Page 115 of Of Flesh & Bone

CHAPTER 37

Adam

The entire ride home, I talk to her.I tell her that I love her and that she is my soulmate and my whole world.I beg her to come back.I tell her I'm here and that I will always be here waiting for her.I hate this.I feel so helpless.This feels even worse than the last time.Maybe it's because I saw what led to this or maybe it's because I know it's my fault.If I hadn't fucked around with Nadia, none of this would be happening right now.Eve would be here with me talking to me, touching me, loving me, but instead, she's gone.She doesn't even know me right now.

She waited for me.She saved herself for me.If I had done the same, we wouldn't be in this hell.FUCK!I slam my palms into the steering wheel over and over again as I continue to talk to Eve.

"Eve, I love you, baby.I love you so fucking much.Like an unhealthy amount.I can't be without you, love.I can never be without you.I need you back here right now, baby.I need you."

We pull up to Eden House, and I get out, racing to Eve's door.She's been quiet the entire drive here.The last words that she said were to Nadia and I still don't know what they were.I reach in, unbuckling her and scooping her up into my arms.Still, she says nothing and looks at nothing.

"In the beginning, there was you and me.There will only ever be you and me.You were made from me to be mine forever in this life and in any that come after it.You are the flesh of my flesh, the bone of my bone.Adam and Eve."

She shifts in my arms.I look at her face and she's staring back at me.Her expression is vacant, but there's something in the depths of her eyes.A flicker of Eve.

"Eve, love it's me.It's Adam.We're home, baby.We're home."

More light in her eyes.She looks all over my face and comes back to my eyes.

"Adam."

"Yes.Fuck, baby.Yes.It's me."I'm still walking toward the door, and I put my forehead to hers."You scared the shit out of me.Where did you go?"

I keep her in my arms as I unlock and open the front door.She looks away from my face, taking in her surroundings.She appears to be thinking.Remembering, maybe?"I was here.I was with you.I heard you.I just couldn't get back.It was so dark.I had to make sure it was safe to come out."She sounds lost.She sounds like a little girl.

I have no idea what she's talking about.Come out of where?Why was it dark and why wouldn't it be safe?I don't want to ask too many questions before I can talk to Cotton.This is his area and I'm out of my depth here.I don't know much, but I do know without a doubt that this has something to do with that fucker planting that crowd bullshit in her head and that carving on her back too.We're doing something about that reminder of her past tomorrow.I've had the plan for a while now, but there didn't seem to be a right time to bring it up.Now is the time.

Sitting her down on the bed, I begin to undress her.She's back.My Eve is back.She's here with me, but she remains quiet and still letting me undress her in chilling silence.I finally have her shoes and dress off.It's now that I realize she didn't wear panties to the banquet.Normally, this would set me off, and I would be doing unspeakable things to her body, but all I can feel is relief.Relief that she's here.Relief that the emptiness didn't last as long as before.She's improving.Dissociation is what Cotton called it, and the crowd was much larger this time, so it could've been worse.It sounds too clinical a term to explain the heartbreaking emotion that I felt when I saw that look in her eyes for the second time.

I have her dressed and under the covers when I ask, "Do you want me to wash the makeup off your face."I don't mention the blood that's splattered there too.

She smiles at me and nods.She's lying down with her head on my pillow when I come back with a warm washcloth."Hey, love."Gently, I wipe the makeup and blood off her face.

"Hey, handsome."She's smiling back at me as she brings up a hand to cup my cheek.

"Handsome, huh?"

She shrugs her shoulders."It could work.It rolls off the tongue and it suits you."She sounds more like herself the more she talks.

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