Page 47 of His to Save

No,criesisn’t the right word. She’s sobbing, her despair so tangible it’s seeping out of her pores, hanging thick and heavy in the air around us.

I fall to my knees in front of her and scoop her into my arms. I’m expecting her to freak out, to fight, but she doesn’t. No, she clings to me with her arms around my neck and her legs around my waist, like I’m the only thing standing between her and certain death.

“Shh, I’ve got you.” I rub my hands over her back, trying to soothe her. “I’m here. You’re safe, Pip. I’ll never let anything happen to you.”

She burrows into me, pressing her tear-soaked face into my neck as I continue whispering reassurances to her.

“Let’s get you out of here,” I say, attempting to stand.

But Nora flips out, digging her nails into the back of my neck as she tries to move impossibly closer. “Please don’t leave me,” she cries, and I swear to God, something irreparable inside of me breaks.

“I’m not, Pip. I’m not leaving you; I promise.”

We sit here, on my closet floor, for what feels like hours, with me rocking and whispering and holding Nora. By the time she calms down, my back is cramping and my shirt is wet from her tears.

“Atlas.” Her voice is hoarse when she whispers my name.

“I’ve got you, pretty girl.” I press my lips to her temple. “I’m here.”

She sniffles before pulling back ever so slightly. “I’m so sorry.”

“For what?” I brush her matted hair away from her face. “You didn’t do anything.”

“I’m a freak.” She buries her face in my neck again, trying to hide from me, but I’m not having it.

“No.” I cup the nape of her neck, tipping her head back so that she’s forced to look at me. “You’re not a freak.”

She shakes her head. “I am. I?—”

I don’t know what comes over me, but I lean in and press my lips to hers, effectively silencing whatever self-deprecating garbage she was about to spew.

Nora freezes against me, and I immediately pull away, wondering how to fix my colossal fuckup. “Shit, Pip. I’m so sorry. I don’t know what I was?—”

“Do it again.” She raises her hands to my cheeks, before trailing her fingertips over my lips. “Kiss me again.”

“Are you sure?” I ask, my muscles twitching under my skin from the restraint it takes not to dive headfirst into her. The last thing I want is to take advantage of her when she’s already so,sovulnerable.

She nods, brushing her nose against mine. “Yes, I’m more sure than I’ve ever been about anything else in my whole life. Please kiss me, Atlas. Kiss me so all I can feel is you.”

How am I supposed to deny her?

Simple—I don’t.

Honestly, there’s not much she could ask for that I wouldn’t give her. The thought should worry me, and yet, as I lean in and once again touch my lips to hers, I can’t help but think how right it feels having her in my arms.

The kiss is over as quick as it starts. Perfectly chaste, and yet, I know it’s something I’ll think of for years to come.

“We need to talk, Pip,” I say, brushing my thumb over her cheek.

“I know.” Her voice is still hoarse, and it fucking guts me.

“C’mon, let’s get you out of here.” She crawls out of my lap, allowing me to stand and help her up. “Is my room okay?”

“Yeah.” She follows me back into my room, making herself at home in the middle of my bed.

I want nothing more than to crawl into it with her, but I think we both need some space, so I take the chair instead.

“Before we talk about what happened today, we need to talk aboutwhat happened today,” I say, sounding like an absolute tool. “Did that even make sense?”

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