A SEAL's Fantasy (24 page)

“But that’s just it,” she said, sniffing. “I wouldn’t want you to. But you understand how hard it would be for me to give up my dreams, my goals, for you.”

His eyes narrowed before he closed them and groaned. “You walking out, that wasn’t really about me pushing you into meeting with your brother?”

“Well, a little. You have a habit of running roughshod over choices when you think you’re right.” She wrinkled her nose, knowing that wasn’t going to go away. But somehow, knowing it was because he cared—and dammit, because he was usually right—she figured she could live with it. “But it didn’t feel like you were giving me the support you, yourself, want.”

Looking disgusted with himself, Dominic shook his head.

“I wasn’t. I couldn’t get past the idea of you leaving long enough to see what I was doing, though. And if I had, I was still sure my career would be an issue.”

“It’s not,” she promised.

Lara wanted to dive into his arms. She wanted this to be finished now so they could get to the makeup sex. But as much as she wanted all of that, she wanted this to be a fresh start. That meant clearing up everything.

She grimaced.

“What?” Dominic asked, peering at her face.

“You said you thought I was using you to fill some deep-seated—and apparently deeply hidden—need for family. So I thought I’d better figure out if you were right.”

“I thought you said I was using that as an excuse,” he muttered.

“Oh, I still think that,” she told him. “But I don’t use people, so it bothered me that you thought I would. And I like your family and the experience I’d had with them enough to actually wonder if you were right. So I had to find out.”

“And?”

“And...” Lara’s voice trailed off.

This was hard.

She knew what she wanted. She knew she was strong enough to make it work. But it was still really, really hard to say it out loud.

She’d been on her own, unencumbered by family, for eight years.

They’d been lean years, filled with heartbreak, disillusionment, fear and a hand-to-mouth existence that sometimes still terrified her. But they’d been better than being Lara Banks, daughter of Randall and Ellen, sister to Phillip the perfect.

Now she knew who she was, and she knew what she wanted.

She wanted Dominic.

She took a deep breath, stepping back a little. Not far, just enough that she wasn’t touching him.

She needed a little space for this.

“And I found out that while you have a great family, I do have a family of my own. So as much as I enjoy yours, I don’t need them.”

“Wait, what? You have a family? You mean Banks?” Dominic’s expression was a combination of triumph and irritation. “You and he have been building a bridge? And he never told me? He let me dangle, even when I asked point-blank if he knew how I could find you.”

Arching one brow, Lara waited.

Dominic grimaced.

“Sorry, fine, you were saying what you want.”

He sounded so grumpy she almost smiled.

This was it. Everything she’d thought she wanted in life she’d wanted alone. She’d spent years keeping distance between her and others, terrified to open her heart to rejection.

But she couldn’t have it all unless she took the risk.

And with Dominic, she wanted it all.

“I want you,” she said, keeping it simple.

Then Lara held her breath.

She’d never been so scared.

She’d never cared about anything as much as she did Dominic’s response. She’d survive without him. She was strong enough to know that.

But, dammit, she didn’t want to.

Dominic’s smile settled every fear, though. The ones she’d admitted and the ones she’d been afraid to let surface.

“You got me,” he said, finally pulling her into his arms. “But you should know, I’ve had enough of you walking out. You take me and it’s for good.”

Lara wrapped her hands behind his neck, pulling his head down to brush a soft kiss over his lips.

“Deal,” she whispered.

“I love you,” he said, resting his forehead on hers and looking so deep into her eyes, Lara was sure the declaration was imprinted on her soul. “I love you, and it’s forever.”

She couldn’t stop the tears from falling this time. Not when they were happy tears.

Laughing through them, she kissed him again, sliding her tongue gently over his before pressing whisper-soft kisses against his lips.

She leaned back, both hands on his cheeks. She wet her lips, waiting for the fear. But there wasn’t any.

Because this was right.

“I love you, too,” she said with tremulous smile. “I really love you.”

Forever.

* * * * *

Would you like to read more sexy SEAL stories?
Want to find out if Phillip Banks can
find a woman to love him?
Look for #819
Christmas with a SEAL
by
New York Times
bestselling Blaze author
Tawny Weber,
available in November 2014.

Keep reading for an excerpt from BEHIND CLOSED DOORS by Debbi Rawlins

The Few. The Proud. The Sexy as Hell!

We hope you enjoyed reading
A Seal’s Fantasy
by
USA TODAY
bestselling author

Tawny Weber. Be sure to also check out Tawny Weber’s first four sizzling SEAL books,

A SEAL’s Seduction, A SEAL’s Surrender, A SEAL’s Salvation
and
A SEAL’s Kiss
available now in ebook format!

Harlequin Blaze brings you super-hot military romance, featuring irresistible soldiers from all branches of the armed forces with the
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