Free Midnight Heat (Black Phoenix Book 2) by Sarah Grimm Page B

to heartbreak. “You’ll be here at least another year, but a car, a place of your own, these are too much of a commitment for you. How can I believe you truly want to commit to me?”
    “I never stopped thinking about you, not even for one day.”
    She shook her head.
    He closed the distance between them, cupped her face in one hand and made her look at him. “Yes. Regret will do that to a person.”
    She didn’t step aside and break the connection like she knew she should. She needed this last touch before pushing him away for good. It had taken her all the time they’d been apart not to dream about him every night. Not to wonder where he was or what he was doing. Whether or not he was happy without her.
    “The night of my accident, when I opened my eyes and you were there? Seeing you again, Rebecca...” Dominic swallowed hard. “It was like someone let the air back into the room.”
    God, he was beautiful. It wasn’t fair just how beautiful. But she couldn’t do it again, couldn’t survive another loss like the last time he walked. “You had your chance. You didn’t want me.”
    “Don’t do this. I still believe in us.”
    She laughed without humor, forcing back the tears trying to break free. “Us? There is no us. You threw us away like yesterday’s trash.”
    “Don’t give up on me,” he pleaded, his voice hoarse.
    Emotion clogging her throat, she forced herself to say the words. “You’re too late. I don’t love you anymore, Dominic.”
    Dominic jerked like she’d hurt him. He dropped his hand and retreated a full step. The pain in his eyes was enough to cause the tears she’d been holding back to break free. Her breath stuttered out. She had to fight the urge to curl her fingers in his shirt as he stepped back again, his expression hollow.
    His gaze never left her face as he backed to the door, where he finally turned away from her. God it hurt. It hurt so damn bad she couldn’t breathe.
    He curled his hand around the knob and pulled the door open. Centered in the doorway, he froze as she said softly, “Please don’t stop by again.”
    He tipped his head once in understanding, then he was gone.
    Rebecca’s stomach heaved. Her knees gave out and she sank to the floor, no longer able to hold back the sobs that wracked her body.
     
    * * *
     
    This time he was smarter. Dominic didn’t race down the road trying to outrun the memories. He pulled over and let them come.
     
    “Don’t,” he warned.
    “Don’t what?”
    He crawled out of bed, pulled his jeans on and looked down at her. “Ruin everything by bringing love into this.”
    Rebecca sat up, the sheet falling away from her freckled breasts, reddened from the attention he’d just bestowed upon them. Christ, she had an incredible body. He could spend hours lost in her. Just had actually. The desire to return to her was overwhelming. Until she uttered those words a second time.
    “I love you, get over it.”
    “Fuck!”
    There was no mistaking the flash of pain in her eyes. “Gee, just what every woman wants to hear after she confesses her feelings to a man.”
    “Do you know how many times someone’s said that to me?” He shoved his arms in his shirtsleeves, his feet into his shoes. “‘Oh, Dom, I love you, Dom.’ They never mean it.”
    “Yeah? Well consider yourself lucky.” Her voice was tight, filled with sadness. “No one’s ever told me they love me.”
    That gave him pause. “Bec—”
    “I’m not some groupie, Dominic. I’m a grown woman. I know my own feelings.”
    He sighed. “Do we have to do this?”
    She shoved the sheet aside and scooted to the end of the bed. “Yes,” she said, snagging his hand. “We have to do this.”
    He stared at her, then at their joined hands for a long moment. “What do you want from me, Becca?”
    “Nothing.”
    “No?” he scoffed. Every woman wanted something. No one uttered those words without an ulterior motive.
    “I want you to know what’s in my heart. I love