Page 92 of Dare To Fall

“I almost told you a couple of times,” I whisper. “But I couldn’t betray my friend’s trust.”

“I would have been gentler with you if I’d known the truth.”

Even though he can’t see my expression in the dark, I turn my face away. “If I hadn’t drunk the vodka, we wouldn’t have had sex.”

“Your virginity was always going to be mine to take. It was just a matter of time.” The hand Eli has on my cheek slides down to my chin. “You belonged to me the first time you responded to my dare.”

I don’t resist when he brings my head back to face him. “Eli—”

“Shh, it’s okay.” Lips brush over mine. “You know it’s the truth, Kitten.”

Because he is Sin.

Even if things had happened differently, Eli was the one who I wanted. I just hadn’t known it. He was the one I’d fallen in love with. My heart aches inside my chest. I bridge the gap between us and snuggle into his warmth, closing my eyes.

Eli wraps his arms around me. “Ari, I—”

“I’m so tired.” The safety of his arms is making me sleepy.

He doesn’t finish what he’s about to say, his words coming out with a little sigh.

A hand strokes my hair. “Go to sleep. We’ll talk some more tomorrow.”

“Okay.”

“Promise me you won’t run away?”

“And get eaten by a bear? No thanks.”

Eli chuckles. “Guess you’re stuck with me then.”

I don’t reply but smile against his chest. His hands continue to caress me, and my eyes grow heavy with sleep. Cocooned in the dark beneath the blanket with Eli holding me feels like the safest place in the world. My nose scrunches up sleepily. It shouldn’t feel this right.

It’s the last thought I have before I drift off to sleep.

Chapter 61

Eli

I untangle myself from Ari’s arms and slip out of the bed. She grumbles, a frown pulling her brows together and I freeze beside the bed, but she doesn’t wake, rolling over to bury her face into my pillow. I grab my sweats and t-shirt from on top of the dresser and creep out of the room.

I take a quick shower, pull on my clothes and sneakers, and go outside to see if the storm has caused any damage. The ground is wet, but during my walk around, it doesn’t look like anything has been destroyed. I check inside the building where the generators are, making sure there are no leaks in the roof, and then do a perimeter check. The trees surrounding the cabin all seem to have survived the storm with nothing more than a few broken branches, and I gather them up and put them in the wood store to dry out.

When I go back into the cabin, sounds reach me from the kitchen. I stick my head around the door to discover Arabella in front of one of the cabinets, studying the contents.

“Morning. I did a quick after-storm check. Nothing is damaged outside. It’s still very wet out there, though, so I don’t recommend going for a walk today.” As much as I want to greet her with a kiss, I don’t, reaching past her to take down a bowl and the box of cereal. “I’ll get the fire going, if you’re cold.”

When she shakes her head, I fill the bowl, add milk, grab a spoon, and take a seat at the table.

“I didn’t realize you were such a huge fan of Cheerios.”

I pause with the spoon halfway to my mouth and turn my head to find her looking at me.

“As far as cereals go, they’re probably one of the best.”

“It’s all I’ve seen you eat since we got here.”

I grin. “Didn’t think you were paying me that much attention.”

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