Free Wounded Pride by Mandee Mae

get to finish what he was saying. I grab his face and plant my lips on his, effectively shutting him up. He grips onto my arms, trying to push me away, but then something changes and it’s like he’s trying to get me closer. I drop down to my knees in front of him so we’re more level, then all hell breaks loose.
    One of his hands come up and starts caressing my neck while the other weaves through my hair, where he grips hard while he thrusts his tongue into mouth searching for mine. My hands can’t stay where they are. They start roaming…touching, feeling his arms, his chest…winding around to his back. Feeling his muscles contract every time he moves. This is the Pierce I know. The one who loves to be in control.
    He moves down and starts kissing my neck…nibbling, sucking…making his way to my ear and starts flicking my earlobe with his tongue before he starts sucking on it.
    “Oh, God.” I bring my hands around and start rubbing his thighs, working my way up higher. I want to touch him so bad. I want to feel him…all of him.
    He reaches down and grips my wrist, breaking the kiss. “Please don’t,” he says, trying to catch his breath.
    I lay my head on his shoulder and rest my hands on his legs. Neither one of us says anything for a few minutes, allowing both of us to replenish the oxygen that we have just deprived our bodies of.
    “I’m sorry,” he whispers, pulling away in the process. He looks at me briefly before he backs up and heads over to the couch.
    Tears automatically fill my eyes when I hear those two words. I’m sorry. I don’t want to look him in the eyes. I don’t want him to see how much that hurts me. I haven’t gotten up yet, but I can still see him maneuver himself to the couch, pushing his chair out of the way when he’s positioned.
    I get up, grab my purse, tuck my tail between my legs, and head for the door.
    “Kinlee…”
    I’m at my wit’s end. I don’t know what to do. I don’t know how much more of this I can take. I turn around so he can see the disappointment in my face. Those two words just destroyed me even though I brought all of this on myself. I still feel like someone ripped my heart out…again, only this time the roles are reversed. “I’m done, Pierce. You win. I won’t bother you anymore. I’ll have someone else continue your therapy from here on out.”
    He clenches his jaw and struggles to stand, only able to hold himself up with the aid of the nearby chair. “So that’s it? You’re done fighting for us? I thought you were stronger than that. I thought you were trying to win me back,” he starts shouting.
    How does he know this? Sarah. “I don’t know what else to do, dammit. I’ve tried taking things slow. I’ve tried earning your trust. I’ve been nothing but honest with you and right now I’m at a complete loss.”
    “So you’re going to run again? I am still figuring things out, Kinlee. I’ve already told you this. I’m still not a whole man. I don’t know if I will ever be whole again. Why do you think I push back so hard? There is still a lot of stuff that I’m trying to come to terms with. There are still a lot of things you don’t know about.”
    “Then tell me!” I feel as if I’m shouting at the top of my lung. “How am I supposed to know these things if you don’t talk to me?” My hands are flying all over the place. I start pacing back and forth, not sure if I should stay or go.
    “I don’t feel like a whole man. Not sitting here in this fucking chair like this.” He pounds on the armrests a couple of times. It’s so hard seeing him like this. So vulnerable.
    What in the hell is he talking about? “I don’t need you to be whole. I need you to be you. I’m in love with all of you…the way you are now…not the way you were then.” I walk over and stand right in front of him. “Why can’t you see that I want to be with you? That I’m tired of running. You were it for me a long time ago and I should have