Love's Redemption (Chris and Maddie)

Chapter 724

Hayden didn't say a word.

25 BONUS

I wasn't sure what he meant by his silence, but the thought of him with Yara made me snort coldly. "Of course you're not scared. You've never exactly been short on women, have you?"

His eyes stayed locked on me. That look made guilt creep up my spine.

Just as I was about to demand why he was staring like that, he finally spoke. "What I fear more than anything is seeing you hurt."

Oh.

So, he was willing to let me hate him, push him away, yell and scream-all to keep me safe.

His intentions really were painstakingly sincere.

I got it. I really did. That desperate kind of love, where the thought of losing them terrifies you more than anything else.

"Stop with the sweet talk," I shot back. "You're just trying to get off easy. Love isn't about bailing when it gets hard-it's about sticking together through it."

fingers brushed my cheek, warm and steady. "I'd give up the whole world before I'd

to say things so bluntly, and that one line hit

someone else, just to make him jealous. Thinking about it now, he must've been wrecked. "All you ever do is say pretty words. You're the one who pushed me away in the first place, I muttered, leaning forward to nip at

jaw.

grazed his stubble, lingering

we'd played-pouring it into that one bite. But as I did, I realized

stop, I rested

softly. Obviously, he

I snapped, my cheeks

kept grinning, and I nudged him lightly. "Still laughing? What, can't keep

Chapter 724

he wasn't hurt, I would've stripped him down and

his breath brushing my ear. "If you

motion, making it

had never bothered with alternatives before he was more of a "go big or go home" kind of guy. But now? His offer

brow.

know what

snorted. "Yeah, but you're not just learning. You've been practicing, haven't

to help me perfect my technique?" he quipped, his hand wandering