Page 124 of Just One Bite
“I wish you would have told me. Why didn’t you just come to me first? We could have figured it out.”
Pressing my fingers to my forehead, I steady my swirling head. The potion is working, though thoughts are popping up one after another too fast for me to catch them.
“No, we couldn’t because this is doomed.” My eyes widen as I say the words that feel true. The words flow from my mouth with gentle ease. “This was never going to work out.”
I can’t believe I’m saying it. Maybe I’ve always known this wouldn’t work.
“You really believe that?”
“Parker, if we bond, this is going to be your life. People will always use me to get to you.”
“You don’t know that.”
“Yes, I do. This is proof. If it’s bad now, can you even imagine if we complete the bond? Maybe it’s better this way … Maybe we aren’t supposed to do it. It’s obvious the universe will do just about anything to prevent it from happening, and I think we should just let it keep us apart. We should cut our ties now. Separate. Let all of this craziness die down.”
“You’re doing it again. Why do you keep pushing me away?”
“Because this isn’t going to work.”
I’m a coward. I’m mortified by the words coming from my lips because I’ve hurt him. Parker’s shoulders droop.
“So you mean that? You want this thing between us to end?”
“Yes.” I struggle to get the word out.
If it saves him from me ruining his life.
He stumbles back, and I grip the tree for support. It’s hard to breathe, and suddenly my skin is hot and miserable. It’s all ending before my eyes. There won’t be any more kisses or any more of his smile. It all hits me at once. Separating is the best option for us, but I can’t do this to him. This is a nightmare. My breaths get shorter and faster. I’m hyperventilating, and tears form in my eyes. Before I can bolt, he pins me against the tree with one arm.
“Tell me, what do you need from me?” His voice is a low hum.
“What?”
“Your scent is screaming forme, Olivia. So tell me what you want …” His words are forceful, but his touch softens with his palm on my cheek.
My eyes nearly flutter shut from the relief.
“I can’t.”
“Why?”
I shake my head, not able to say the things I need to. I don’t know what I’m doing. My heart is thumping in my ears, and I don’t know if it’s from the fear of his words being right or the proximity of his body against mine.
“Fine. You can’t say anything about your secret. Then tell me what you need right now.”
“I don’t get the question. I need to go—”
He presses in, pinning me with his hips, and his eyes lock with mine. “Not before you tell me what you want from me.”
He’s annoyed and thinks I’m being cruel. My stomach twists at the thought, and the familiar flutter of panic leaps under my skin.
“Our blood is the same now. You smell like me, and mixed into it is so much panic it’s making me sick.”
“This is just going to make it harder.”
I gasp when he palms my face with both hands. He kisses my temple. My cheek. High. Then low. My chin. My ear. I’m dizzy with him. Is it the bond? The potion? Love? Just the love I have for him rolling around in my insides making me think I’m going to be sick without him?
“Don’t think … feel … instinct on instinct. Tell me how to make you feel better.”
