Page 99 of As the World Falls

It’s like his gaze sears into me as he says that, and I rub my hands up and down my arms in an attempt to rub away the goosebumps he’s left me with. “Fine, but I won’t go longer than two weeks, so you guys better figure out your issues. This all just…” I scowl at Tobias now for the career path he chose in life. “This is just craziness.” I feel like I’ve declared my life crazy a thousand times since my brother returned and brought James into my life.

He chooses to laugh now, which is making me more irritated. “I had to swap one for the other.”

“Apparently so,” I mumble, looking around the extravagant room again.

“Text me with things you want from your apartment. I’m going to head there now and grab some things.”

“Fine,” I gripe, pulling my phone out. “Oh, if you see Lance… don’t tell him about this.”

“Got it,” Tobias responds, pressing a quick kiss to my temple as he heads out of the house. “I’ll be back in an hour or so.”

I wave him off and turn back to face James, who is watching me closely. “What?” I finally snap.

He shrugs. “I just find it curious.”

I roll my eyes. “Find what curious?”

“You seem to hide a lot from the man you call your best friend.”

“It’s for his protection.”

“Ah, how noble of you.”

“Unlike other people I know.”

He slowly walks toward me, his gaze never straying from mine. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“That you seem to keep dragging me back into your life when I want no part of it.”

“You mean the life that you so forcefully shoved yourself into? The life that, no matter how much you hate to admit it, you can’t stay away from?” He’s standing only a few feet from me now, and I can feel his pulling energy again. It’s suffocating like usual but in a warm blanket kind of way that I missed being wrapped up in.

“I got what I wanted from you,” I lie. I don’t think it would ever truly be enough. “I solved your so-called labyrinth. It was full of nothing but deceit and corruption around every corner. I don’t want to be in it any longer.”

He takes another step closer. “But you’re smack dab in the middle of it, Cecilia. You always are, and you can’t get out.”

I swallow hard, my body filling with a mixture of anxiety and pure, unbridled need for him to take another step closer. To feel his hands on me again because they felt so good. “You’re wrong,” I attempt to say, but it lacks strength.

He closes any distance between us, and I sigh in relief at having him so close. He smiles down at me, and it’s one I haven’t seen before. It’s not a smirk of amusement or a grin of mischievousness. It’s a purely happy smile. It was beautiful.

“I’ve missed you, my Cecilia.”

My stomach dips as it feels like a million butterflies take flight inside me. “Well, I didn’t miss you.”

He chuckles lowly. “Say what you want. We both know you did. I’ll just be the first to admit it.”

“You’re delusional.”

His hands carefully wrap around my waist, keeping me close to him. “So you say.”

His eyes watch me closely, and looking into each one is like looking into both sides of him. His warm brown one reminds me of his shocking softness and the gentle care that he takes with me. Then, his icy grey one reminds me of his cold exterior, which showcases his ruthlessness and violent tendencies. They were in constant battle with each other and have now waged their wars inside my heart.

I pull away from him, my feelings suddenly too overwhelming to bear. “Could you show me to my room? I’ll wait for my brother there.”

He instantly returns his hands to his pockets and nods at the floor. “Of course,” he murmurs so low I barely hear him. “Follow me up the stairs.”

I woke up the next day, begrudgingly, I might add. I hated to admit it, but this bed was luxurious and the most comfortable bed I’d ever slept on. The big, fancy, regal-looking curtains that hung from the windows were drawn shut, casting the room inpure darkness despite seeing the cracks of shining sun behind them. I could stay in this bed and sleep in the darkness all day.

Unfortunately, I had things to do, like brunch with my brother. After returning with my things last night, he stayed behind for a while, and we made plans. He would stay at my apartment for now, ensuring no one came around and keeping an eye on Lance per my request. He wanted to stay close to me today since he was already in town, which I was okay with because it meant more time with him, which I hadn’t gotten in years.

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