DARE-TO-LOVE-TRUTH-AND-DARE-DUET-COLLECTION-by-Lylah-James-pdfarchive

I opened my mouth to argue, but then I saw the mask of
fury on his face, and I wisely shut up and let him continue.
“Once, when you found out about Christian. You never gave
me a chance to explain. You needed me, but you pushed me
away. You robbed me of the chance to be your knight. To
take care of you, while you were hurting. The second time
you walked away, you wrenched my heart out of my chest
and took it with you. And the third time?”
He paused, giving me a pained smile. “The third time
was the worst. My father was dying, and I needed you. But
you walked away, without a second glance.”
I finally understood… why.
My heart dipped to my empty stomach, where there
used to be butterflies, leaving my chest hollow… and
aching.
My scars itched, a phantom echo of the real pain. My
scars burned fiercely, a reminder that Maddox used to
soothe the hurt away… but not anymore.
I clenched my chest over my winter coat, the tears
burning my eyes. “You were angry at me. For leaving. This
was you punishing me. This prolonged separation was my
punishment for leaving you.”
“For breaking your promises,” he rasped darkly.
The sky opened up, and the rain came down on us,
drenching us. Maddox barely flinched, as the storm raged
on us.
I was so cold, frozen down to my bones… but I couldn’t
find myself to care. I drowned in his blue eyes and prayed
he’d save me.
“I’m still falling for you, Maddox,” I whispered. Falling.
Drowning. The rain washed my tears away.
“Liar,” he growled, his brows furrowing. His expression
was stormy. Pained. Thunderous.
My lips twitched with a bittersweet smile. “What else do
you want me to do? I tried. Maddox. I’m trying…”
For you. For us.