Bound By Lies - Rafe Cameron

Chapter 62

The ride to Tannyhill is suffocatingly quiet, the kind of silence that presses in on you, that makes your skin itch with the weight of everything left unsaid. I can feel Rafe beside me, every muscle in his body tense, his gaze shifting to me every few seconds like he's afraid I'll disappear if he looks away for too long.

The car rolls to a stop, and Rafe is out in an instant, coming around to my side before I can even reach for the door handle. He opens it gently, his gaze locked on mine, something raw and desperate simmering in his eyes.

"Teresa," he murmurs, his voice low and pleading as he holds out his hand. "Please. Come inside. Stay with me."

I hesitate, staring down at his outstretched hand, the memory of everything that's happened—everything I've done—whirling through my mind like a storm. It would be so easy to go with him. To follow him inside and pretend like everything's okay. Like the courtroom, the lies, the pain... none of it ever happened.

But I know better. We both do.

"Rafe..." I whisper, my voice shaking slightly. "I don't know if I can do this. I don't know if I can be here."

His face crumples, the desperation flaring in his eyes as he takes a step closer, his fingers brushing against mine. "Please, Teresa," he breathes, his voice breaking. "Please. I need you. I need to know you're here, that I didn't lose you... that you didn't do all of this just to leave me. Please."

My heart aches, the raw emotion in his voice cutting through all my doubts, all my fears. He looks so lost, so broken, like he's barely holding himself together. Like I'm the only thing keeping him from falling apart completely.

"Rafe, I—" I start, but he shakes his head, closing the distance between us in one swift movement, his hands cupping my face, his touch gentle and trembling.

"I know I don't deserve it," he whispers, his forehead pressing against mine, his breath warm against my lips. "I know I've put you through hell, and I'll spend the rest of my life trying to make it up to you, I swear. But please... don't leave me now. Don't walk away. I—"

He breaks off, his voice catching, and I can see the tears glistening in his eyes, the raw fear and guilt and love shining there so clearly it takes my breath away.

"Rafe," I murmur softly, my hands lifting to rest against his chest, feeling the rapid thud of his heartbeat beneath my palms. "I don't know if I can stay."

"Please," he breathes, his gaze locking onto mine, his hands tightening around my face like he's afraid I'll slip through his fingers. "Please, Teresa. Just... just give me this. Stay with me tonight. Just tonight. I need to know you're here. I need to know I still have you. Please."

His words, his voice, his touch—it's all too much. Too overwhelming. Too desperate and broken and real. I try to look away, to pull back and take a breath, but his gaze is locked on mine, holding me in place, and I can't move. I can't breathe. All I can do is stand there, staring up at him, feeling my resolve crumble with every second that passes.

"Rafe, look..." I whisper, shaking my head slowly, my eyes burning with unshed tears. "I don't know if I can be what you need me to be. I don't know if I can do this."

"Yes, you can," he murmurs, his voice fierce and tender all at once. "Yes, you can, Teresa. Because you already are. You've been everything for me, and I'm not going to let you go."

"Rafe, please—"

"Please," he begs, his voice breaking as he pulls me closer, his lips brushing against my forehead, my cheek, my nose, every touch featherlight and desperate. "Please, Teresa. Just stay with me. Just tonight. We'll figure everything else out later. Just... don't leave me now. Don't let go."