Page 70 of Liar Byrd
That I’m not broken.
He widens his legs, making more space for me to stand between his muscled thighs.
He’s sitting. I’m standing, but he's so much taller than I am that all he has to do is tilt his head a little to meet my gaze.
For several seconds, he peers up at me, making no move to kiss me or draw me closer. He just looks at me, giving me all the time in the world to silence the storm of fear raging inside ofme. To get comfortable being so close to a man. And to convince myself he won’t hurt me.
“I’m scared,” I whisper, my fingers clutching the cotton fabric of his shirt. It’s something I wouldn’t have admitted before. I’d have run and hidden.
He gently cups the back of my neck with his large, warm hand. His touch not only grounds me in the present; it comforts like nothing else has. “We don’t have?—”
“But I want to feel something good for once.” My whisper comes from my soul. That’s how badly I want it, because this won’t last.
I can’t stay here forever.
Jeremiahwillfind me. One of his acolytes was here before, but he must have left since he hasn’t returned with Jeremiah to take me back to the compound.
This might be the only good thing I'll ever have. I don’t want to waste it.
Vonn’s fingers press into my skin. “Then let me give you something good. I won’t ever hurt you, Byrdie.”
I swallow, my eyes fixed on his firm lips, anticipating them on me and what he might taste like. “You shouldn’t keep saying my name in case someone hears.”
He nods and pulls me in closer, lowering his voice. “Then whenever I say that other name,” he presses my palm against his pounding heart. “I’ll be saying it right here.”
His kiss is a butterfly wing fluttering. He tastes of passion and raw temptation. His groan when he deepens it makes my heart lurch as memories of Jeremiah erupt.
Jeremiah pins me down, his hands shoving my dress up. I cry out. He’s hurting me.
I jerk back, my heart racing as I stumble.
Vonn catches and steadies me. “You’re all right. No one will hurt you. You’re safe.”
The longer I look into his eyes, the more certain I am that he’s telling me the truth. That he won’t hurt me. That Iamsafe with him.
He smiles slightly. “Wasn’t so bad, huh?”
The kiss? No.
The memories it triggered?
…
His smile fades as he strokes a hand down my back, and I wince before I can hide it.
Concern flashes in his eyes. “What’s wrong? Did I hurt you?”
“No, I should go to bed,” I say, turning to leave.
I’ve lost the ability to lie. Jeremiah didn’t like lies. His smile was like the sun beaming down on you when you told the truth. He was an arctic blast to those who weren’t truthful with him, and when he turned on you, so did everyone else.
I wasn’t immune to the effect he had on people either.
Vonn stops me, his gaze sharpening. “You’re hurting somewhere else, aren’t you?”
I don’t say a word.
He cocks his head. “Your back?”
