Page 636 of The Tempted

“Not that crazy but yeah, you got to have a little crazy in you to fall for a guy like me,” I said. I bit the inside of my cheek and watched the smirk play on her mouth.

I missed her mouth.

“What about you?”

“I’m fucking certifiable,” I admitted with a laugh.

“That’s not what I meant,” she insisted. “What about the drugs? Are you getting help?” she glanced around the room. “Is that even an option here?”

“I’m working it out,” I said, glancing over my shoulder to take in the positions of the guards. I kept my eyes on them as they were engrossed in a conversation and moved my hands across the table and covered hers.

The simplest touch was all I needed to remind me of how she felt in my arms.

I tore my eyes from the guards and stared at her as she looked at our hands, intertwining our fingers together.

“Did you ever think something as simple as holding hands would mean so much?” she lifted her eyes to mine. “When did that happen?”

“The day you forced me to drink a milkshake and reminded me I could still smile,” I answered. “Promise me something?”

She nodded her head.

“Don’t miss me too much,” I whispered, as my thumb stroked hers. “Keep on with your therapy, take your medicine, and finish school.”

Her hand closed over mine, squeezing it as she held on for dear life.

“Another stolen moment,” she murmured. “Is that all we will ever have?”

“Can’t promise you the world, no matter how much I want to, not while I’m in here.”

“And when you’re out? What happens then?”

“Hey, Petra, no touching!” The guard shouted from across the room. “You got two minutes to wrap it up.”

I gave her hand a squeeze before pulling mine back.

“Then, I claim my queen,” I said, pushing back my chair and drawing in a deep breath before I stood. “I love you, don’t forget that okay?”

“Never,” she promised as the tears fell from her eyes again. “I hate this,” she admitted.

“Me too,” I said as I took three steps backward, not ready to turn around and walk away from her.

“Blackie, wait,” she said, standing on her feet. “I didn’t get to thank you.”

“Thank me for what?”

“That night, for what you did. You saved me again.”

“Just returning the favor, Lace.”

“What?”

“You saved me first,” I said, turning my back before I couldn’t. Every second I stared at her face made it harder and harder to walk away. I took another two steps but stopped because I didn’t know when I would get to see her again. I turned around and looked at her one more time.

Let them throw me in the hole.

Take away my phone call privileges.

Ban my visitors.

---