Chapter 24: Ayla's POV
I was still wrapped around his arms, my head on his chest, my hand over his heart. His breath warm against my hair. It was perfect, it was safe.
But I couldn't stay here forever. I had to tell him. The words had been burning in my throat since yesterday, since I came home from work and opened my mouth and closed it again.
Since I'd chickened out and said never mind.
I couldn't chicken out now.
"Promise you won't get mad," I said.
He tensed beneath me, I felt his muscles go rigid. His hand, which had been stroking my back, stopped moving.
"What is it?"
I pulled back and looked at him.
His dark eyes were searching mine, nervous and worried at the same time. He knew something was coming, he could always tell when I was hiding something.
"I'm going on a retr
