Page 78 of Paper Thin Love

Suddenly, I want to cry.

I think he does, too. Hidden behind his hardened walls is a broken prince trembling right now.

“Good as new.” He mocks. But his eyes keep watching me intently.

“Say it.” He orders.

“What?” I step back. He arches his brow, causing me to keep inching back until the backs of my legs hit his mattress.

“What has you on the verge of crying?” Each step he takes in my direction sends his shadow slithering across his floor, closer and closer. A single tear escapes my eyes, but suddenly, he’s there, catching it on the pad of his thumb. It shouldn’t turn me on when he presses it to his lips.

It does.

There is no part of me he doesn’t want to savor.

“I don’t want these kinds of tears staining your face, little fox,” he mutters gently as he touches my chin.

“What kind of tears do you want?” I whisper as I lean into his touch.

His eyes darken, and he runs his nose along my jaw, sighing as if he’s found peace after a long journey he barely survived. He presses his lips to my ear, his hot breath tickles and fans over my skin,“The kind of pleasure and passion so fucking painful you want to die in my arms. Those are the tears I want from you.” he turns my head and claims my lips. Searing hot passion glides over my tongue as he moans into my mouth.

“What am I going to do with you?”

“Love me.”Make love to me!

“I can’t do that, and you know it.”

“Liar.” I challenge. He’s hard, and I know it must be painful. I reach out for the zipper of his pants, but he stops me as he grabs me, lifting me till he sets me on his bed.“You’re just scared.” I declare.

“Of what?”

“Of what we both will find.” I reply. He looks down at me with such a mixture of emotions it has me reaching out to grab his shirt, trying to pull him back down to my lips.

I inch back over the mattress, legs widening, inviting him closer. He grabs my wrist and removes it from his shirt.

“Don’t,” I plead.Don’t run from me. Kiss me on your bed, and don’t let the water wash it away.

“Please.”

He closes his eyes.“I need to shower.”

My heart sinks.“Fine.” I push off the bed, walking past him to the bathroom.

“I don’t need your help anymore.”

I freeze. Inhaling deep with my back to him.You’re trying to push me away.

“I would have helped you regardless of the deal. What you see as a weakness, I saw as humanity. You’re broken, and that’s okay.”

“I’m not broken anymore.” He replies in a sharper tone.“I’m going to shower. Alone.”

“I’m coming.”

“No!” He snaps.“I... I need to be alone with my thoughts.” He walks past me, grabbing the bathroom door and shutting it in my face.Click.The locks sound.

I ball my fist and look around his room until I stare at the door. I should leave, so why am I walking to his bed with my bag?

I sit down, pull out a pair of new pointe shoes, and begin to sew the elastic on. He showers longer than normal. I get up and wiggle the doorknob.

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