Verum (The Nocte Trilogy 2)

Lord have mercy.

“I didn’t need to know that.” In fact, the knowledge makes me a bit queasy.

His lip twitches again. “You said you didn’t want secrets. I figure some normal conversation will do you good. I didn’t used to be nice. But then you happened.”

“And now?”

“I’m still not nice, but I am with you.”

“I miss you,” I whisper bluntly, because oh my God, I do. I miss everything about him. I miss his smell, I miss his arms, I miss the LIVE FREE tattooed on his back. I miss everything about him.

With one deft movement, he dips his head and before I even know it, his mouth is on mine. His lips are firm yet soft, and he tastes like mint. I exhale into his mouth, almost a sigh, and he grips my back.

And then very abruptly, he releases me.

“I miss you, too.”

I inhale a shaky breath, fighting the urge to lift my fingers to my mouth, to feel where his lips had just been.

“Why did you do that?” I whisper, not complaining, but just so, so confused.

There’s actually confusion in his eyes, too.

“Because no matter what, I refuse to let you go.”

And then he leaves me standing alone in the garden.

Chapter 14

I stay in the garden alone for the longest time.

In fact, the afternoon has begun the slow turn into evening, the horizon red and orange and amber, before I finally head back to the house, my head somewhat clear and my heart light.

My fingers trail over my lips, the memory of Dare’s kiss still fresh.

The garden has washed away the heavy feeling that I normally carry, the foreboding and the fear. For right now, in this moment, when I think of Dare, all I think of is want.

I want him.

Regardless of the consequences.

Whatever those consequences might be.

The feeling is short-lived however.

The strange man steps out ahead of me on the path, still wearing gray pants and a hoodie, his hood still pulled up tightly around his face.

My breath flutters and I pause on the stones, part of me wanting to run, and part of me wanting to chase him.

I must be crazy because I’m not afraid, even though I’m a woman out walking alone and he clearly shouldn’t be here.

Something about him seems lonely and sad,

And I can relate to that.

Is he a groundskeeper son, maybe?

He lingers on the path, waiting, and I sense that he wants me to follow.