Page 38 of Vexed
He chuckled, a genuine sound that warmed me from the inside out. He pushed himself off the wall and walked towards me,his movements fluid and graceful. He reached out and took my hand.
“Good to see you,” I managed, squeezing his hand. Then the question I’d been holding onto burst out of me. “Where have you been? I haven’t seen you in more than a week?”
His expression darkened, the humor vanishing like smoke. He released my hand and paced to the foot of the bed, his back to me. “It’s complicated. The Arc Reapers, they… they forced me to break contact. All contact. I wasn’t allowed near you.”
“Why?” I asked, my voice barely a whisper.
He turned back, his eyes filled with a kind of desperation I’d never seen before. “It doesn’t matter. What matters is I’m here now.”
“But if you’re not allowed near me, then why are you here?”
He hesitated, running a hand through his already disheveled hair. “I… I can’t go back, Lily. I did something bad. Really bad. They’ll come for me. I know they will.”
My heart pounded in my chest. “What did you do, Vex?”
He looked at me, his eyes pleading. “I can’t tell you. Just know I had to. And being here, with you… it’s the only thing that feels right anymore.”
I reached for his hand again, and he instantly grasped it. “Okay,” I said, my voice stronger now. “Okay, they’re coming for you? Then we figure it out. Together.”
He squeezed my hand tightly, a flicker of hope igniting in his silver eyes. “Together,” he echoed.
I had to stay in hospital for further observation for another two days. Police also came by and asked me a bunch of questionsregarding what happened to me. But I couldn’t answer any of their questions. I feel so hopeless, violated.
Not only was my body bruised and aching, but I could feel that I was sore down there too, which made me realize that the unthinkable might be a possibility. I guess it’s a good thing I don’t remember anything.
Vex has been staying with me since I got released. He can’t go back…home, I suppose. It was a little awkward in the beginning. He doesn’t sleep, he just lays in bed with me all night, watching me sleep.
Which isn’t as creepy as it might sound. I feel safe with him. Like the entire world could come crashing down and I would be fine just being with him.
“Everything alright?” He asks, twirling a piece of my hair around his finger. I smile, nodding.
He keeps his eyes locked on mine, like he’s searching for something. “What’s going on in that head of yours?”
I smirk, feeling my face heat up, “Can’t you, like, hop into my mind and find out?” I ask with a chuckle.
His smile widens and he shakes his head, “Well, I can. But I’m trying this new thing where I don’t invade your privacy anymore. It’s been going good and I don’t want to fuck it up now.”
I can’t help but laugh at him, playfully hitting his arm. He stares at me for another moment, “I’m tempted, but I’d rather have you tell me, darling.”
I suck in a breath, trying to be more confident. I lift my hand and graze my fingers across his jaw before whispering, “Kiss me.”
My heart is hammering against my chest as he stays silent, watching me. We’ve never kissed. Even though he has touched me in ways that no one else ever has, I’ve never felt his lips against mine.
I can see the hesitation in his eyes, which makes me feel embarrassed now for even asking. I remove my hand from his face, “You…you don’t wanna kiss me?” I ask, my voice soft and trembling.
“I—um, fuck, I do, of course I do. I just… I’ve never kissed anyone before.”
“You’ve never kissed anyone?” I blurted out, my face burning. I swear, my cheeks could probably power a small village right now. “But, all the things you did to me—“
“Yeah, I’ve done a lot of sexual things. But never kissed anyone. It seemed too…affectionate. And me being, well, me—affection isn’t really my strong suit.”
I’m taken back by his words. A little hurt to know he has been with others, but what did I expect? He is about… a million years old or something.
“Well, that’s just ridiculous,” I say, my voice firm despite the tremor in my hands. I grab him by the nape of his neck and pull him slightly closer.
“Lily, I—“
“Shh,” I interrupt, placing a finger on his lips. “I think you’re missing out.”
