Page 86 of Pride
Parker stopped her through the doorway and pushed her against the frame, one arm braced overhead.
“I don’t want to go anywhere,” he said, voice deep and oh so intimate as he looked down at her. “I’d rather stay here. Tell me you want the same.”
“I…”
“What’s wrong?” He trailed a finger along her neck, causing a shiver.
She shook her head.
“Liar.”
And that was the crux of the matter. She was so good at lying, she couldn’t tell if she was lying to herself. Should she be here, with him, when it felt like none of it had been of her choosing?
“Your family is waiting for us,” she said.
“They can wait.” He lowered his lips to her ear. “If you’re keeping secrets from me, I’ll find out.”
She pressed against his hard front and almost wished she hadn’t. The connection to him zinged down her arms, causing a gasp. There was no denying she wanted him. So why keep second guessing it?
“You’re protecting yourself,” he guessed.
She blanched. Was he right, was all this overthinking her way of self-sabotaging? Of punishing herself?
“This look in your eyes, it’s the same one you get when going into battle. The same one you gave me on that rooftop. With your head covered by a hood, and half your face covered by the mask, your eyes were all I could see of you. I paid close attention.”
“But back then I was asking for an alliance. I didn’t think you were my enemy, so you’re wrong about that. You were the one who attacked me.”
“Are you worried I’ll attack you?”
“No! I don’t… I don’t know why I’m like this right now.”
“All I can say is that it’s not the way you looked at me last night.” He continued to graze his knuckles down her neck. “When will you see I’m not the enemy?”
“It’s not that,” she said, eyes downcast.
“Then what?”
“You won’t understand. You’ve had everything you’ve ever wanted.”
His silence caused her to look up and gasp at the raw longing in his eyes.
“I’ve never truly wanted anything until you.”
“And that’s what scares me,” she whispered.
“You’re scared of me wanting you?”
“I’m scared of losing you. I’m scared this is my punishment.” Her fingers wrapped around his wrist and she pushed his sleeve back to view his tattoo. It was balanced now, but he had to touch her multiple times during the day. “Parker, I’m the poison, as much as your cure. If I have to kill the person I’m falling in love with, what will be left of me?”
At any time, any of them could lose control of their balance and turn dark.
Any time.
“I handled myself before we connected. Just because I like any excuse to touch you now doesn’t mean I can’t stop and balance myself.”
“So what’s your plan?” she asked. “If we’re separated.”
“It won’t happen.”
