Page 108 of Dead Love
“We could plant the burial trees over there,” I said. Amusement pulled at her lips. “But how do we differentiate? Different types of trees? Carving?”
“Memorial plates. Like anything else.”
Kora already had the answers. “Would you plant Nyla that way?” I asked.
“I’d have to clear it with her family.” She leaned back. “But I think they’d go for it.” A subtle smile formed on her lips. “You’re trying, aren’t you?”
I exhaled slowly.For you, Kora?“Yes.”
Her eyes flicked down. “You said some awful things.”
“I know.”
“Go back to your tower, princess,” she said, using a deep, mocking voice. “All I wanted was to show you how easy it was for me to lick you.” She shook her head. “Or my favorite:Stop obsessing over me.” I clenched my jaw, sucking in a sharp breath. “You were a jerk. And that’s putting it lightly.”
“You’re right.”
She flinched, then squinted her eyes, making sure that she heard me right. “What?”
“I’m not sorry for burning down your mother’s house. For stealing you away from that life,” I said, my jaw clenched. “But I am sorry that I hurt you.”
Her eyes never left mine. “How do I know you’re not just saying that?” she stammered. “You’ve been so against everything. And yet, now, you act like considering tree burials will make it okay. But it’s not that simple, Vincent. You know it’s not.”
She was right. There was nothing in this world that would make up for what I did. But I could tell her how I felt.
“My favorite color is blue,” I said.
She blinked her eyes rapidly, failing to comprehend my statement. “What?”
“That night I first saw you. Halloween. On the viewpoint.” I nodded to her. “The lamppost cast these blue shadows on your face. From the moonlight. The streaks of tears, your wet lips.” Even in that past moment, when I knew nothing about her, she was still captivating in her innocence. And now, with each day, she was even more beautiful than the last. There was no stopping her.
“I will never forget how you looked,” I continued, “How I wanted to take you away, even then, knowing that I had the power to save you, and the power to destroy you with so much worse.” Her eyes widened, and I laughed to myself. “I don’t have a favorite food, but I know you love yogurt. So I learned how to make it.”For you. Only you,I thought. Did she remember asking me these questions?Tell me everything,she had said.Then tell me anything. Anything at all.
“I used to think I hated the sunlight,” I started again. “Sunlight meant people. Meant families. Meant services. Customers. Clients. And it’s been years since I wanted to sit in the sunshine. But then I saw you in it.” I stared deep into her green eyes, and pictured her spinning in the grass barefoot, watching how she fell in love with the sun’s warmth all over again, how my heart couldn’t help but stop for her, couldn’t help but be in awe. “Since the first moment I saw you, everything has been for you, Kora. It may not be what you deserve, but it’s all I have. And it’s yours.”
She opened her lips, not knowing what to say. Then she put a hand around the back of my head and opened her mouth to speak. But when the words didn’t come, she came forward, bringing her lips to mine. Hesitant. Unsure. Questioning if this was right. But once she opened her lips, her tongue sneaking out for me, I pulled her into my lap, wrapping her legs around me, hoisted her up, bringing her to the plot of grass behind the grave—unmarked, untouched, like she had been before I ripped her from that life.
I laid her down, the moonlight casting her skin in shades of blue, the grass wet on her back. I unzipped her hoodie, a ripple of goosebumps coursing over her exposed skin. I pushed up her loose shirt, then kissed her soft stomach, up to her breasts, her light nipples, my whole body pulsing with heat, with the overwhelming need to fuck her, right here, right now.
You are everything to me,I wanted to say. I kissed her neck and she whimpered like the gentle touch was worse than every rough thing I could give her. So I bared my teeth, sinking into her, and she cried out, the whimper becoming a moan, then I raked my hands into her skin. I pulled off her clothes, her body naked against the grass, her green eyes seeing everything that was part of me, that was completely hers. I flipped her onto her stomach, then ripped open my jeans, taking out my cock, holding her wrists behind her back, shoving her face into the grass. My cock was heavy and hungry. With her cheek on the grass, I pushed inside of her. Each thrust pressed her deeper into the grass. She closed her eyes, desire rolling through her body, bringing her to the edge, as if we could dive into the abyss together. I plunged into her, again, and again, until her cries were murmurs in the night. And I knew those sounds would haunt me forever.
You are everything I’ve ever wanted,I thought.Because you’re real, Kora. And you’re here with me.
CHAPTER36
Kora
Vincent collapsed next to me,his hand reaching for mine. His fingers were sticky and slick. My body was singed with sweat, and a burning sensation crawled through me at this intimate gesture. How was it that holding hands after making love in a graveyard was so romantic? Slowly, our breaths mellowed. And I silently hoped that the night would never end. I didn’t want to think about what would happen in the morning. All I wanted to do was to lie there, existing in this timeless place, with Vincent’s hand in mine.
Vincent propped himself up on his elbow, resting on his side.
“There’s something I want to do for you,” he said.
I smirked, raising a playful brow. “Oh?” I laid my hands on my stomach, the chilly breeze a welcome relief to my skin.
“But tell me,” he said, his tone tender as if he was trying to read my soul, “Do you trust me?”
Those words sunk down, swirling inside of me. I knew, without a doubt, that he would never harm me. There was a time when he was going to, butnow,after everything we had built for each other, I knew he would never let that happen. Not unless he could see in my eyes that I truly wanted it.
