Colters' Daughter by Maya Banks Read Free Book Online

chest as she hugged herself against so much hurt.
    “I waited,” she said painfully. “I waited for a month. I wouldn’t go anywhere because I was afraid you’d come back and I’d be gone. I wouldn’t let myself believe that you’d dumped me after all we shared. After I trusted you.”
    Max rubbed a hand over his face and closed his eyes.
    “I finally had no choice but to leave because I was out of money. You never called. You knew where I was and you never even so much as called to say what happened. To tell me you weren’t coming.”
    “I was wrong,” he said softly. “I was grief-stricken. My sister was inconsolable. We’re the only family each other has. It took time to see to my mother’s affairs. There were matters to settle. I had to ensure my sister’s well-being. I knew I would never let you go. I knew that once I was able, I’d track you down no matter how long it took.”
    “Well, here I am,” she said, spreading her arms, her hands palms-up. “As you can see, I’m fine. Your duty is done. You can leave now.”
    “You’re not fine. Any fool can see that. You’ve lost weight. You have bruises under your eyes.”
    She shrugged. “I’ve moved on. I appreciate you coming all this way to let me know you didn’t really mean to dump me and that you never gave me a thought during your haze of grief.”
    “That was cruel even given the circumstances,” he bit out.
    She raised her gaze to his and did nothing to shield her emotions from him. It wasn’t like he couldn’t see inside her. He’d always been able to see to the very heart of her.
    “Cruel? If you loved me, Max, you would have at least sent a goddamn message. Five seconds. You can’t tell me you couldn’t tear yourself away from your sister and your mother’s affairs for five seconds! I would have understood. I would have waited, no matter how long it took.”
    “I didn’t want you to wait. I needed time to think!”
    “Ah, now we get to the truth,” she said scornfully. “You had cold feet. You jumped. I jumped. And it was too fast and you got scared.”
    His eyes blazed and anger rolled from him in waves. “You don’t have the market cornered on hurt, Callie. Yes, goddamn it. We moved way too fast. We burned each other up. I’ve never had a relationship that was as volatile and as passionate as ours. I worried I pushed you too hard, too far, too fast. You’re young. I’m older than you. I needed time to sort a hell of a lot out, including us.”
    “Then you should have had the decency to at least tell me that over the phone,” she said softly. “Because from where I stand, you took the coward’s way out.”
    “Look at me and tell me you were certain about us. Tell me you had no doubts and that you were prepared to submit to me for the long-term.”
    She met his gaze and calm descended. She no longer shook. In a clear, steady voice, she said, “I had no doubts. I would have come back with you. I would have stayed. I would have done anything you wanted.”
    His eyes clouded and his hands curled and uncurled. He dragged a hand through his dark hair and she noted that his fingers shook. His reaction surprised her. He was always so cool and in control. He was a deeply passionate man, but not much shook him except the two of them when they came together. They were explosive, and yes, as he’d said, volatile.
    “I made a mistake, Callie. But I’ll be goddamned if both of us suffer the rest of our lives for it. I don’t give a damn that you think you’re over me or that you’re moving on. I’m not over you and I’m damn sure not moving on.”
    He stared straight into her eyes, his face lined with ruthless determination. “Get used to seeing me, Callie. Because I’m not going anywhere until matters are settled between us. To my satisfaction. And to my satisfaction means you back in my bed where you damn well belong.”

Chapter Six
    “You honest to God think I’m going to fall back into bed with you just