Bucked (The Invincibles 6)

But that smile, so sweet, that longing so deep

Your eyes burn into my heart, my love, my joy,

my fall

You know my longing deep, you know my love,

so hard

You know my longing deep, you know my passion,

so wild

You know my fall

To see you here then, in the midst of your fall

To know your joy, so deep, to know your passion,

complete

To know your longing, my all, and then, my sweet,

you fall

“The melody is haunting,” she murmured.

I spun her around and pointed over to where Olivia stood, swaying to the music and singing along with her husband. “That’s her.”

“You’d never know she came close to dying.”

The song ended and another began. Since it was also a slow one, I kept my arm tight around Stella’s waist.

“You disappeared today.”

“I had some work to take care of.” She tried to pull away, but I tightened my grip. “Where do you think you’re going?”

“I asked you not to play me, Buck. I guess I wasn’t specific enough, because it appears you don’t realize that also means no games and no lies.”

I rested my head against hers. “I’m sorry.”

“What set you off?” she murmured.

“Seems I’ve got a jealous streak I didn’t realize I had.”

She snickered. “Right. I remember you weren’t at all jealous of Cope and Ali.”

“It wasn’t the same.”

She shook her head but didn’t say anything.

“Thinking about you with Jinx…”

“I told you that was over.”

“I know you did, but I got to thinkin’ that he knew how it felt to hold your naked body against his and I don’t.” I put my finger on her chin and lifted it so I could see her eyes. “I really want to know how that feels, Stella.”

“What happens if you don’t like it as much as you think you will?”