Page 209 of Kiss the Villain

“Is he hurting himself or showing signs to?” he asks, his voice dipping into something darker, quieter.

“Not that I noticed,” Simone replies.

A slight tremor passes through his hand, still buried in my hair. It’s so faint, I wouldn’t have caught it if he weren’t touching me.

“Pay more attention, Simone. Nothing happens to him, clear?”

“Worry about yourself. You look like the walking dead.”

I want to open my eyes and see him. The last image I have of him is the sadness in his eyes and the resolve to die as he offered me his life.

And I hate that image.

It’s nothim.

Not my Kayden.

Not that he’s mine. Or anything.

My body stills, as if time itself holds its breath when his lips meet my forehead.

The soft, lingering press is a quiet invasion, tender and almost reverent. His shaky breaths and the gentle careful touch speak louder than words ever could.

His breaths are warm against my skin, ghosting over me in shallow whispers, like the slow exhale of a reality he couldn’t maintain.

That ache returns to my chest, and the weight of what he made me lose hangs between us like forbidden fruit.

“I’m sorry, my little monster.” The deep rumble of his apology slides over my skin, barely touching the air and pressing against my chest.

And then he’s gone.

Taking my heart with him.

Today, I’m going back to the island.

For the pesky thing called school.

I’ve kind of lost interest in that. I’ve lost interest in many things, actually.

I think I underestimated how disruptive the void can be.

How it can deepen and widen and demand vengeance.

I also haven’t been able to stop thinking about when Kayden held my head on his lap and kissed my forehead.

That was five days ago.

I’ve been wondering how many times he came over when I was asleep. And I’ve been beating myself up for not opening my eyes and talking to him.

I should’ve given him a piece of my mind. Asked him if I made him feel sick whenever he touched me, knowing he should’ve killed me.

Cursed him.

Choked him.

Just…lookedat him.

Because I’m starting to hate my life without him in it.

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