Page 22 of The Silent War
“I’m angry with you.”
“I’ll take that.” I was seconds away from dropping and begging her, “I’ll take your anger. I’ll take your rage. I’ll take every piece of you if it means you’re still looking at me.”
“You two always did confuse me.”
I stepped closer, letting her feel how deliberate the correction was. “Do,” I said. “Wedoconfuse you, baby. Present tense. Never past.”
Her throat tightened, her mask slipping just enough for me to see the crack underneath.
Good. Don’t put me in history. Don’t ever make the mistake of thinking we’re behind you.
I couldn’t stop myself. My hand moved before thought could catch it, brushing her hair back from her face.
The moment shattered when I realized what I’d done. “Sorry,” I muttered.
I hated that she didn’t want me to touch her.
She only gave me a softer smile, almost sad. “I need to go.”
“Need, or want?”
Her eyes held mine. “Ineedto.”
My fingers brushed her hip, I wanted to memorize the shape of her again.
“Luca.”
“Mmm.” A sound I couldn’t bury, not when she said it like that.
And then she stepped back. One pace, then another. The space between us cold already, her moving closer to the car.
The spiral tore through me.
Three years of starving, and when I finally had her in reach, I had to let her go.
I hated it. Hated myself for letting it happen.
She stepped closer to the car. I moved before she could, holding the door shut.
“Dinner,” I said.
She titled her head, those beautiful eyes locked with mine. “I told you. I’m busy.”
“And I’m desperate.”
“Luca Crow, you are many things. Desperate isn’t one of them.” She rolled her eyes. “I have to go,”
“Where?”
“Luca.”
“Dinner,” I asked again and I wasn’t below begging. She was the only person I would drop to my knees for.
She held my gaze. “Maybe.”
I leaned in, letting her see how deliberate my words were. “It’s not a yes.”
She exhaled slowly, lips barely moving. “It’s also not a no.”
