Page 158 of Barbi and the Villain

“Feel what you do to me,” he whispers. “Feel what fate arranged for us, but that we created.”

“Nykander…” I whimper.

The glow intensifies.

We are up in the air, breaking through the atmosphere. Dim lights reflect from down below, where the rest of the world resides. But this, now, marks our break from civilization—our coming together as not two, but one.

Us against the world.

The clouds are our only companions as strong gusts of air travel all around us, but it never touches us.

Our energies are in sync. A boundary between us and the rest of the world—the rest of the universe.

“Do you feel it, sweetheart?” he asks as he caresses my face.

I lean into his touch, letting it sear itself on my skin. Peering up at him, I note the gentleness with which he regards me.

“Tell me you feel this. Tell me I am not the only one wrapped up in this mad, mad surge of emotion that threatens to consume me from within.”

“You’re not.” I shake my head. “I feel it. Every beat of your heart mirrors mine. Every breath.” I pause as I trace his lips with my finger. “Every breath you take is my breath.”

He swallows hard, his face ravaged by a myriad of emotions.

“I’ve never felt like this before,” he confesses in a thick voice. “Like your lips were perfectly sculpted to fit my own. Like your curves were made to accommodate every inch of my hardness.”

His voice caresses my senses, but it’s the meaning behind his words that leaves me breathless.

I stare at him.

He stares at me.

Slowly, a smile curves up his lips.

I smile in return.

And just like that, I know I am fine. Whatever may come our way—whatever the fates may have in store for us—we are fine.

We descend to the ground, landing in the middle of a thick forest. Darkness surrounds us from all sides, but our path is lit up from our merged energy—a light gray with shimmery purple particles.

He uses his teleportation powers to bring the dogs to us and they bark happily when they see us again.

I pet them and give them kisses while Nykander watches me with an amused gleam in his eyes. After I’ve handed out each of them a small treat from my pocket, I get back to his side.

His hand finds mine and we walk around, wandering aimlessly. The dogs follow close behind.

“Nykander, I have to ask.” I gather the courage to speak, knowing bringing up this subject might end our idyllic moment.

“Hm?”

“What about… Mo?”

“I will not lie to you, Barbs. I love Mo. I will always love her. She was my first love and I loved her with the heart of a youth. But she is no longer here. Thousands of years have passed. I am no longer the same youth. I am stronger, wiser, and more weathered. And for the first time, I am ready to open my heart again.”

“I will never ask you to forget her,” I tell him. “I just do not wish to have her intervene between us.”

“She will not.” He stops, placing himself in front of me. “Let me have my revenge. Let me have this one goal I have worked so long toward. After that, I will put her to rest. I will be only yours—if you will have me.”

I smile as I caress his hand.

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