Page 116 of Rugger: The Huntress

“Baby–” I whimpered, feeling the pain of our existence all over me.

My body was set ablaze as his hands roamed my back, rubbing up and down as his lips found mine.

“Gazelle,” he breathed into my mouth.

I tightened my grip around his neck, secretly vowing to never let go. My heart swelled and exploded in my chest. Its overflow leaked from my mouth into Sonnie’s. The rest stung my eyes.

“Gaze– Baby.”

Concern was etched in his tone. His hands drew closer to my face until they were both on my cheeks.

“Baby… are you– Baby–”

He broke away, holding my face ever so gingerly just inches away from his.

“You’re crying.”

His eyes glossed in the dark, sparkling like bright Christmas lights in the night hours. As my vision blurred, I shook my head from one side to the other.

Snap. Snap.

I couldn’t be rescued. I couldn’t be saved.

Snap. Snap.

Teddy– My thoughts rang out.

Snap. Snap.

The pain didn’t stop. The aching didn’t subside.

Teddy, what happens now?

Snap. Snap.

“What’s the matter, Gazelle?”

“No– noth– nothing,” I choked out.

“Then, why are you crying, my love?”

I removed one of his hands from my cheeks and lowered it to my chest.

“It… it hurts so good. It hurts for you. It longs for you. It waits for you. It beats for you. It listens for you. It craves you. It–”

“Baby–”

“It’s falling for you.”

“Oh baby, please don’t threaten me with a good thing, Gazelle.”

I shook my head from one side to the other.

“Sonnie, I’m afraid,” I confessed.

He swiped the tears from my eyes as he questioned, “Of what?”

“Of what happens next.”

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