Chapter 78

“Because letting her guard down means she lets go of a little bit of control, and she likes to hold it all together. Letting go makes her vulnerable, leaves her exposed, and that’s worse than death for her.” His voice is steady and low. My breath catches in my throat with a tug of surprise in my chest, a little emotional suddenly, as he really seems to know me.

“If I’m vulnerable, people can hurt me. Men can hurt me,” I whisper into the darkness of my room, too honest in my drunken stupor as the words slide out. I sense his eyes on me as he bends so his forehead meets mine and presses our noses together, an awkward position for him but the cutest move I’ve ever seen him make; there’s something insanely innocent and tender about it. I glance up at him.

“I’d never let anyone hurt you, Emma,” he breathes against me. His hands come down to hold his weight on the mattress at either side of my thighs, bringing his mouth so close to mine that we’re sharing air.

“What if y