Page 58 of Fade (Fighting Fate)

The crease between Daniel’s eyes deepened, and I was instantly hit with a crashing wave of guilt. God! I was such a selfish bitch. I was sitting there, overwhelmed by all the emotions that were rampaging through me, and I hadn’t even thought about what he must be feeling.

“I’m so sorry,” I breathed, unable to stop the hitch in it. “I know this is what you’ve been training for. I just . . . ” I shook my head.

“Hey,” he said, stroking his thumb over my cheek, “don’t apologize, Princess. Don’t ever say you’re sorry for trying to explain how you’re feeling. Okay?”

I nodded. “Are you . . . are you okay?”

He didn’t say anything for a long time. He just knelt there watching me, a complete picture of sadness. “I’m ready for it, Princess. You’re right. I’ve been training for this. Hard. I’m ready in every way.” He inhaled deeply. “But knowing I’m leaving you again kills me. It fucking kills me. Ever since I met you, I just wanted to be able to put a smile on your face.” He shook his head, desperation flaring in his eyes. “I fucking hate that I’ve probably made you sad more times than my fucking brother.”

My eyes widened. Oh, hell no! Taking his face in my hands, I shook my head emphatically. “That’s not true.”

His shoulders drooped. “But it is . . . ”

I wriggled, trying to get in a better position to be eye level with him. “It’s completely different, Daniel, and you know it. The sadness I felt with Ryan was hurt. It was disappointment and guilt. If I’ve felt any sadness since I’ve been with you, it’s because of love. It’s because I miss you so goddam

ned much.”

Daniel’s jaw clenched, but I saw him processing my words as he watched me. We sat there for a long minute, just silently taking each other in, then, without a word, Daniel stood.

Confused, I watched him shuck his shirt, then his shorts, until he was just standing there in his boxers. Taking my hand, he pulled me to my feet, then, grabbing the hem of my dress, he lifted it up, over my head.

I had absolutely no idea what he was doing. He didn’t have that look he usually had when he wanted to make love to me. He just had this immense look of determination. Reaching around me, he unhooked the clasp on my bra before peeling it off.

Under other circumstances I may have giggled at his strange behavior or questioned him, but not now. Now, I just let him do what he felt he needed to do.

Taking my hand, he crawled onto his bed and pulled me with him until we were chest to chest and our legs were tangled together. Once he’d covered us with the sheet, he paused to gaze at me, his eyes slowly moving over every inch of my face.

“I just need to hold you, Princess. For as long as I can. I want to burn this feeling into my memory so whenever I need you, I can just close my eyes and you’ll be there. Just like this.”

Tears blurred my vision. I had no idea I could ever feel this much love, and I had no idea love could possibly hurt like it did now. The familiar feeling of panic was quickly starting to edge its way in again.

“Daniel?” I whispered. “Marry me.”

His brow creased with confusion.

“Before you go. Marry me before you go.”

Understanding washed over his features, but he didn’t say anything. He didn’t have to. I could see everything he was feeling right there in his eyes. They radiated so much love, I had no idea how to fit it all inside me together with all the love I had for him.

“Princess,” he murmured. “Nothing, and I mean nothing, would make me happier.”

Closing my eyes, I pressed my face into his chest and just breathed him in, because, just like Daniel, I wanted to burn as much of him into my memory as possible too.

Chapter 26

Daniel

The sun had only just broken over the horizon when I reluctantly untangled myself from Amy and climbed from the bed. I hated leaving her, especially now, but there were things I needed to do before she woke.

Pulling on a pair of shorts, I picked up my cell from the nightstand and slipped quietly from the room.

Making my way to the den, I closed the door and opened up my contacts on my cell. Dad answered on the second ring. “I was expecting to hear from you last night . . . ”

I rolled my eyes, despite the fact that he couldn’t see me. “I’m guessing Mom told you already.”

“That she did,” he said. “She was a bit upset.”

Shit. I closed my eyes and cussed silently. I was such a dick. I’d been so worried about Amy’s reaction, I didn’t even think about how Mom had taken the news.

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