Unforgivably Broken (The Broken Series Book Two) by Maegan Abel Read Free Book Online Page B

neck. She sobbed softly and I held her tightly, fighting to keep my own emotions in check as I let her work through what I’d said.
    “Never ,” she breathed against my neck on a sob. She pulled away just a tiny bit, tilting her chin up to look in my eyes. “I’ll never walk away. You own every piece of my heart, Zane.”

 

    I stayed curled against Zane’s chest much longer than I had intended but the exhaustion of my sleep deprived body caught up to me once my emotions calmed. I didn’t sleep so much as doze off and on, some part of my brain aware that I should move because I was probably hurting him but I couldn’t bring myself to do it. I needed the comfort of his arms.
    “What’s going on in that beautiful head of yours?” Zane finally asked, his voice soft as his fingers trailed slowly through my hair.
    Smiling, I pressed my lips against the bare skin of his shoulder. “I’m just thinking about relationships.”
    “Ours or in general?”
    I moved, carefully crossing my arms over his chest and lightly resting my chin on my hands as I looked up at him. “Both.”
    He smiled warmly at my response and brushed my hair behind my ear. The simplicity of the gesture had tears stinging my eyes. His gaze slid back and forth as he watched me, seeing more than anyone else ever could as he read my expression. “And what exactly are you thinking about them?”
    “I’ve never…” I started, swallowing the emotions so I could continue. “I’ve never done this before. I’ve never wanted anyone this way and something you said… stung.” I didn’t want to say it hurt, though it did, but I didn’t want to upset him. I knew we were both feeling on edge and unsure of what was going to happen.
    Zane’s brow furrowed as he traced the pad of his index finger along my jaw lightly, encouraging my eyes back to his from where they had drifted. “I’m so —”
    I sat up quickly, effectively cutting him off. “No. Don’t…” I rested back on his legs, taking a deep breath. “I don’t want you to apologize. That’s just…”
    “I was rude and completely out of line.”
    “But you were right.”
    He reached for my face but paused, lowering his hand to mine where it rested against the hard lines of his abs. He slid his hand over mine, not pressing it against his stomach but lightly tracing his fingers along the length of mine. I could feel his gaze urging me to look up but I needed another minute to get my own emotions in check.
    “What was I right about?” he finally asked, his attempt at drawing my eyes up working.
    “You’ve already apologized for that night. You shouldn’t have to do it again.” He started to speak but I shook my head, not wanting him to interrupt me. “But I get to be upset about this, Zane. I may not know much about relationships but I know that things like this are… big. Relationship ending big, if they aren’t handled right. I get to be upset. I get to…” I took a shaky breath, determined to hold it together. “I get to cry because she has a part of you inside her. I get to feel hurt that she’s the one giving you a child. That’s my right.”
    “Why are we talking like this is a definite issue?”
    “Wouldn’t you rather be prepared for it to be yours and celebrate when it’s not rather than going about life assuming it’s not and getting slapped with the news later that it is? Isn’t it ‘innocent until proven guilty?’” I knew I wanted to be prepared. Well, as prepared as anyone could be in this situation.
    He watched our hands as I traced them along his stomach, running them up to cover the still pink and puckered scar over his ribs. “I’m pretty sure Conner’s test was proof enough of Lizzie’s guilt. Fool me once…” he trailed off, not finishing the saying. I could see his point but I still wanted to be prepared.
    I thought about my life, about our future, and how permanently entangled it was with Lizzie. Conner was old enough now that Zane had a