A Tenderness Not Meant for Her

"What do you know? I don't even know myself, so what could you possibly know?" he erupted, seizing her arm and cornering her against the wall, his gaze icy as he confronted her, "Is this how you want to leave me, to go to that bastard?"

His voice was surprisingly filled with anger, and Avery Miller, with her gaze lowered, endured his intimidating stare.

She could feel his chest heaving with ragged breaths, his breath hot on her forehead, and she could even catch the scent of someone else on him. 

Suddenly, her eyes welled up with tears, "Ethan Montgomery, I don't deserve your unwavering loyalty."

The words choked in her throat, no other phrase could match the finality of her statement.

Looking up at him through tear-blurred eyes, her face was streaked with unbridled tears, a sob caught in her throat, the pain sharp as a knife cut.

He lowered his head, kissing her deeply.