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My palms turned clammy against my bare arms. “I don’t care if that’s the truth, but at least be man enough to admit it.”

He approached me. “I didn’t know he was her husband.”

“So on top of being an asshole, you’re a liar too?”

“How would I have known that, Nirah—” he cut himself off, his head slightly tilting to the right. “How did you know that?”

My face relaxed as I licked my lips, slightly leaning back to create distance between us. “It’s late. I’m going to bed.”

His hand gripped my upper arm, the sting forcing me to stay in place.

“I didn’t know, Nirah.”

“Sure.” I nodded. “Goodnight, Antonio.”

He pushed me up against the kitchen island and my hands gripped the countertop on either side of me.

“Why don’t you believe me?” He positioned himself in front of me so that I had nowhere to go. “I have no reason to lie to you.”

“Why did you kill him?” I pressed, my fingers curling into the countertop.

“I already told you why—”

“The real reason.”

“There is no fucking real reason!” He snapped, more agitated than before.

The words flew past my lips before I could stop it. “Did you sleep with her?”

A deep crease settled between his eyebrows. “With who?”

“With her, Antonio. You know exactly who I’m talking about.”

“No, Nirah.” He gripped the sides of both of my arms. “I didn’t sleep with anyone.”

I scoffed, rolling my eyes.

“Why don’t you believe me?”

“Why should I believe you, Antonio, huh?” I asked. “Why the fuck should I believe—“

“Because I love you.” His hold on me tightened and my grip on the counter loosened as time stilled. “Because even after everything you did I couldn’t stop loving you. Caring about you. Craving your presence until it drove me to the brink of insanity. Going 1461 days without you felt like inhaling shards of glass every goddamn day, Nirah. That’s why.”

The tension eased out of my body as I stared up into the sincerest green eyes that had once held me on a pedestal. That loved and cared for me like no other.

“Fuck.” He groaned, taking my face in his hands as he pressed his lips to mine.

My eyes fell shut and my hands rested on his waist. ‘Because I love you.’

His arms wrapped around my lower back, pulling me closer and the warmth radiating off his body wrapped around me, trapping me in an orbit I didn’t want… I didn’t want to leave.

My hands shot up, holding his face as I parted my lips, allowing his tongue to sync with mine.

A single tear trickled down my cheek as his hands reached down to grip my hips. ‘Because I love you.’

He lifted me onto the countertop and I wrapped my legs around his waist, locking my arms around his neck.

His hands slid to my ass as he squeezed, then pulled my body flush against his.