Page 76 of Chemistry: The Chemist

“Is she still breathing?” she mustered as her body grew rigid.

With a titter, I shook my head. “Am I rubbing off on you, baby?”

“Is she?”

“No. She isn’t.”

“Fair enough.”

“She was my mother, Eden.”

A gasp filled her lungs with oxygen and swelled her eyes twice their normal size.

“I’m so sorry. I– I thought you mea– like an ex or–”

“It’s okay.”

“It’s not. I’m sorry. I had no ide– Oh my God. I’m sorry.”

“Stop apologizing. It was her decision. There’s no need to be sorry.”

“Her decision? I don’t understand.”

“And I don’t care to explain. I have other things in mind.”

“Che–”

“Come on, Choc.”

I was up and on my feet before she could protest. She was in my arms and we were headed down the hall before she could digest all that had been revealed. Down the stairs, through the common areas, and into the pool area, I carried her as she continued to apologize.

“Please,” I groaned, lowering our naked bodies into the water.

“I have been wondering what happened to you. What made you this way? What sealed your heart? What hardened your edges? And it’s all beginning to make sense. I wouldn’t wish that amount of pain on anyone.”

She spoke from experience. I wasn’t sure who she’d lost but it was apparent parts of her were missing, too.

“I’m this way because I’m this way, Eden. Don’t try to figure me out. I’m no puzzle you can put together. There will always be missing pieces. You’ll drive yourself mad trying to finish.”

“I don’t want to finish. Ever. That means the experience has come to an end and I don’t want that, Chem. Can your mystique last forever or is that asking too much?”

Her words were grounding. I planted my feet where they were, not taking another step. The crystal-colored water reflected on her dark skin.

Paradise.

Eden was hammering at my walls. The way she broke them down with such ease was baffling and demanded a study on the ability alone. I tilted my chin in her direction, wondering if she knew what she meant for me, to me. She couldn’t have, because I’d never be able to put that shit into words.

“Nothing you desire will ever be too much.”

“Well, then.” She chuckled, exposing those fluffy cheeks. “That’s settled.”

“Definitely fucking rubbing off on you.”

Laughter knotted my stomach and twisted my heart. With a shake of the head, I pulled Eden closer as I pushed toward the deeper end.

“Let’s see just how much.”

“Baby, this is too far out,” she whined.

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