Page 49 of Saints & Sinners
A smile tugged at my lips as I closed my eyes, letting the music seep into my chest. The rhythm swayed through me, gentle and steady. Without thinking, I let myself move to it, my body rocking softly to the sound.
“Grace?”
My eyes widened as I spun around, almost knocking my back into Hunter’s desk. He was there on his bed, his eyes half-lidded, staring at me.
Panic embedded itself in my chest, and I rushed toward him,pressing the back of my hand to his forehead. “Shit, you’re burning up. I think I have painkillers in my room, or if you want, I can text Marnie. She might still be awake, and maybe I could try to sneak out and get her to come—”
He shook his head, pulling me towards him. I fell onto the bed, my hands landing on his chest as my curls went all over my face. He brushed a few strands behind my ear. “Youstayed.” His voice was a mixture of anger and something else—something weakening as his thumb lingered on my cheek. “You stayed even when I didn’t want you to. Youkeepstaying, Grace, and I wish you wouldn’t.”
Even in a feverish state, he continued to want me gone. “You need to rest.”
His jaw tensed. “I will after I find Aaron.”
I huffed, knowing there would be no point in arguing with him. Not when he was like this.
His fingers brushed against my temple, and I froze, caught in the intensity of his gaze. His eyes, usually so guarded, softened as he murmured, “He would’ve liked you, you know. My brother.” A shiver ran down my spine at the touch of his hand. “The way you challenge me, make me smile when all I want is to despise you... it’s maddening.Infuriating.”
I let out a startled laugh—more of a snort, really.
His brows furrowed. “What’s so funny?”
I licked my lips, the smile still tugging at them. “Nothing, it’s just... in the morning, you’ll realize everything you’ve said and regret it.”
He shook his head, a faint smile curling at the edges of his mouth as his teeth grazed his bottom lip. “I won’t.”
I tilted my head, my smile fading into something softer... maybe even sadder. “You will,” I whispered, and when I went to stand, his hand shot out, catching mine with a gentle but firmgrip.
“Stay with me,” he whispered, his voice breaking just enough to make my heart clench. He wasn’t fully aware of what he was asking, or maybe he was, but the way he looked at me as if me leaving would shatter him left me no choice but to say yes.
Slowly, I nodded, my heart racing. “Okay,” I whispered, squeezing his hand gently. “I’ll stay.”
He exhaled a soft, relieved sound, and I carefully lay down beside him. My body was tense at first, unsure of where to position myself, but it became clear that space was nothing but a myth to him as his arm wrapped around my waist, pulling my back flush against his chest.
I swallowed hard, feeling the steady rise and fall of his breathing against my neck. His warmth seeped into my skin, and I was afraid of moving and grazing one of his wounds, but it didn’t seem to matter to him. He held me with a consuming and comforting fierceness, as if letting go wasn’t an option.
“Bambi?” he murmured against my hair.
“Yeah?” I breathed.
His lips brushed lightly against my temple, and he whispered, “You’ve done the impossible. You made the huntsman put down his bow.”
The irony was not lost on me even as my heart went up in flames, leaving me completely and utterly undone.
It was quiet now, and I knew Hunter had fallen asleep within seconds of saying that to me. Still, I stayed there, heart racing against the steady rhythm of his.
Chapter Twenty-Five
I woke up to warmth—a soft, steady warmth I hadn’t felt for a long time. For a moment, I didn’t know where the hell I was. My body ached, and my head felt heavy, yet everything around me seemed too quiet.
And then I felt someone stir against me.
I glanced down at Grace. Her body was curled into mine, her head resting against my chest while one of her legs draped over my thigh. My arm was still wrapped around her waist, holding her close like she belonged there.
It all hit me worse than the beating I had taken last night.
Fuck.
Panic flared in my chest, and I felt my entire body tense. I wasn’t sure how we’d ended up like this. Everything was still a blur of pain and exhaustion, but I knew it was wrong.
