Page 15 of Pieces of Halves

Broken things are thrown away.

“I know you are not, baby.” His voice is soft as he rubs circles on my lower back.

“It just feels…”Painful having been used like that. But I can’t get those words out. “I don’t want…”To be defined by whathappened to me.I sigh. “I’m scared that…”You will not want me because of my past.

I want to tell him how I feel, but the words are stuck in my throat.

“You don’t have to explain.” He rests his chin on the top of my head. “This is just a thought, but I have a friend at King Adrian’s castle, Rosie. I have to go that way anyway, and if you want, you can stay there. You will be safe,” he says calmly, his motion on my back never wavering. “They will take you in.” He chuckles.

I inhale at this offer. Does it mean that he wants me to go with him? Anxiously, I pinch the inside of my cheek between my teeth. If I veer away from my plan, he could abandon me, and then all of my efforts would be for nothing.

King Adrian is a man to fear. The vampires know him very well; he is the second in hand to Lucifer, but everyone calls him the dark one. He recently got married. Rumor has it his wife is Lucifer’s daughter. I would be safe there if I were welcome.

“That is a different country, and vampires are not welcome there.” I look up at him.

“Rosie, the queen, and I grew up together. If I ask her, she will say yes. I promise.” He smiles at me.

I shuffle a little and pull away. Jacob is powerful and has influential friends, yet he is here, taking care of me.

“You are close with the king?” I look up at him, curiosity growing.

“No.” He laughs, his chest rumbling. “I’m close with Rosie. Adian is just a love-sick fool who would do anything for her, and Rosie will insist on helping you. Trust me, she is one of the kindest people I know.”

There is so much tenderness in his voice when he speaks about her that jealousy pings in my chest. She is his childhood friend, I scold myself. Plus, I have no right to claim him as mine.

“Do you want me to go with you?” I ask and peer at him from under my lashes.

“I hope you do,” he breathes out, and the hold around my waist gets a little tighter.

The action is so subtle that I don’t think he even notices that he did it. My heart flutters at the gesture. To hide a smile from stretching, I bite my lower lip, but his eyes drop and linger on my lips. The rubbing on my lower back stops, and his chest rises heavier than before.

Does he want to kiss me?The insane thought sends a flush of warmth through me. What ifIkiss him?

“Can I kiss you?” I blurt out and immediately feel embarrassed about it.

Who says something like this?

“Izzy.” He places a palm on my cheek. Our eyes meet and I get lost in the care in them. “Whenever you want, but I don’t have any expectations of you. There is no pressure to do anything you don’t want.”

He worries he will break me and become the reason why I hurt more, but I need him to feel alive. He makes me feel as if there is more to life than just running from monsters.

Whenever you want.

“You need time to h—” he keeps going, but I lean in and press my lips against his.

The air is sucked out of me at the soft touch. My body feels weightless, and everything vanishes. I think my heart stopped beating as well. He doesn’t move or react, letting me take charge.

I am in control. Something in my chest cracks, and I feel like I am whole. Craving more, I kiss him a little harder, letting my lips play with his.

A quiet growl leaves his throat. His hand on my hips moves me closer, and he leans in, separating my lips with his. There is so much beauty in such a small touch that it is overwhelming. I pull away, gasping for air with myeyes wide.

I kissed a boy before. Mark. We were sixteen. I knew what he wanted. It was the same with all the boys at the court; it was a game of who could bed the princess. I never fell for their tricks, but I was also curious. I used him the way he used me. It was bland, boring, empty. This is anything but that. Jacob is fire, air, and water.

“I—” I am still trying to catch my breath. There is worry in his eyes as he stares at me, waiting for me to say something. “Stop looking at me like I will break any minute,” I pout and thin my lips.

“Izzy.” He takes my face in both of his hands and forces me to look directly at him, his face suddenly serious. “Do you understand how terrifying it was to watch you cry, sob, and vomit out of fear? Do you understand that I would do everything in my power to see you smiling?” His gaze is intense, but all I feel is care.

My shoulders slump. We have known each other for a week, and he worries about me so much. I shouldn’t be upset about that.

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