Page 98 of Haunted

Now that it’s morning, she’s awake, and I still hold her, haven’t let her go all night.

She lifts her chin and inhales softly, nervously.

My timid mouse.

Not so timid last night.

She’s nervous, faced with this new day.

Facing her deeds as I faced mine.

How could one night with just simple contact bring so much peace?

An epiphany hits me.

Before I succumb to the intimacy of her warmth and the blissful cocoon we’re in, I loosen her embrace and slide out of the covers.

I remain calm and emotionless as I look down. I’m dismayed to see the frown on her face.

But I understand. I’m not giving her an inch of emotion, and it weighs on her.

I wait for what I sense is an eruption.

She throws the covers back and comes to her knees to meet my eye level.

I love the fire in her brilliant green eyes.

She opens her mouth to release that fire, but I cut her off.

“I’ve decided something,” I simply say.

She closes her mouth as an eyebrow arches.

I stare, taking in every delightful feature as it twists with impatience. I’m loving her torture.

She flies off the bed and is in my face before I can react. “You kissed me as if you wanted to consume my very being. Then pulled away. You shocked me so much I couldn’t even face you.”

I smile but hold my ground.

“You were angry when I came home late. You hate that I touched you. That I dared touch you,” she fires.

I let her see that I’m studying every detail of her face. I pause on her lips to rile her.

“And you say you’ve decided something,” she growls. “That’s all you have to say!”

I chew my bottom lip, something I would never normally do, but I want to confuse her. I’m not nervous, not in the least.

Then I speak. I’ve made her wait long enough. “I’ve decided you make me happy.”

Her mouth drops open.

She is furious. Her eyes are ablaze. She waves a frustrated hand and turns from me.

I can’t let her get away.

I grab her hand.

She stops and grips the bedpost.

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