Chapter 6

He'd watched her stumble through one failed relationship after another, watched her give her heart to men who didn't deserve her, watched her cry herself sick over people who would never love her the way he did.

And he'd said nothing. Done nothing. Kept his distance like the good friend he was supposed to be.

But tonight—seeing her break down over Sebastian, seeing her literally make herself ill crying over that bastard—something inside him had snapped clean in half.

"You want to know the truth?" His voice dropped to a dangerous whisper, his face so close now that their breaths mingled. "I've been in love with you since we were kids. Every single day, watching you chase after men who couldn't see what was right in front of them. Watching you give pieces of yourself to people who threw them away like garbage."

Evre's eyes went wide, her lips parting in shock.

"Bradley, I—"

"I'm not finished." His grip on her wrists tightened just slightly, not enough to hurt but enough to keep her attention locked on him. "Do you know what it's like? To be the one who's always there to pick up the pieces, knowing I could give you everything you're looking for, but you can't see me that way? To watch you destroy yourself over men who aren't worth the dirt under your fingernails?"

The moonlight caught the moisture gathering in his eyes—not quite tears, but close.

"I've been patient. God knows I've been patient. I told myself you needed time, that you'd figure it out eventually, that forcing it would only push you away." His thumb brushed across her cheekbone, catching a lingering tear. "But I can't do it anymore. I can't stand by and watch you tear yourself apart for people who don't love you when I'm right here, and I've loved you my whole damn life."

Her body went limp against the tree, all fight draining out of her as confusion flooded in to take its place.

"I won't hurt you. I could never hurt you." Bradley's voice cracked on the words, his control hanging by the thinnest thread. "But I need you to understand something."

He pulled back just enough to look into her eyes, his hand cupping her face with a tenderness that completely contradicted the predatory intensity still radiating from him.

"You are mine, Evre. You've always been mine. And I'm done pretending otherwise." His thumb traced the curve of her lower lip. "I'm done watching you give yourself to men who don't deserve you. Done standing on the sidelines while you break your own heart over and over again."

"Bradley..." Her voice came out barely above a whisper.

"I know you're scared. I know this isn't how you pictured things." His forehead pressed against hers again, his eyes sliding shut. "But I'm not Sebastian. I'm not any of those other bastards who took what you offered and threw it back in your face. I've been here the whole time. I've always been here."

The hand at her waist loosened slightly, giving her room to breathe, though he didn't step back.

"I'm going to court you properly. I'm going to show you what it means to be loved by someone who actually sees you." His eyes opened again, burning with fierce determination. "And I'm going to make damn sure you never waste another tear on someone who isn't worth it."

He released her wrists finally, but before she could move, both his hands came up to frame her face.

"But make no mistake—I'm not giving you the option to run back to Sebastian or anyone else. That part of your life is over." His voice dropped to that dangerous whisper again. "You belong with me now. And I'm going to spend every day proving to you that this is exactly where you're meant to be."