Page 39 of The 13th Daughter
"Fine, I'll listen," I whispered.
He rested his forehead against mine and blew out a strangled breath. "Thank you."
"It's not like I can go anywhere," I grouched.
"No," he grinned. "I've got you at my mercy."
Then he kissed me.
My world exploded with the touch of those lips. I forgot I was mad, forgot I was pinned to the ground, forgot everything but the way he made me feel. He pulled away and buried his face in the crook of my shoulder. "I missed you."
I wanted to cry. He'd broken my heart. Just hearing the sound of his voice hurt and when he kissed me, made me remember what he could make me feel, I wanted to curl up and die from the pain. He'd hurt me more than even I realized.
"Why?" I asked him. "Why did you do it?"
"I don't know," he said and raised his head to look at me. "It was stupid. Billy and Jeff told me about how you didn't believe in witchcraft and that no one could get you to go to a meeting. I was new and figured if I could get you to go, I'd make a place for myself here. I just wanted to fit in, Cassie."
"At my expense."
"Yes," he nodded. "I didn't know you then. You were just this cute girl who blushed every time I looked at her. The more time I spent with you, the more I felt bad about tricking you. You are so much more than I ever imagined you would be. You're beautiful, smart, and funny. You make me feel alive inside for the first time in I don't know how long. You made me love you, Cassie Jayne Bishop. I tried to deny it, but your eyes haunt me day and night."
Please don't be lying to me.
"I wanted to tell you I loved you when we were in the park, but I was afraid I'd scare you off. Then Jeff made sure you overheard us. I never wanted to beat someone so much in my life and not because I was mad I'd been found out. I saw the look on your face, Cassie. I can't even describe to you what youlooked like. It cut straight through me. I hurt you so much and I'm sorry, sweetheart, so sorry."
"How do I know you're not lying to me, Ethan?"
"God, Cassie, I swear I'm not lying. I'm not making excuses, I'm admitting that I was an idiot and a fool, and I'm begging you to forgive me. I can't stand this. You wouldn't answer my calls and Kay made sure no one would let me get near enough to try and corner you at school. I feel like someone ripped my heart out. It hurts, Cassie. Please, sweetheart, please just forgive me."
Was it that easy? Just forgive him? Could I trust him? His eyes said I could. They promised so much. I ached for him. My heart didn't feel whole without him. I loved him. I saw the pain, my pain, on his face and in his eyes. I missed him too.
"If you ever do something like this again, Ethan Matthew Warren, I swear by all the Fates, I will never forgive you."
He stopped breathing. His eyes bled with hope. "You'll forgive me?"
"Yes," I whispered. "I forgive you."
"Thank God," he breathed and kissed me. It was another of those beautiful, gentle kisses that stole my sanity. "Thank you."
"At least Billy will be happy," I laughed shakily. "Kay will forgive him now."
"He threatened to murder me if I didn't fix this," Ethan agreed. "He loves her."
"I know. Can I have my hands back please?"
"What?" he frowned and then chuckled. "Are you going to hit me again?"
"Maybe." I didn't though. I wrapped my arms around him and hugged him to me. I breathed in his fresh, woodsy smell and fought down the instincts screaming in my head to run from him. I shouldn't trust him, but I did. Stupid, but there it was. "I missed you too."
"Promise me that no matter how mad you get in the future, you won't cut me off again." He trailed butterfly kisses along my throat and shoulder.
"You're assuming I'm going to get mad again?" I gasped as his tongue flicked against the pulse point in my throat.
"Sure. I like making you mad or saying outrageous things just to see you blush."
"That's....that's..."
His lips nibbled their way back up my throat to my ear. His teeth nipped my earlobe and my eyes crossed. Heat flared everywhere.
