Page 57 of Bells

“What?” I frowned at him. “Tell your voices to shut the fuck up.”

He tugged at his hair for a moment. “Everything is so. . . foggy.”

“Go take your meds.”

His blue eyes snapped to mine and he smiled, his demeanor changing. “I never take meds. I’m sane as can be.” He pointed to his head and grinned wider. “This is just for funsies.”

“Whatever,” I muttered. “I gotta go.”

“It’ll hurt, Ding Dong. Then it’llburn.”

“Then I guess I’ll see you in hell,Asylum.”

He smirked at me, his blue eyes twinkling, and inclined his head. “See you in hell, Ding Dong.” He turned and walked away, whistling that strange song I’d heard him hum before. I shook my head and sighed. He was what crazy looked like. Not me.

I went to my dorm and showered and did my makeup and picked out an outfit to wear for Church. He liked a lot of black, so I put on a long, black dress and fluffed my blonde hair. Waiting around until nightfall was awful, but I managed it. The moment the sun disappeared off the horizon, I left my room and took the wooded trail past the cemetery to the watchers’ house.

I fluffed my hair again and knocked on the door.

It opened a moment later, Church greeting me in all black.

He stepped aside for me to come in.

Once inside, he closed the door softly behind me as I took in our surroundings. He had candles going throughout the darkened room, illuminating it in a soft glow.

“It’s beautiful,” I said, smiling up at him as I rested my hands on his chest.

“I thought you may enjoy your last night in this house with candles,” he said, his voice low.

“Why? Because you’re coming home with me? Back to Everett?”

He nodded. “I am. I’ve realized I’ve been overlooking the most important things in my life. My home. My family.”

I crushed my lips against his. He didn’t touch me, but he did kiss me back, sending a thrill through me.

Church said he never kissed, but he was kissing me. I’d definitely won.

God, he was a good kisser. Full, soft lips. Teeth. A growl.

I was in heaven.

“Come,” he said against my lips. “Let’s go to my room. I don’t want anyone to hear you screaming.”

I nodded eagerly, letting him lead me upstairs.

The moment we were in his room, my mouth was back on his, my hands all over him. He still didn’t touch me, but I knew he would. Maybe he was nervous to be with me.

I deepened the kiss, tasting his tongue against mine. He was minty and sweet.

“I love you,” I choked out between kisses. “I’ve loved you for so long, Dante.”

He grunted again before I smashed my lips back on his.

“Tell me you love me too,” I begged softly, breaking off the kiss. “Please tell me.”

He smiled down at me. “Oh, Isabella.”

My heartbeat thundered as I waited for his words.

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