Page 289 of Blood & Betrayals

“Why?” he asks.

“I’m sure you have things to do.”

“Not right now,” he says.

“Then maybe a little longer?” I shouldn’t have said it. I should have just gone back to bed, but I didn’t want to leave him.

“I’d like that,” he says, and I can hear the smile in his voice.

The conversation shifts to school gossip, and we spend the next hour talking and laughing with each other.

106

Summer

Connor and I walk back to the dorm after potentially the most awkward morning we’ve ever had. When we woke, there was the briefest moment when the previous day hadn’t happened. We looked at each other, both of us still half lost to the softer realm of sleep, with lingering smiles and sparkling eyes. Then pain flashed across Connor’s face, and I was brought right back to reality with a thud.

I don’t know why, but we decided to go out for breakfast. We are terrible at fighting with each other, but we’re making an effort. As we’re walking back to the dorm, I notice Connor glancing at me every few seconds. His gaze caresses my features softly. I don’t dare mention it, not wanting it to stop, but then he pulls his hand from mine. I wince slightly, but then he slides his hand over my back and loops it around my waist, pulling me into him. Finally, I dare to look up at him, and I find his eyes are already locked on me. His lips are pulled into his familiar, easy smile, and it makes my heart ache to see it again.

“What?” he asks, gliding his thumb along my waist.

“I love you,” I say, my heart aching with the truth of it.

Connor pulls me in closer. “I love you, too.” He stops walking and slides his hand into mine, pulling me onto the grass beneath one of the great trees. Thanks to the heavy growth of the leaves, we’re nearly invisible to anyone passing by. He wraps his arms around my waist and looks down at me. “I know it’s unbearable right now. It’s making my stomach churn.”

I place my hands on his chest. “It’s my fault, Con.”

Connor shakes his head. “If I hadn’t been so overprotective, would you have told me?”

“Connor,” I cup his cheek, “it wasn’t about that, big guy. It was about how difficult it was for you after you found Gia’s body. You slowly started to feel better, and I didn’t want to bring you down again.”

Connor tightens his arms around me, pulling me in even closer. “I know I’m guilty of shielding the people I love from upset. So, I do understand. Even when I was upset, I still understood.”

Did he saywhen?

“You’re not upset anymore?”

Connor shakes his head. “No, babe.”

I search his eyes, but I only see sincerity. I’m not sure when he forgave me, but he’s being completely honest with me right now.

“I’m not mad anymore.” He cups my cheek. “Talk to me.”

I can’t find the words. There aren’t any to express my gratitude and relief. So I simply slide my hands up his chest and wrap my arms around his neck, looking up at him.

Connor wraps his arm around me again, and he smiles in that crooked way that I love. “Your talking is so quiet.”

My lips twitch, and warm, overwhelming emotions well inside me. “I love you. That’s all there is to say.”

Connor’s big hands cup my ass, and he lifts me. I wrap my legs around him, and he kisses me deeply. I purr, savoring thefeel of his soft lips against mine. The kiss is tender. He glides his tongue along the seam of my lips, asking me to open for him. I run my fingers through his hair and happily comply, holding him close.

Connor moans and whispers, “Home?”

“Yes, please,” I say, sucking on his lower lip.

Connor starts walking, carrying me easily back toward Kelpie Hall. I kiss along his cheeks, nose, chin, and jaw, basking in his love and the relief that I haven’t lost him.

As the door to the dorm closes behind us, Connor kisses me again. I’m about to deepen it, but then I hesitate and pull back. Connor frowns at me.

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