Page 154 of Unspoken Truths

“Then answer the question,” I breathe. I like the feeling of her body in my arms, the way her chest rises and falls, and how she gently plays with my hair with the hand along my neck.

“Alright,” she says. “I like when you kiss me, though it’s been too soft recently for me to really enjoy it.”

“I’ll have to do better,” I say, smirking. “How dare I give you the space to push me away.”

“Exactly,” she says, looking up so I can see her lips curving up slightly. “Are you going to carry me the rest of the way? I think we lost our water bottles.”

“Someone will bring them back,” I reassure her, placing her on her feet. My hands need some encouragement to let her go completely, but I manage. “Come on lazy bones. Let’s go.”

The tinkle of her laughter as she tries to outrun me makes my dick rise and my heart begins to pound for another reason entirely. I think I may love this girl.

I can feel my priorities shift with every moment I spend with her, and I decide it’s what has to happen. The Kings are thoroughly in the wrong.

Rachelle Reyes is to be protected at all costs.

* * *

RACHELLE

Checking to make sure my door is closed and locked as I always do, I walk over to my bed to crawl under the covers. I’m exhausted.

Everything that happened with Barrett, the way Nacio leaped at him and knocked him out, it’s hard to believe. I told Emil that I’m going to need to pause any attempt to find me another therapist. It’s clearly not safe when everyone seems to have a price.

Lili:

I miss you, baby. I wish I was holding you right now.

Gazingat my phone as I lay in bed, I sigh as I read her text. I’ve become used to her sleeping with me. The nightmares have their moments of winning sometimes, but it’s not as scary when she’s here.

Me:

I miss you and wish you were here too. Love you.

Feeling morecomfortable saying that to her, I turn my phone on silent mode, and put it on the charger on my side table. Snuggling into my blankets, I turn off my light with the slide switch next to me.

Slowly, my eyes begin to get heavy, and my yawns get even wider. God, it’s been a really long damn day. Lili and her mouth are very much corrupting me, because I’m finding it much easier to use curse words now.

Drifting, I begin to fall asleep, my dreams pulling me away when I hear a faint thump by my door. My body twitches so hard at the sound, I gasp, sitting up.

I guess sleep is going to be hard to come by alone tonight. When I have Lili with me, I sleep deeper, because I feel safe. My mind isn’t searching for danger, my ears aren’t straining for every sound.

Ugh. I hate the way my brain works because of the shit in my past.

My feet slide along the cool sheets as I sit up before they hit the carpet. I’m wearing pajamas now, and though they aren’t something I’d parade around the house in, it’s fine to see who is at the door.

Standing, I walk slowly to the door in the dark. It’s silly, I should have turned on the light, but I’d rather catch whoever this is unaware. Unlocking the door, I pull it open to see Nacio gazing up at me sleepily.

“Go to sleep, Rachelle,” he says, yawning. “Fuck, I’m tired.”

“You have a perfectly good bed across the hall,” I remind him.

Is this because of what he said to me about seeing me dead when he closes his eyes? While I could say that he’s seen me alive all day, logic means nothing in the face of the lies your mind tells you.

“I like it here just fine,” he mumbles, his eyes starting to close before they jerk open.

Shit.

“Why are you on the floor?” I ask gently.

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