Page 45 of The Circus

I smile softly, nerves jolted at his new nickname for me. It fits. One day, we’ll all be ghosts. Hopefully his soul and mine are meant to stay together through death.

Hopefully, we find our way back to one another here, in this place that feels oddly like home to me.

“I call her Eve. She doesn’t seem to mind the name. She…she led me here, years ago.”

His eyes widen in what looks awfully close to lust, and he steps forward, his frame consuming the light from behind and casting me into his immense, foreboding shadow. I have to crane my neck back to keep our eyes locked.

“Is she still here?” he asks, glancing around the wide, empty space.

I shake my head, still smiling gently. He frowns, cocking his head to the side, his eyes falling to mine. Disappointment swirls there.

“Did I scare her?”

I snort, shaking my head. “No. She just likes to be alone.”

His gaze softens.

“Thank you,” he whispers.

I quirk my brow. “For what?”

If anything, I should be thankinghim, over and over and over, for all he did to make my night absolutely perfect, adding in moments I didn’t even know I’d want, or need. Having a pizza party in my dad’s hospice room? This dress, the makeup, even the ballet flats tied to my ankles? It’s perfection, and he is at the root of it.

“For sharing a secret with me.”

He reaches out, dragging his knuckles down my cheek, and I shiver at his touch and all it ignites within me. I flash him a grin, unable to resist teasing him back, especially with how alive I feel right now.

“You earned it.”

This time, when he grins, it’s mordacious and biting, and my heart squeezes.

“C’mon. I have more to earn, Eden Clemm.”

My stomach writhes, fraught with nerves, but I take his outstretched hand.

“Lead the way then, Teddy Poe.”

We hike three floors up,silent the entire way, both of us listening for any disturbances but hearing none. A strange, nervous sort of calm is taking root in my core, the build up for this night somehow beautiful and transformative, my worries about my dad and the circus fading into nothing because for once, I’m being a teenager, and it feelsso fucking good.

The old building creaks and groans, winds whistling through the forest outside, and we pause in front of a gaping doorway, Teddy pulling his hand from mine, glancing down at me.

“Wait here?”

Biting my lip, I nod, and he smooths his thumb over my cheek once before disappearing into the darkness. Moments later, soft, golden light begins to flicker into the hallway, making shadows jump and dance along the walls. There’s some shuffling, and one or two curses, but he’s back, arms outstretched as his hands grip the doorframe, that dark, lurid grin dancing on his devastatingly handsome face.

“Welcome, Miss Clemm,” he teases, his eyes alight with mischief. I frown at him, suddenly nervous for whatever it is he’s planned aside from the sex. “To one of the best nights of your life.”

Brows rising, I scoff, crossing my arms and jutting out my hip, emboldened here because I feel so at peace, so at home. “Oneof them?”

He steps back out into the hall, taking both of my hands in his own, his warm, rough palms so gentle.

“I don’t know about you, but I have a feeling this won’t be a one night stand, Eden. Hope you’re okay with that. If not…” he trails off, eyes searching mine. Butterflies are wreaking havoc in my stomach as I hold his unwavering, potent stare. His canine teeth appear when his smile broadens, a dangerous glint to his gaze. “Then I suppose you’ll have to learn to be okay with it, because if you haven’t realized it by now, I’m insane.”

Laughter puffs out from between my lips, and I wonder fleetingly if he’s serious, if he’s subtly sharing something about himself with me. If so…why am I oddly okay with that?

“Howinsane?” I ask, seeking more. He leans in, releasing one hand to cup my cheek before resting his warm forehead against mine. My breath hitches in my throat, and though the night has grown chilly, I am suddenly sweltering in this beautiful dress. Firelight dances upon his angular, chiseled face, and in this moment, everything is perfect.

“Insane enough to follow you through every lifetime.”

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