Page 186 of Love Me Stalk Me
"Here," she says, holding it out to me. "I got this for you."
I stare at it, surprised. "A rosary?"
She nods, a slight blush coloring her cheeks. "I asked my Nonna for another one. For you."
I take it carefully, feeling the smooth beads between my fingers. The blue is deep, almost the same shade as the night sky. "Izzy, I can't take this. It's?—"
"You're not taking it," she interrupts. "I'm giving it to you."
I run my thumb over the cross, oddly moved by the gesture. I'm notCatholic. Hell, I'm hardly religious at all. But the fact that she thought of me, that she wanted me to have something that matched hers?—
"Thank you," I say quietly.
She smiles, soft and genuine. "Keep it with you? For protection. Especially on the death machine?"
I nod, carefully placing it in my pocket. "Always."
It’s in that moment that I realize that I don't just want to protect her. I want to know her. All of her. Every stupid little thing. Every stupid little fear.
Because this? This feels like ours.
The warmth of her body against mine is damn near impossible to leave. Her fingers are still tracing mindless patterns on my skin, her breath soft and even against my chest.
We've been lying here for longer than I should allow. Longer than I have time for.
But fuck time. I'd give anything to stay right here.
A loud beep pierces the air. It's the alarm on my phone. I let out a slow exhale, reaching over to silence it. Izzy hums, stirring slightly, pressing herself closer to me. She doesn't want to get up.
That makes two of us.
I brush my lips against her forehead, reluctant as hell. "I gotta head to the store."
She makes a soft sound of protest, stretching her legs against mine. "Want me to come with you?"
I pause, looking down at her. She's blinking up at me, eyes still hazy with sleep, hair a mess, lips soft and kissable. And I know what she's doing. She doesn't want to be alone today. Not after the week she's had. And I don't want to leave her either.
But still?—
"I'd really rather you sleep."
She shakes her head, stubborn as ever. "No, it'd be good. I've taken an entire week off. I need to get ahead on things before Monday."
I frown slightly. "You sure?"
She nods. "Yeah. That way, I can just stay in the city after and meet Amanda later."
I study her for a long second, searching for any sign of hesitation. Then, finally, I tilt her chin up and press a slow, lingering kiss to her forehead.
"Okay, baby."
I feel the way she exhales against me, like the term of endearment settled deepinto her bones.
I pull away, groaning as I stretch, dragging a hand through my hair. She yawns, rolling onto her side.
Neither of us move immediately. Neither of us want to. But I know—if I stay in this bed with her any longer, I'll never leave. So with one last lingering touch to her hip, I force myself up.
As I dress, I feel the rosary in my pocket and find myself oddly comforted by it.
