Read Online Inked Ever After by Elle Aycart - Free Book Online Page A

still the same, you know?”
    James took her by the hand and directed her to one of the
cabins. Once on the porch, he took the keys from his pocket and opened the
door.
    She looked at him, puzzled. “Did you rent it for the day?”
    He shook his head. “No. I bought it, princess. This is my
wedding present to you.”
    “What?” she whispered, her eyes wide.
     
     
    “I bought this cabin for you. For us. I wanted to give you a
place where you could remember your family with a smile on your face. A place
that holds memories that are dear to you but that don’t hurt so badly.”
    She looked around, then at him, and crumpled to the floor,
breaking down in sobs.

Chapter Four
    Tate found herself airborne and then on the sofa, on James’s
lap, his strong arms tightly wrapped around her.
    “It’s okay, princess. I got you. Everything is going to be
fine.”
    She shook her head and sobbed even harder. Not crying was a
total impossibility, so she didn’t even try.
    “Easy now. Breathe, baby,” he whispered against her hair as
he cradled her and stroke her back.
    It took a while before she could get words out—words that he
could understand, that is.
    “Why?” she asked into his chest.
    “Why did I buy this cabin?”
    She nodded.
    His voice was gentle. “Because I love you, and I’d do
anything to see you smile. You need to heal, Tate, and trying to choke your
feelings down and pretend they don’t exist is not the way.”
    Oh God. She ignored his last sentence, not ready to tackle
that, and gripped his shirt, her eyes not meeting his. “James, this is too
much. I can’t accept it. I can’t give you anything like this—”
    “Princess,” he said, tipping her head up, forcing her to
look at him. “You don’t need to give me anything. All I want is you. You give
me you, we’re even.”
    “No, we aren’t even. Not even close.” And not only because
of the house. He gave her so much of himself. All the time, every day.
    “Well, on that you’re right. We aren’t even because you’re
not giving me all of you. You’re good at hiding it, but I live with you. I know
you much better than you think I do. Probably much better than you’d want me
to. I can see your pain when you think I’m not watching. The sadness. The
grief. And with the wedding it’s gotten worse.”
    “James—” she started, her head already shaking. They
couldn’t talk about this. Not here, not now. She would implode. He obviously
disagreed, for he cut her off.
    “I’m done giving you space and letting you work your shit
alone. I should have never given it to you in the first place; you don’t do
well when you’re left to your own devices. We are going to talk about this
fucking wedding, and we are going to talk about it now.”
    “What do you—”
    She tried scrambling to her feet. Fat chance. He tightened
his grip on her, leaned on his side, and brought her down on her back. In a
flash his face was an inch from hers, his hands at either side of her head, his
massive body crowding her. “Shut it, Tate. We tried your way; now we’ll try
mine. Listen to me. I know you wanted to get married with your family by your
side—with your dad and brother there. That’s why you’re panicking and shutting
down when the wedding comes up. That’s why you didn’t want to have the ceremony
at your parents’ place in Boston.”
    She pushed at his chest, but he didn’t budge. “You’re
crowding me. Let me up.”
    There was no humor in his laugh. “No fucking way. You’re
running scared, in pain, and instead of trusting me and letting me in, you’re
closing off. And I won’t allow it. Talk to me.”
    Her throat felt raw, but she fought to get the words out.
“It’s not really that bad. I’m just a bit emotional. Brides—”
    “Don’t give me bullshit,” he spat from between clenched
teeth, his gaze burning a hole in her. “I was with you the day before yesterday
in that fitting room when your eyes were swollen from crying and