Page 23 of Apple of His Eye

“Then why? Why do you push me away?”

“I’m no good for you,” I growl, feeling fear surge through me. Fear because once I say the words out loud, there’s no way she can’t agree with them. Fuck, Wildcat, can’t you see? You deserve a good man. A man who will love you, protect you, put you above everything. You deserve Prince Charming, and I’ll never be him.”

“You think I want Prince Charming?”

“It’s what you deserve.”

“Kohen,” she starts, but I can’t hear another word of it. I can’t keep putting myself… my heart… through this.

We will never be.

We can never be.

A knock on the door prevents the conversation from going any further, giving me the break and escape I need.

I turn the lock, crack open the door and Pothole passes me her clothing. He keeps his eyes on the floor and steps away without saying a word. Thank fuck. I set her clothing on the chair next to me, and slip out of the room, never giving her anything more than my back. “Get dressed. We’re headed back to the club.”

I close the door and make my way down the hallway. Realizing I’m not fleeing from the temptation, but from the other half of my heart.

And just like that, something deep inside of me breaks.

It’s okay,I tell myself before embracing the rising dark.She’ll find her happiness once it’s safe out in the world for her to do so.

* * *

I close my eyes,desperate to lose myself in the utter exhaustion wreaking havoc on my body.

Physically.

Mentally.

Emotionally.

Fuck.

I’m supposed to be some big bad MC President—not some lovesick sap. Besides, I had my great love, and she couldn’t handle being an Old Lady. Hell, she didn’t even stick around long enough to try it.

But damn it, Everleigh is not Lottie, and she isn’t asking me to give up the Jackals. She’s burrowed her way into the club, causing each of my brothers to fall for her sweet innocence. They treat her like family, and they respect her like she’s mine.

And it doesn’t help I was a goner the second I looked into Everleigh’s big brown eyes, wide and fear filled, while she held my hand like she knew I’d never hurt her. I didn’t dare look at her tonight when I refused to give her what we were both so desperate for.

Fuck.

In return, she didn’t say anything to me the entire ride home. Nor did she say anything when I walked her to the room, making sure she secured the lock.

That lock isn’t meant to keep the men in this building out. They’d never hurt her or cross the line I drew that first night. No. That lock was to keep me out. To keep her safe from me and the temptation of claiming her.

My phone chimes on my nightstand and I reach for it, thankful for the distraction.

CODE: Got some more intel on “Raymond”.

ME: I’m on my way down.

I type in and dress quickly. I’m shoving my feet into my shoes when my phone goes off again.

WILDCAT: I can’t sleep. Please, V, I don’t want to leave things so broken between us. Can we talk?

My breath catches in my chest, and as much as I want to reply, I don’t. My head isn’t on straight and the last thing I need is to say anything more to hurt her.