Page 55 of Beg Me Angel

A sharp breath escaped her lips as she jerked her body back. “I have a life, Pax, you can't just keep me like a fucking pet.”

“No, not like a pet, Vera, I want you to be mine.”

Her hands pushed against my chest, forcing us apart. Thinning her mouth, her face scrunched tight. “Is that what this is? Did you really think you could just keep me stowed away up here?”

“I told you last night I wasn't letting you go.”

Throwing her arms in the air, she huffed loudly. “I didn't think you meant literally, I thought it was just an in the moment thing.” Twisting her foot into the leaves and dirt, she gripped her sides. “Why?”

Grabbing her waist, I yanked her back into my arms. “Because without you I'd be lost, I'd crumble into dust and lose myself all over again.” Holding her tight, her body molded against mine. “I know you don't think you know me, Angel, but you know more about me than you realize. If you listen hard to your thoughts, I'm in there someplace.” Gripping her chin between my thumb and forefinger, I tipped her head up. “It might be deep, but I'm in there.”

I wanted to kiss her, I wanted to press my lips onto hers and feel the heat of her tongue. But I didn't, I waited, I let my words sink in and take hold. I needed her, the idea of letting her go burned, it slashed my insides, blackening my heart.

I had spent days talking to her, telling her about my past, my life, all the things that built me into the monster I had become. I knew she was sleeping, but I had hoped she would remember me, even if it was just the sound of my voice.

I wanted her to hear my words, to feel them in her dreams and sense them when she woke. Spilling all the darkest secrets came easy, her ears were open, any judgment she might cast could vanish. All because she would wake feeling she knew me, feeling connected on a level that went far beyond what one person could ask of another.

But maybe that wish went unheard, maybe it turned out to be just another fallen star, lost in a sea of wishes.

“What about me? What about my family?” Her hands danced over my abs, tapping the hardened muscles and drumming a silent beat against my stomach. “I'm lost right now, Pax, and maybe it's time for me to be found.”

Fuck! Why can't she just accept that she was meant to be here?

Vera's face drooped down, her eyes lowering in pain. I didn't want to cause her pain, I didn't want to be the reason for any of the torment she felt.

Tipping her chin up, I brushed a loose strand of hair behind her ear. “Angel, when I found you that day, I made you a promise. I promised you I'd fix this.”

Her eyes flickered, coming to life. “Is that what you said to me as you carried me?”

Cocking a brow, my mouth drew taut. “You remember that?”

“I remember you talking, but I didn't know what you said.”

“I thought you didn't remember anything?”

“I didn't, I still don't. I just have little flashes of that night. . .” As she spoke her words trailed off, her eyes rolling up to the sky. She stared up into the clouds, holding whatever thought had just popped into her head.

“Vera, what do you remember?” But she didn't respond, she was in a daze as her mind shut down everything else around her. “Vera?” Speaking louder, I gently shook her shoulders. “Vera?”

Tapping her lip with her finger, her face settled in place, coming back to me—to us.“I just want to know.”

Scooping her cheeks into my hands, I held her face against mine, pressing my forehead onto hers. “I'll help you remember. . .” Kissing the center of her face, I whispered. “And I'll help you forget them again.” Stroking her jaw, I felt her body fasten to mine as her arms curled up around my waist. “Because you deserve that.”

Answers are what she needed.

And she was going to need me to get through them.

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