Chapter Twenty-Four #2
“I’d do anything to protect the people I love,” I say, my voice low.
“That’s what I was trying to do with you, Lyri.
I thought keeping my name, my job, my family, my fucking world separate, would protect you.
Keep what we had real.” I glance away. “But all I did was screw it up. I didn’t see that hiding the truth was just another way of hurting you. ”
Her eyes fall. “And I jumped the gun… went straight to not trusting you. I’m so sorry, Chase. I should have given you a chance to tell me the truth. Instead, I acted so selfishly. God, you must hate me.” Her head falls as she looks to the floor.
Stylo stands and walks to the chair opposite us, giving us some space.
I take her hands, wrapping mine around them firmly, anchoring her to me before her eyes flick up, meeting mine. “I could never hate you, Lyric Griffin. I love you. More than I’ve ever loved anyone.” My voice roughens. “That’s why I’ve been fighting like hell to win you back.”
I lean in just slightly, holding her gaze.
“You didn’t know the full story, but I was hoping that once you did, you might see I wasn’t trying to deceive you.
I was trying to protect what we had. I see now that it was a huge mistake.
” I swallow hard. “But if there’s even a part of you that still believes in us, then I’m asking you to forgive me.
Not because I deserve it, but because I never stopped loving you. ”
Her bottom lip quivers, her voice breaking as she whispers, “I’m the one who should be apologizing. I let my heart run scared instead of leaning in to the one person who made me feel safe. If anyone messed this up… it was me.”
I shake my head slowly, a quiet scoff escaping.
“No, Lyric. You’re exactly who you’re meant to be.
Strong. Fierce. Honest. You only did what you thought was right.
” My voice drops as I look her straight in the eyes.
“Yeah, we both made mistakes. But we’re standing here now, owning them.
So the only thing left to ask is…” I pause, my thumb brushing her knuckles.
“Do we leave it all behind? Or do we fight for what’s still ours? ”
Her hand comes up, caressing my face again, sending a shudder down my spine.
“I love you, Chase. My world doesn’t revolve if you’re not in it.”
My chest squeezes in utter fucking joy. I honestly never thought I would hear her repeat the words I wrote in one of my notes.
I run my hand into the back of her hair, pulling her face to mine, forcefully.
I should go for the slow, passionate kiss.
It should be tender. Loving. But right now, I need to taste her, to make up for all the lost time we’ve missed out on.
Her lips crash against mine, her hands snaking up around my neck as her mouth opens, and my tongue collides with hers in a flurry of desire.
Kissing her feels like everything I remember, only ten times better.
My cock begins to harden, and I want to take this further.
I need to.
My hand snakes down around her waist, pulling her closer to me, and that’s when someone clears their throat. We wrench apart, panting for breath as we both turn to see her father with his brows raised, still sitting in the chair opposite us.
I forgot he was even here.
“Fuck! Stylo, you didn’t need to see that. Sorry,” I tell him as I pull Lyric into my side, wrapping my arm around her waist to make sure she stays right there.
I need to feel her close.
Stylo waves his hand through the air. “On the contrary, I did. I needed to make sure you are what my Lyric truly wants. And I’m more than sure of that now.”
Lyric’s lips turn up, brightening the room like the sparkle of a summer’s day. Her eyes shine with the brilliance of a thousand rare diamonds, this time not from sadness but from pure happiness. I’m glad I am the man who has put that happiness back inside her soul.
“You’re exactly what she needs, Chase, and I couldn’t ask for a better man than you to take care of my baby girl.” Stylo stands, stepping forward, and places his hand out for me to shake.
I lean forward and shake it firmly. “Thank you, Stylo. Thanks for helping me with this.”
Stylo dips his head.
Lyric suddenly stands like she’s feeling anxious. “Daddy?”
He spins back to her. “Yeah, sweetheart?”
“Are you leaving?”
I understand her meaning. Not just leaving right now, but leaving the country again.
He turns with a warm smile. “Your mother and I are here for a full week. We’ll be at the house. We want you and Chase to come over for dinner. Tomorrow night… if you’re free?”
Her eyes meet mine, and there’s a desperation in them. I smile, making her body relax. She’s glowing so much, and I couldn’t be happier.
“Dad?”
“Yeah, baby girl?”
“Thanks for helping me.”
He exhales as he stands in front of her.
“I may not always show it, but you are the most important person in my life. I know I’ve been a shitty father.
I know that. I own it. I cared more about setting you up for your future than being present in the moment.
I failed you. And I am fucking sorry, Lyric. ”
Her eyes well with tears again as I let her go. Lyric stands face to face with her father, who’s finally having an honest conversation with her. She idolizes him. And all she has ever wanted from him is some attention.
“I guess growing up was hard…” she trails off.
He reaches out for her hands. “I know. You were left to raise Clef and Aria while your mom and I were gallivanting around the world. You’re a rock, Lyric, to this family. You’re stronger than you know, and I couldn’t be prouder of the woman you’ve become.”
She scoffs. “Even when I judge people before knowing the full story?” She subtly glances back at me, but I smile to ease her concerns.
Stylo wraps his arms around her body, taking her into a tight embrace.
“Especially then. I’m the reason you have that lack of belief.
How you can’t trust people to be there for you, to do what they say.
Your experience with Zane enhanced that lack of trust. I’m not surprised you reacted the way you did with Chase.
But Lyric, Chase is a good guy. When Zane lied, it was to hide something he didn’t want you to find out.
Chase was always going to tell you the truth.
It just… it came out in the wrong way…” He pauses.
“I guess what I’m saying is… trust him, baby girl, because I do. ”
I’ve never felt more elated than I do right now. Not only have I won the girl, but I have also gained her father’s blessing. It doesn’t get better than this.
“So, I have you for a whole week before you leave again?” she asks.
Stylo pulls her in for another hug. “A whole week. But we can catch up tomorrow. I think you need to spend tonight with someone else.” He winks at her.
She turns toward me, a bright smile lighting her face. “Yeah, I think I do, too, Dad.”
Stylo leans in, kissing her on her cheek, and then he walks toward the front door.
Lyric watches her father leave, and her shoulders drop, the tension flowing from them as if being pushed by the waves in the sea. She turns to me, her gorgeous green eyes conveying so much with a simple look. “I’m so sorry, Chase.”
I reach out for her, wrapping my arms around her waist, pulling her to me. Our bodies collide in the best possible way as she presses up against me. Her arms slide around my neck before I lean my forehead against hers, just taking her in. “You have nothing to be sorry for, Starlight.”
She shakes her head against mine, her eyes closing briefly. “But I do, Hallmark.”
Fuck, I love it when she calls me that.
“I’ve treated you like shit since we broke up, and all you’ve done is try to show me how much you love me. I’m really crap at this whole relationship thing.”
My hand comes up, cupping her cheek, and her eyes flutter open.
They’re brimming with unshed tears, and I lick my lips, wanting to kiss them away.
“Lyri, stop! I hurt you. This is all on me. Your reaction was completely normal. But can we forget this ever happened and get to the making-up part now?” I tease, wiggling my brows.
Her lips curl into a slow, knowing smile, and the spark in her eyes tells me she’s on the exact same page.
Hell, she probably turned it herself. I don’t wait for a green light, I’ve been stuck at red long enough.
My hand shifts from her cheek to the back of her head, fingers threading through her hair like I’m anchoring myself, and then I close the distance.
I crush my mouth to hers. It’s not gentle. It’s not sweet. It’s everything we’ve been holding in, all tangled up in one desperate, punishing kiss.
Months of tension, regret, and heartache are gone.
Or at least, numbed by the way she clutches at my shirt like it’s the only thing keeping her upright.
My tongue sweeps into her mouth, taking, tasting, claiming.
She answers with the same wild hunger, her teeth grazing my bottom lip, and it’s like pouring gasoline on an already out-of-control blaze.
My cock pulses hard against her as she arches into me. I claw at her back, dragging her body flush to mine, needing every inch of her against me like my life depends on it. Her fingers tangle in my hair, tugging, guiding, nearly driving me to insanity with how perfect she feels.
I try to walk her backward, but we bang into a chair, then a side table, knocking some overpriced decorative thing to the floor.
Screw it. I grip her ass and hoist her up, her legs locking around my waist like they were made to live there.
The heat of her pussy grinding into me through our clothes has me on the brink of coming undone in the damn foyer.
I’ve got one thought left in my brain—get her upstairs before we do something unspeakable on the welcome mat, when a voice cuts through the fog. “Ahhh… I’ll just let myself out,” Dax blurts out, practically backpedaling down the stairs.