Page 132 of As the World Falls

I pulled her from my shoulder so I could look directly at her. My hands cup her face. “You’ll stay?”

She nods.

“You know I don’t mean overnight or just for a few weeks, right? I want you to stay for good.”

“You made that clear, yes.”

“So…you’re staying.”

She laughs again. “I think we’ve established that.”

I grin now, pulling her face to mine and kissing her, probably a little too aggressively, but she meets me head-on like always, devouring me all the same.

Chapter Thirty-Nine

Cecilia

The cold air breezes around me, reminding me that winter is right around the corner as I sit outside on the patio, sipping my morning coffee. It's a good thing I thrived in the cold. I was an oversized sweater and blanket kind of girl through and through.

It’s been three days since I officially agreed to move in with James, and surprisingly, I haven’t panicked about my decision yet.

What is wrong with me? Is this what being in love was like? Was I totally lovesick?

James walks onto the patio, spotting me beside the rose bushes that are nearly withered up now. He stops next to me and leans down to kiss my cheek. “Don’t forget, Marco will accompany you to work today.”

I sigh. “How could I forget? You reminded me last night before bed, when I woke up, and now.”

He grins at me. “I need to triple-check that you’re aware of the rules, considering your history of disobedience.”

“Yeah, yeah, whatever. Marco can come with me to work today. It actually might not be bad to have his company considering…”

James sits down across from me, eyeing me warily. “Considering what?”

“Well…Lance works today, too.”

“No,” James bites out.

“James, you can’t?—”

“You are not to see him again. I don’t care that he works there. Fire him.”

I laugh nervously. “I can’t fire him. It’s his job. As you said, Marco will be there if he tries anything. I can handle myself, too.”

James rests his chin on his hand, seething. “I don’t like the idea of him being near you or even breathing the same air as you.”

“He’s my oldest friend, James. I can’t just write him off forever. I want to try and fix things with him.”

“Absolutely not.”

“You don’t really get a say in it.”

“I very much get a say, especially when you’re mine, and he keeps putting his hands on what’s mine.”

“He’s been my best friend my whole life. I can’t just forget that. I don’t want to lose our friendship just because things got so…complicated.”

He looks at me in a way that makes me want to choke on my words. His eyes feel deep and full of pain. “You mean before I came along and ruined everything?”

I quickly shake my head. “That is not what I meant. What is going on right now? Things have been so good.”

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