Page 171 of Dare To Live

Eli

Arabella is quiet the entire walk back to our room, and I’m questioning whether my decision to take her to the tomb was the right one. It seemed like the right idea at the time, but maybe I hadn’t given enough consideration to how much fear she experienced when Evan kidnapped her.

When we reach our room, I stop her by the door. “I have an idea.”

She turns her head to look at me. “Another one?”

“We’re meeting Miles and Ivan later for dinner, but how about we go into town now. We can grab some lunch and I need to get some clothes. I only brought jeans and sweats, so I should probably get something to wear for tomorrow night anyway. And …” I hesitate, nudging my lip ring with my tongue. “I could take you to meet Zoey.”

That gets her attention. “Meet Zoey?”

I rub a hand across my jaw. “Well, go to her proper grave, I mean. I haven’t visited in a while so I should go and say hi.” It sounds stupid now I’ve said it out loud. “You know what … forget it. It doesn’t matter.”

“No.” Her hand lands on my arm. “No, I’d like that.”

“You don’t have to—”

“I spent a lot of time alone. Zoey’s diary was the only thing that kept me from going insane some days. I’d like to go and see her.”

“Okay … good. Grab a coat or something. It’s cold.” I unlock the door to our room, and she walks in, grabs a hoodie and comes back out again.

She smiles at me when I arch an eyebrow. “What?”

I flick the front of the hoodie as she pulls it on. “That’s mine.”

Her head pops through the hole. “Do you want it?”

I shake my head. “Whatever you want of mine is yours, Hellcat.” Including my heart.

***

The haunted expression in her eyes has faded by the time we finish lunch. She pushes her plate away with a contented sigh, and grins at me across the table.

“I’m not sure I’m going to have space for dinner later,” she announces, and I laugh.

“I predict you’ll be complaining about starving to death by the time we meet them all at the restaurant. If not, I’ll help you work up an appetite.” I wink and her cheeks turn pink. “I’m sure my magic dick and I can make you hungry.”

“Oh my god, stop!” Her voice is a mix of outrage and laughter.

“They were your words, not mine.”

“It wasn’t meant as a compliment!”

“How else should I take you calling my dick magic?” I lean back on my seat and smirk at her. “Just admit it. It cast a spell on your pussy, and no other dick has been able to give you the same feeling since.”

She shakes her head, but her lips are upturned, and her eyes are sparkling. “Are you fishing for compliments, Mr. Travers?”

I tilt my head. “Just confirmation, Ms. Gray.”

“Of what?”

I shift on my seat, leaning forward and reach for her hand across the top of the table. “Of you being as addicted to me as I am to you.”

The pink in her cheek deepens to a darker hue, but she doesn’t answer me. Instead, she looks around the diner. “I was sitting over at that table by the window when Sin sent me a text telling me to remove my panties.”

“You’d just kissed Miles.”

“You saw that?”

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