Page 75 of Scarred Sins
It becomes more aggressive, more demanding, and it’s filled with fervor. It’s myfirstkiss, the first time I’ve ever felt so desired, soloved.And I never want it to end.
Slowly, Arlo breaks the kiss, and I’m already itching to feel more of him. He makes slight distance between us, looking down at me and making no attempt to get off me. Instead, he brushes a strand of my hair behind my ear, looking at me like I’m the most precious thing he’s ever held.
“You’re so beautiful,’’ he murmurs. His eyes flicker down to my slightly swollen lips, a possessive, obsessive look flashing in his eyes. “So beautiful.’’
Blush creeps up on my cheeks, dusting them in a light shade of pink. A low, teasing smirk tugs on the corners of his mouth, and I want nothing more than to slap it off him, but I can’t move. I’m too transfixed on the way he’s looking at me, on the way he’s making me feel. The embarrassment vanishes, and it leaves me with slight pants, desperately yearning for more.
“Thank you,’’ I murmured.
I take a moment just to inspect every inch of his face while comfortable silence falls around us. He has a small freckle on the tip of his nose, and it’s one of the most adorable things I’ve ever seen. His thick lashes are perfectly curled, making me slightly envious. But the roots of his hair need touching up, the black roots blending into the white.
Arlo’s hand comes to my cheek, his thumb rubbing soothing circles on my flesh. Another wave of pure bliss spirals through my entire body, and I’m mesmerized by everything. By his face, his touch,him.
I’ve never felt as safe as I’m feeling at this moment, and I don’t want it to end. Hell, I don’t want to leave his side, ever again. The possessive feeling nags at the back of my head, trying to come up with ways of claiming him for myself.
But one glance at his eyes is enough to tell me that I don’t need to do that.
Arlo’s already mine.
He’s mine, just as much as I’m his. The unspoken words linger in the air, and neither of us seems to want to break the silence. I lean into his touch, and it becomes firmer, a silent promise of him being there. Right now, that’s all I need.
All the reassurance that eventually we’ll make it out of this okay.
The drive back to Hudson’s house is peaceful. Arlo is driving, and silence surrounds us. It’s comfortable, and his hand, yet again, rests on my thigh. The grip isn’t tight enough to hurt, but it’s tight enough for me to feel every single callous of his fingertips.
By the time we arrive, it’s already around midnight. The lights are off everywhere except the main hallway once we step into the house. Silently, Arlo closes the door, locks it behind him, and guides me upstairs without uttering a word. He goes into the bathroom that’s next to the bedroom I’m using, then comes back a couple of minutes after.
“I started a bath for you,’’ he mumbles, kissing my forehead softly. “I’ll go grab you a snack while you shower.’’
It’s insane how he knows exactly what I need. That,orI stink from all the sweat, and it was his subtle way of telling me I desperately need to be hosed down. Nonetheless, I close the door of the bathroom behind me, strip off the sticky, sweaty clothes, and step into the tub. He added some bubbles, too, and the scent of jasmine and vanilla fills my nose.
I lean back, closing my eyes for a while. The sore muscles relax under the hot water, the anxiety and stress washing off me, even if it’s only for a brief moment. It’s eerily silent, but I don’t mind it. It gives me enough time to think and overthink everything.
The taste of Arlo’s lips still lingers on mine. A taste so sweet and alluring that I’m already yearning for more. Just another little kiss is all I need to get enough of him. At least, that’s what I’m trying to convince myself of.
I shake the thoughts off, focusing on the relaxing atmosphere of the bathroom. I’m not sure how long I’m under the hot water, just looking at a single dot on the tiled wall, mind and thoughts empty.
“Blair?” Arlo knocks on the door. “The food’s ready.’’
I blink and slowly stand up, exiting the tub. “I’ll be right there.’’
My hair is wrapped in a smaller, fluffy towel, and I use the bigger one to dry my body. I didn’t bring any clothes with me, stupidly, so I settled for the silky, long bathrobe that’s hanging on the small hook on the door. I tie it around my waist, securing it tightly.
My stomach growls, the scent of the warm food filling my nose when I re-enter the bedroom. Arlo placed the plate with warm sandwiches on the nightstand table, with some candies and water. He’s sitting on the edge of the bed, looking at me up and down a few times.
“Jesus Christ, butterfly,’’ he grunts. “You’re killing me here.’’
A small frown latches onto my face before realization dawns on me, and I blush slightly. I just hug the robe closer to my body, and Arlo looks away. I take a seat next to him, immediately digging into the food. It’s just two sandwiches, but they’re made exactly how I love them, and I can’t help the sounds of satisfaction that leave my mouth.
“I’ll be out tomorrow,’’ Arlo announces. I swallow the last piece of sandwich, then turn to look at him.
“Where will you be going?”
Arlo takes a shaky breath, almost as if bracing himself for my reaction.
“While I was making you sandwiches, Dad came, and he found me a way into Nelson’s manor.’’
A wave of nausea washes over me. I swallow the lump that forms in my throat and hope to everything that is holy that Arlo doesn’t see it on my face. My eyes flicker down, looking at my feet for a moment or two before daring myself to meet his eyes.
