Page 111 of Borden 3

It was pure love.

A hug that felt so close, our souls entwined.

“Take me to bed,” I quietly said, under the hot spray.

Borden didn’t dry us off as he picked me up off the floor and took me to bed. Soaked, pulses erratic, we kissed each other needily. Languid, sensual strokes of our tongue. Slow movements, his hands affectionately exploring my body.

When he fucked me, it was tender, and it was filled with adoration. He gazed at me like I was his pulse, and I never wanted to stop beating. I kissed him, riding through the waves of pleasure with my fingers in his hair and my legs needily wrapped around his hips. He held my hand and clenched it as we came together, his groans tortured.

He held me the rest of the night.

“Tell me you love me,” he demanded, though it sounded more like a question.

“I love you, Marcus.”

“You’re my wife.”

“Yes.”

“Forever?”

I swallowed another lump at the vulnerability in him. “Forever.”

Chapter Thirty-Eight

Emma

Past

He was bad for me.

He had to be.

So why was it so hard to keep away?

“You’re quiet,” he said as we walked down the familiar path along the river’s edge. We were headed toward another basement in some abandoned shop. My stomach turned. There would be another fight. Theo would beat someone else, and I was tired of seeing blood. Ever since Miles wound up in the hospital, you’d think less kids would show up. But it was the opposite; kids wanted to see the action for themselves.

Theo was magic to them.

He offered them something.

Escape, or passion, or maybe even a sense of adventure. Whatever it was, he had their loyalty.

It was a full moon tonight and unusually bright out. The weather had turned and it was so cold, I had to bury my face into my red scarf. Granny crocheted this scarf. I’d refused to wear it last winter, when Mom’s death was fresh. It hung in the closet, untouched, and now it smelled like home.

Home.

She’d been so fucking happy to see it on me. I had to look away from her so she didn’t notice the pain in my eyes.

I swallowed. “Not trying to be quiet, Theo.”

“You haven’t been yourself lately.”

“I guess…I guess I’m confused.” I stopped now, digging my shoe into wet ground. It was lightly drizzling. “When we started out, things were different. We were surrounded by kids who were like us, and now the basements are filled to the brim with kids from all over. Where are our friends, Theo?”

“They’re there,” he assured me.

“Then I have to search high and low to find them. We were the Lost Kids once. Now we just watch you beat guys to a pulp for some money and drugs.”

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