Chapter 61. Bella POV

After holding him against me for some time I whispered, “you know, you don’t have to tell me anything,”

I felt his hands squeeze my waist a bit tighter in response.

“I was worried you were going to tell me this, us, was over.”

He squeezed me again, but this pulled his head back as well, so I practically fell into his lap. He shifted me effortlessly, so I was sat on his solid thighs, his arm wrapped around me tightly. Our faces were tantalising close, and we looked into each other’s eyes steadily.

“No. I meant everything I said before. I want to look after you, make sure nobody ever hurts you again…but your mate will appear one day, and I’ll be fucked up all over again.”

I sighed, unable to deal with the intensity of his sad gaze and instead rested my head into his shoulder, the ridges of his scars against my forehead and I nuzzled in, enjoying that burnt citrus scent more every time.

“How many random men am I going to be touching on a