Page 498 of The Tempted

Anything.

Just to see her smile.

“I want you to leave. I want you to turn around and walk out that door. I want you to forget about the reasons you came here and more than anything…” she paused, her eyes glanced around the room as she drew in a deep breath before finding their way back to mine.

“What?” I asked as I stood tall, taking a step closer to her. Then another.

Dangerous territory, man.

Fucking lethal.

“I want you to forget whatever you’re about to say,” she admitted, causing me to freeze mid stride. “Please,” she added.

Her pleas from the night before replayed in my head.

Look at me.

Do you see me, Blackie?

I wanted to see her, to know what she was hiding behind the smile she gave the world, the smile she gave me, the one I lived for.

Give me your smile, girl.

She continued to look at me with a tortured expression on her face, eyes like her father’s not just in color but in torment. I knew that look better than anyone, had seen it countless times but never in her. I’ve talked Jack off the edge, dragged him out of his head and silenced his maker but that was Jack.

This was Lace.

My angel.

And I was the reason she looked so conflicted. There was no maker to blame, just me.

Say it.

I see you.

“I see you, Lace,” I whispered.

“A lot a good that does me,” she said.

I shook my head.

“No good at all,” I affirmed as I extended my hand, taking hers and pulling her against me. “You’d be better off if I never laid eyes on you,” I added, squeezing her hand before I lifted my free one to her cheek. “Too late,” I hissed. “Cause girl, I see you and now I can’t fucking forget you,” I admitted.

The song changed on her iPod and music filtered through the speakers. I watched recognition spark in her eyes as she turned her attention to the speaker.

“Did you ever hear this song?” she asked softly, her voice blending into the music.

“No,” I said, taking a step toward her, bending my knees and bringing us to eye level. I leaned my forehead against hers, taking our joined hands and bringing them behind her to rest against the small of her back.

I didn’t know what the fuck I was doing but I couldn’t stop.

My lips grazed her temple as she pressed her body against mine, dropping our joined hands to wrap both her arms around my neck.

“Listen to the words,” she demanded.

You’re saying I’m fragile I try not to be

I search for something only I can’t see

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