Page 9 of Sacrifice
She tilts her chin up toward me. A silent invitation. My heart hammers in my chest at the sight. Any second guessing or worries she’d push me away are gone when I stare into her eyes. She darts her tongue out, slowly dragging it across her lips, wetting them.
I growl under my breath, unable to hold myself back. I tilt my head down and press a soft kiss against her mouth.
She grins against my mouth while her fingers grip the front of my shirt, pulling me closer to her. She opens her mouth, her tongue dragging along my lower lip. I take the invitation and run with it, lacing my fingers with hers.
She releases a soft moan just before her tongue brushes mine.
How is this happening right now? I’ll never know, but I’m too far in this moment that I never want to come up for air.
I lean my forehead against hers when our lips finally break apart.
“What are you doing to me?” I whisper.
She pulls back, closing her eyes for a brief second. When her eyes finally meet mine, she flashes me an easy smile.
“You get your photos, Stella?”
“Yeah,” Makenna giggles. “I couldn’t stop snapping them. I’ll, uh, give you two a minute to yourselves.”
I nod, not taking my eyes off Haelynn.
I wait for the sound of Makenna’s heels on the floor to grow faint, signaling she’s out of the studio, leaving me alone with Haelynn. She takes a step back, brushing her hand over her hair, before tucking a strand behind her ear.
“You look perfect,” I assure her.
She rubs her lips together, smothering her smile. “Thank you.”
The way the words came out, genuine and sincere, I almost wanted to ask when the last time she was told she was beautiful. I didn’t though, because I wasn’t interested in bringing up the last person who told her, but she also deserved to hear it every day.
“No thanks necessary, it’s the truth.”
“I heard Alex call Makenna ‘Stella’ the other day. Is that some sort of nickname?”
“It’s her call sign.”
She nods, her eyes narrowing in confusion.
“Her dad is a former Navy SEAL, and he went by Twilight. He works for Cole Security Forces, which is how her and Alex met. He was in the area doing some work for them. He started calling her Stella, meaning star. I guess it sorta stuck with the rest of us.”
“What do they call you?”
“Raven.”
Her eyes widened, her brows shooting up in surprise. “What’s that look for?” I asked.
“Raven?”
I nod. She turns, taking a few steps and sitting on the edge of the bed staged in the center of the studio.
“They say when a raven visits you, it’s like a sign of a bad omen.”
I chuckle, strolling toward her and having a seat next to her. “You believe in things like that?”
She shrugs. “Kinda.”
“It also signifies recovery and healing. I guess it depends on how you choose to look at it.”
Her eyes widen and she nods, a hint of a smile peeking through.
