Read Online Stolen Memories: A Novella by Alyson Reynolds - Free Book Online Page B

to depend on us. The woman was too stubborn and proud for that. First thing tomorrow I was going to put the apartment on the market and look for a new place to live.
    I went to the kitchen and pressed the button to start my coffee maker. As it brewed, the smell of coffee filled my kitchen. It was a small sense of comfort. Momma made tea, and I made coffee.
    Carrying the cup to the living room, I decided to get more comfortable here before tackling my bedroom. I wrapped my hands around the mug and sank down onto the soft leather sofa. My nerves were still on edge, but it was getting easier to be here. The tension finally left my body as I settled down to watch some mindless television.
    A knock at the door an hour later startled me. I slowly walked to the door, nervous about who would be on the other side. My hand shook as they settled on the door so I could look through the peephole. Hunter stood on the other side of the door looking incredibly rumpled and especially miserable.
    I stood there waiting for a moment, trying to decide if I wanted to talk to him or not. My eyes still burned from the tears I had shed only a few hours ago.
    “Just open the door, Megan.”
    “How did you know I was standing here?” I asked through the door.
    “I’m your best friend; I know you better than you know yourself. Please, just let me inside. I don’t want to talk to you like this, but I will if I have to.”
    I hesitated for a few seconds before I finally opened the door. As soon as he walked in, he shut and locked the door behind him. The memory of the attack must have been fresh on his mind too.
    “Why did you leave?” he demanded.
    I sighed and walked into the living room with him right behind me. He was so close that when I stopped walking he ran into me.
    “Hunter, I don’t want to be a charity case. Michael is gone, so there’s no need for us to stay married. The only reason we did it in the first place was so you could keep me safe and fuck me without any guilt. It’s no big deal that we end it now.”
    Before I get my heart trampled into little pieces.
    “It’s no big deal?” he echoed in disbelief.
    “No, so if you want to walk away go ahead. You’re free. I told you we didn’t have to do this anyway.” I twisted the ring off my finger and handed it back to him. “You must have paid a fortune for that, so you might as well keep it.”
    He took it from me instinctively, but stared at the gorgeous ring as it sat in his hand. I turned away so he couldn’t see the tears gathering in my eyes. The hurt that showed in his was bad enough.
    “Megan, when I told you I loved you, I wasn’t lying. Whatever is happening between us is real. And this is your ring. I’m not taking it back, no matter what happens between us.”
    He put the ring back on my finger and caressed where it sat. I closed my eyes and tried to block out the things he was saying that would hurt me further and make this harder than it had to be. “We both know you don’t do relationships. I need to learn to take care of everything myself and not lean on you so much.”
    “Megan, damn it. Listen to me.” His hands wrapped around my arms and turned me around so I was facing him. Soft fingers wiped at my eyes, brushing the tears away. “I fucking love you, and I don’t want to lose you. Tell me what I need to say to get you to understand that you’re my wife and I’m not letting you go.”
    “I’ve watched you run away from every relationship you’ve ever had. Why am I different? Why is this different?”
    “Because I love you. I’m in love with you. You’re the only girl that has ever fought back; most women would just roll over and do whatever I wanted. That’s not what I want and that’s definitely not you. We’ve known each other our whole lives and I’m not taking no for an answer.”
    His lips met mine and I kissed him back for just a second. I wanted nothing more than to let him kiss me, drag me to the bedroom and make love to me,