Page 169 of Dare To Live

Chapter 95

Arabella

The stone of the coffin is cool against my back. Sunlight filters in through the closed door, and all I can hear is the sound of my ragged breathing. Chest rising and falling, my attention is on the man who’s watching me. A million emotions tumble through me. All I can think about is having him inside me again.

Once is never enough. He’s my addiction, and I’ve never been able to get enough of him.

As passion cools, awareness of my surroundings returns.

The tomb is just as I remember it. The place that stars in all my nightmares. At night I can still see the white lilies pale against the gray stone where Evan left me to die.

I scramble off the tomb and drop to my knees in a corner, putting my back to it.

Eli’s body covers me from behind, his arms turning me so he can cup the back of my head and press it against his chest.

“Breathe, Ari.”

I wrap my arms around his waist. “I can’t!”

“You can.”

I suck in a shuddering breath, inhaling the scent of his cologne, familiar and safe, and it grounds me.

“I can’t believe we just had sex on the coffin.” My laugh is shaky.

He chuckles. “You have no idea how long I’ve wanted to do that. All these years, I cursed myself for not fucking you when we played our games.”

I bury my face into his chest, and tremble in his arms. I’m kneeling, naked in the middle of the crypt, and I’m terrified of letting him go.

“Ari?” Eli’s voice is soft. “Baby?”

“He … He left me here to die.” My voice is small. “I clawed at the stone, and I couldn’t get out. I … I couldn’t get out.”

“It’s okay, baby. You’re safe now. This is just a place.”

I shake my head. “No, it’s not.”

“It’s our place.” He draws me to my feet. “It’s always been ours.”

“Eli, no.” I lock my limbs when he tries to turn me around.

“Don’t be frightened, baby.” He cups my face and drops a kiss on my lips. “You helped me face my demons, and now I’m going to help you face yours.”

My eyes well with tears. “I’m not as brave as you.”

“You’re so much braver than you think.” Eli kisses me again. “Beautiful and badass. You’re my protector, remember?”

My pulse thuds, and I close my eyes.

Breathe.

“I won’t let anything happen to you.” His thumb traces my bottom lip. “Turn around for me, Kitten.”

I don’t want to, but I know he’s right. This is my moment, just as he had his.

A swell of emotion lodges in my throat, and the tears spill down my cheeks. “Okay.”

I allow him to move me, tugging me around.

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