Page 155 of Dare To Live

“So, what’s happening with you and Arabella?”

“I don’t know. It’s complicated.”

“From the bites all over your neck, I don’t think it’s that complicated.”

“You’d be surprised at how complicated she can make the simplest things.”

“Alright, how about this. What do you want from her?”

“Whatever she’s willing to give to me.”

“You in love with her again?”

“Never fell out of love with her. She left me, not the other way around.” My replies to his questions are given absently. It’s just a way to fill the silence while I focus on the marble in front of me.

“And now?”

“And now she wants to fuck my brains out as much as possible but isn’t quite ready to commit. For …” I shrug. “Reasons, I guess.”

***

I step back and admire my work. The sculpture is finished and, while it’s not my best piece—I’ve learned so much about working with marble since I first started it ten years ago—I’m more than happy with how it’s turned out.

“I need to organize someone to pick this up and take it back to my house.”

“Are you going to let Arabella see it first? She knows it’s her, right?”

“She saw it when Evan tried to get her to destroy it.”

“Has she ever asked you about it?”

I shake my head. “Until the last couple of months, we haven’t seen each other for years.”

“What changed?”

“Elena sent her to check on me at Christmas. And I realized nothing had changed. She’s still the woman I want to spend the rest of my life with. I just need to convince her it’s what she wants.”

I brush the marble dust off the front of my t-shirt and jeans. “Come on, let’s get out of here. It must be time to eat. I’m fucking starving.”

Chapter 87

Arabella

Laughter and chattering voices fill the air as we walk into the cafeteria. Ivan, Garrett, and Eli are already at the table.

Eli’s gaze holds mine as I walk through the room. Something hot and primal passes between us that has my body almost vibrating with need. We’ve only been apart for a day, and I’m already craving his mouth and hands all over me.

“For god’s sake, Bella. Just tell him how you feel,” Miles mutters.

It’s enough to break the spell between us, and I glance away from Eli. “No.”

“You look at each other like love-sick puppies.”

“Stop it.”

“I’ll tell him then,” he continues.

“Don’t make me disown you.”

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