, and I thought he was rejecting my apology until—
“My name,” he says hoarsely. “It’s the first time you’ve ever said my name—”
He’s saying it like his name on my lips is a gift, when it’s him...
It’s him...
Oh, Nicolo.
I don’t even think, I’m just rising up, standing on my toes as I press my lips against his.
I love him. I love him. I love him.
Tears are falling faster on my cheeks as I pull away and whisper, “Am I...am I r-really still your wife?”
“Yes, Juniper.” His voice is ragged. “You still are, you never stopped—”
“T-Then make me yours. P-Please?”
He looks at me like I’ve just asked him to...
I don’t have the words to describe it.
All I know is that I don’t even have time to draw another breath, with Nicolo sweeping me up into his arms, and the next thing I know, he’s taken me to my bedroom. He lowers me to my feet, and as our gazes collide, he slowly reaches for me—