“You’re beating yourself up, blaming yourself for things out of your control. You feel responsible for Liam, and for other things you won’t talk about. I see the ghosts in your eyes, and I always did. I have seen the way you talk to Liam and to Jed. I know you talk about your past with them. I don’t know if I have the right to ask for details. I don’t even want details unless you want to give them to me. But I think I have the right to know how you are hurting when it’s affecting us, when it takes you away from me. Do you really want to be with me? Do you trust me? You have to come back to me, Luke. All the way back. You’re here, but you’re not with me. You promised no more running. If we can’t be honest, then what do we have?”

“I don’t know!” he cried. “We have each other, don’t we?”

“Then you have to talk to me. Tell me what you need, so I can give it to you,” I implored. “But don’t tell me to leave. I can’t do that.” Please listen to me, Luke, please.

“I’ve taken too much from you, Lily,” he insisted again.

“You have not. I want to give my love to you. I want to give myself to you. If you can’t let me in, then we have nothing.”

He just stared at me with that cold, undecipherable look on his face. His blank eyes cut through me. It hurt.

“I don’t understand why you even wanted me back. I’ll leave you alone, then. Goodbye, Luke.” I turned away from him and stumbled as I rushed toward the door, trying to get out before the tears started falling.

I heard his boots step over the floor behind me. I was almost to the door when I felt his arms band around my waist from behind. His lips touched my neck. “Don’t leave me, Lily, please. I don’t want to be alone anymore.”

I melted back into his arms. He heard me.

His arms split, one banded around my hips and the other across my chest, palm under my chin to turn my face to his. He kissed me hard.

“I need you.” He kissed me again, tongue pushing harshly into my mouth. He abruptly released me and stepped back.

“Then take what you need, Luke,” I offered.

“I want you. I need you. I am tired of feeling like a dead man walking. I feel alive when I’m with you.”

I reached up and pushed the straps of my sundress down, letting it fall to the floor, leaving me in my underwear and heels. I looked over my shoulder at him. “Then take me.”