CHAPTER 27

Kelsey stole his breath right out of his chest. Just the way she’d stolen his heart. Both now and all those years ago, talking and laughing and connecting on a deeper level than he ever had with anyone else.

Ares made himself set her down, though he never wanted to let her go. “The thought of Keira threatening you makes me crazy.”

He’d already been on his way back, trying the whole way to convince himself that desire was what drove his urge to be with her again. But when Kelsey had called and told him about Keira’s surprise blitz attack? He’d finally realized, finally accepted, just how much he felt for Kelsey. How much he cared. How much he wanted her in his arms, in his bed, in his life.

And not just for one stolen weekend.

“You were the one she was threatening, Ares.”

“She’ll use you to get at me.”

“She can try,” Kelsey said, lifting her chin. “But it won’t work.”

He stroked her cheek. She was so brave. So strong. So honest. If only he’d realized nine years ago that brave, strong, and honest

were traits worth fighting for. Even if you had to fight your own demons. Especially then.

“Tell me what she said.”

She was silent for a moment that was heavy enough for him to what had happened between them. “She wanted my sympathy. She

wanted to know where I was this weekend.” Pausing, it was obvious she had to weigh whether to continue. Her chin lifted with her

decision to tell him. “She wanted to know how I could possibly think you would have feelings for me when you could have her

instead.”

“I will crush her before I let her hurt you.” He would give away all his money, all his worldly possessions if that was what it took to

protect Kelsey. “I’m so sorry I wasn’t here to protect you from her.”

“Don’t be sorry. It was good for me.” When his eyebrow rose in disbelief, she clarified. “The things she said were horrible. But

knowing I could stand up to her and defend myself? That was good. Great, in fact. Although,” she added with a small laugh, “I’m not

sure I’ll be able to watch Sleeping Beauty again any time soon. I swear she actually looked like the wicked witch when she was

yelling at me.”

It was a good sign that Kelsey could laugh. “I’ve always known you were stronger than her. So has she, which is why she worked so

hard to cut you down.” He ran his hands over her hair, needing to touch her, to know that she was safe and unharmed.

“She didn’t expect me to come back at her. Never thought I would tell her not to call me again unless she wanted to apologize to you

and ask for forgiveness.”

For Kelsey, that was huge. Family was everything to her. It was why she hadn’t deserted Keira when anyone else would have.

But then, as if some sort of dam suddenly broke inside her, she sobbed, the tears rising so quickly she couldn’t stop them. He

couldn’t stop them.

“God, sweetheart, please.” He didn’t have the right words. He could only gather her against him.

“That story I told you about swinging into the creek.” Her voice broke. “I wanted it to always be like that. I wanted to love her. For

her to love me. I wanted us to be real sisters. I wanted that so badly that I was actually dying for her to come visit me that weekend at

college when you met her. I thought we could actually be different together once we weren’t living in the same house.”

He closed his eyes, feeling her grief, his own, knowing what they’d both lost that weekend.

“And I wanted to do right by my mother, to keep my promise. But I never could. It was impossible. Keira would never let me.”

He held her, stroking her back. “It wasn’t your fault.” But she needed to let it out. He’d thought his own wounds were deep, but the

scars Keira had left on Kelsey might even be worse.

She breathed in, out, quickly, then sniffed. “I know I’m not to blame. I think I’ve known it since the day I found out what she did to

you.”

And he’d been caught in a vicious loop of believing how wrong it was to be with Kelsey because she was his sister-in-law. But the

only wrong thing was Keira. Wrong had never been finding pleasure—and peace—in Kelsey’s arms.

He was so freaking tired of feeling shitty, of feeling guilty, of feeling foolish. Most of all, he was tired of imagining that his future

could only get worse, like he was still that little kid hiding in dark corners trying to avoid the beating that was going to come

anyway.

With Keira, he had no doubt that she would fight him in as many dirty, nasty, underhanded ways as she could think of. But though

he’d fight back with every ounce of his will, he’d also take the light, the joy, and the sweetness of the present with Kelsey. Every last

moment that he could have with her—and he swore he would appreciate every single one.

He wiped the tears from her cheeks and took Kelsey’s lips again, slowly, lingeringly, tasting every inch of her mouth. “You’re so

fresh, so lovely, so real. You can’t know the number of people I meet who are phonies. Who just want something from me. But you’ve never asked for anything except my friendship. And you gave me yours without question.”

She shook her head. “I’ve always wanted more, Ares.” Yet again, her bravery astounded him as she squarely met his gaze. “I still

do.”