Page 355 of Eternal
Because some sick, selfish part of me needs to see her. To kiss her, look at her, to hear her voice.
She turns her head, eyes scanning the street. Looking for me. And then she sees me. Her shoulders tense before she steps forward.
My beautiful,beautifulpartner.
“You’ve been outside for so long, it’s raining again.”
I don’t answer right away. I take her in, every inch of her. Deadly eyes, so pretty it’s stabbing my heart.
She stands before me, drenched, strands of hair plastered to her cheeks, but she isn’t shivering. She doesn’t move. She simply watches me with fear and confusion.
My hands clench into fists.
“I can’t do this.”
I think Iloveher.
She looks at me, eyes tight, jaw clenched. “What do you mean?”
I don’t say anything.Can’t.The words get stuck. Like I swallowed a brick.
I’ve never said that to anyone. Never felt it. I didn’t grow up with it. I don’t even know what it’s supposed to look like.
All I know is... when she’s near, I can breathe. When she laughs, something in me loosens. And when she touches me, I don’t feel dead. Not completely.
That’s love, right? Or the closest I’ll ever get.
And it scares the hell out of me.
“I can’t kill you.” I’d rather die.
“Why are you saying that? Did they call you? Is it risky?”
I shake my head. “I don’t care.”
She blinks, rain catching on her lashes, and I swear her whole body sways toward me before locking rigid again. “No. Why does this sound like you’re going to leave,” Her hands press against my chest suddenly, so desperate.
I want to tell her to get inside. To get warm. But she’s here, and I’m here. And I’m not going anywhere.
Not anymore.
Because leaving her meant handing her over to them, to a slow, brutal fate. And I can’t do that. Not after everything.
I step forward and pull her close, my hands sliding around her waist.
Her birthday is in a few weeks, I have to be here, for this one, and the next, and the one after,forever.I’ve been working on something special for her birthday since the moment she told me about it. Something to make her smile again, maybe for the first time in a long time.
She deserves that, deserves more than danger and pain.
“I’m sorry you had to come outside,partner,” I murmur, lips brushing hers.
She looks up at me, eyebrows raised. “You look angry.Sad.”
“Because I can’t leave. Not now. Not ever.” Her eyes soften a little, but she doesn’t say a word. “Whatever threats come, I’m staying. I promised. I’ll stay with you.”
The rain pounds on us, but for once it feels like we’re the only two people in the world.
“You didn’t reply… Was that them?”
