Page 69 of Cherished By the Sinners
She knew how that felt.
“I have some questions,” she said tentatively, then glanced at the back of the driver’s head.“But I need privacy to ask them.”
“And Magnus?”
“Yes, it would be better if I could ask you both at the same time.”She tried to smile, but knew it was a weak effort.The stress of the situation was starting to settle into her chest, into her bones, and the weight of it was becoming harder and harder to resist.
It wanted to drag her down into a deep, dark hole where pain couldn’t reach her.Where fear had no foothold.Where she was safe.
But nowhere was safe.Eli’s uncle had destroyed that illusion.Monsters lived among them, could be anyone, and she couldn’t tell a soul because they would think she was crazy.
“You’re shaking,” he murmured in her ear.
“I think the whole situation is catching up to me.I can only keep it at bay for s...so l...long.”Her teeth chattered at the end of her sentence, making her stutter.
Her whole body was vibrating, harder and harder with each passing second.
“What can I do?”he asked, his voice high with stress.
Great now she was making him feel like crap.
“Hold me,” she whispered in his ear.“Just hold me tight.”
Mason wrapped his arms around her and brought her into full-body contact, or as much as the interior of the car would allow.
He kissed her temples and cheek, despite the tears rolling down her face.
“Let it all out,” he breathed into her ear.
A sob worked its way out of her, then another, and the dam broke, shoved aside by the pressure of too many emotions repressed for too long.She clutched at him, her arms around his waist, her hands grabbing fistfuls of his suit jacket.It felt funny, stiff, like he was wearing armor, but she clung to him despite that.
If she didn’t hold onto something, she might be shaken apart by all the terror, anger, and panic boiling out of her.
“I won’t let anyone hurt you,” Mason said.“Magnus won’t let anyone hurt you.Even my stupid cousin Baz won’t let anyone hurt you.”
She snorted.“Baz isnotsentimental.Why would he want to protect me any more than any other employee?”
“Because you belong to my brother and I,” Mason said, his voice sounding strong and sure.
“Do I?You two hardly know me.”
“We know enough.”
“Really, and what is it that you think you know?”
“Darlene, we should wait to have this conversation with Magnus.”
“I’m tired of waiting,” she said, wiping the tears from her eyes and face.“I need to know.I need to know there’s a reason to stay.”
His hands tightened on her.“Do you want to run?”
“Part of me really wants to, but another part is begging for that reason.”
He coaxed her head off his shoulder and met her gaze.He looked at her as if he wanted to look at her for the rest of his life.
His head came down until they were breathing in each other’s breath.He hung there, waiting, until she wanted to scream at him.
“May I?”he asked, his voice almost soundless.
