Page 109 of Perfect Liar

I pulled back and stared into his eyes. Ethan’s words about influence echoed inside my head. That was when I knew Will would never walk away from me, never abandon me.

I slipped my hand into his, and we left the lounge together.

Out in the corridor, Will pulled me to a stop before the elevator.

“Elle, I want to be sure you do understand me.”

I met his eyes with mine, waiting for his words.

“I’ll destroy any man who touches you, any man who threatens to take you away from me. Even just the appearance of it isn’t tolerable for me. You must never forget that. That’s what I’ve become with you, and there’s no way back from it.”

I realized then, staring into his eyes, his soul, that I’d taken pleasure in drawing out this baser instinct in him—an instinct resembling a feral beast that he had no control over, not when I was the one triggering it.

As strong a man as he was, he still needed reassurance that no other man existed for me, that a point of return no longer existed for me either.

I was madly in love with him.

“Say something, Elle.”

I didn’t know why, but I couldn’t say a word.

I just couldn’t stop myself from pushing him more.

Will ran his hand through his hair and cursed, then he tucked his finger under my chin, pulling my face closer to his.

“Do you want me to get on my knees and beg you to love me back?”

A sharp breath caught in my throat.

“You did say it,” I whispered.

The muscles in his face relaxed, his expression softened.

“I’ve loved you from the moment you first looked at me with those beautiful eyes.”

As soon as he said the words, I knew they were the reason for my triggering behavior. I wanted him to love me. And more than that, I wanted him to love me beyond just love.

Slowly, tears rolled down my cheeks, one at a time.

I had never traded a confession of love with another human being. I didn’t know how to verbally express my feelings to anyone other than Lissie. Silence. That’s all I could give him.

But really, I should have known better. Will would take what he wanted from me.

He jerked me into his arms.

Our mouths collided.

I wrapped my arms tightly around his neck and encouraged him with my tongue to deepen our kiss, to leave me breathless, to love me with all he had, and to feel how much I loved him without hearing the words.

In the very next moment, my back hit the floor, and Will was on top of me.

I loved him was all I could think. I loved him.

A sharp pain rushed along my spine.

High-pitched ringing filled my ears.

“Don’t move,” he shouted.