Scorch (Virtues & Lies 2)
I’m trying so hard to hold my emotions in that I forget how easily she can read me.
“Like this?” Turning her head to look at me, she strokes my cheek.
“What did they do to you? What happened?”
It’s the feeling of helplessness that undoes me. Knowing that this incredible person I adore has gone through something, and I have no clue of what or how. I want to make life better for her, but these twists and turns life has paved for us keep rubbishing my best efforts and good intentions.
“He touched me, and I killed him.” She says it like it’s nothing when I’m lying here trying my hardest not to lose my shit, because this isn’t about me. “That’s all.”
“He touched you?”
Narrowing on mine, her eyes darken. Their depths shine with so much emotion all I can do is hold her tighter.
“Not like that.” Weariness flits across her beautiful face. “He would hav
e, but you…you…you made me fight.”
“Me?” Red-hot tears fill my eyes, and I can do fuck all to stop them from slipping free.
“Yeah, you. There was a moment where I thought he would win. It felt like the world imploded and sucked me into its chaos. It was like heaven and earth colliding and being crushed by everything and nothing.”
Cupping her face, I swipe her tears away.
“But in the middle of it all, it was your voice that kept telling me to fight. It was all you, Christopher.” Mimicking my actions, she cups my face. Her thumb swirls over my cheek, rubbing away my tears. A rough giggle rumbles from her, her body twisting to press to me, her front as flush as possible to mine. “You know, if they see you crying, they may think you have a heart. People take advantage of those things.”
There’s real sorrow in her eyes as she says that. And I can’t fathom why.
“I do have a heart, morena.”
Shuffling closer with a wince, she nods. “You do, cariño.”
“I have you.” My lips pucker on the tip of her nose. “It’s you, precious girl.”
“I know…”
“You know.” I sigh into the crook of her neck as she pulls me as close as I can get to her.
“It’s why I’m the most important piece.”
Too fucking right she is.
Arabella is everything. My all.
Beginning and end.
Moons and suns. History and infinite light years.
Chapter 45
Arabella
Two weeks later…
“What are you doing?” I ask once more as Christopher tugs the scarf he’s using to blindfold me again. I’ve had it on the entire drive from Leo’s to wherever we are.
All I can tell is that it’s a quiet place. Not much going on. Only one car has gone past since he’s had me standing here. The odd child’s laugh carries in the sharp bluster.
My heart squeezes tight at the sound. It’s one of the most beautiful sounds in the universe, second to Christopher’s voice.