Chapter 32 - Ransom

I panted into her hair, licked the bead of sweat that purled behind her ear. I waited until my heart settled back into a normal rhythm before I spoke.

Her shiver made me smile.

"Just so we're clear, you're staying with me. You don't get to leave."

"Just so we're clear, you're staying with me. You don't get to leave," she repeated, emphasizing the changes.

I chuckled. "I can live with that." I wrapped my arms around her, squeezed her tight. "Fuck, Ki. You ripped me apart," I whispered into her hair.

Her arms came around me. "You shredded me first," she said into my shoulder.

"How?" I set her away from me so I could look into her silvery eyes. "Seriously. How? I thought we were good and then you shut me down and shut me out."

I watched her as she studied me. She really didn't understand.

"When you said that if you didn't change, you would need me forever." Her beautiful face tightened.

I ran the words over again in my head. Nothing sprung out at me as negative. I