Page 18 of Who I Crave To Be

"One ankle," I state.There is an imbalance in only having one ankle tied.There is more slack and less resistance and gives you the feeling of having absolutely no protection when you fall.

"Brave lass," he mutters and my lips quirk as the slight Scottish accent that bleeds through.

"Fearless," Deano corrects, ocean eyes boring into mine as he searches for my hidden truth.I turn to face him fully, holding both his hands in mine with a death grip because as much as I want to jump, I never want to let him go."It's not too late to back out, return to safety?"he edges, and I bark out a laugh right before I take the plunge.

My conscious mind leaves me unaided.I'm without inhibitions and fear as I sail through the air, gliding like a bird with the wind beneath my wings.A cry of joy tearing from my throat.

My heart somersaults in my chest, tripping over itself as it beats against the walls of its cage begging to find safe ground.Jubilation filters through my body as my ears become a tunnel plagued with a whirlwind as it becomes my only sound.My stomach drops to the waters below, as everything within me bottoms out.My skin, raw and sensitive as if I wear my nerve endings on my sleeve.

For a split second, I feel like my body will slumber into a shocked state.That my heart will give out and I'll die mid-flight.But all of that is just the body's'oh shit'handle and I'm here for the ride.

How can you truly feel alive without your body fearing it's going to die?

That shit makes it wake up and pay attention.

I fall through the air, a feather in the breeze as I sail toward the waters.

The rocky waves rushing at me with a speed without prediction as I hold my breath, feeling the icy fingers of the cold waters whisper against my face a moment before I stop a centimeter short of taking a head dive.The tips of my ashy blonde hair dipping into the chilly depths.

Once the rush fades and my lungs calm, fighting against the hot iron branding my chest, I notice that Deano never let go of my hand.

When I threw myself over the edge, he came with me willingly.

I gasp, amazed that he actually did it and without showing me an inch of hesitation.We hang there, dangling by our ankles from the cliff's edge as we sway in the wind.He uses his hold on my hand, pulling me close before kissing me silly in an upside-down kiss that sends ravens to flight within my core.

My entire world becomes uprooted and warped until my only perception is how everything settles just right from this vantage point.

It's a new reality I never want to dwindle.

"Holy fucking shit I think I just died!"Deano breathes and I chuckle.

"You're a madman," I whisper against his lips.

"Falling for a madwoman," he breathes in reply, kissing me softly once again as if the taste of me is the air he needs to breathe."I can't believe we actually did that."He laughs, refusing to look away from the depths of my gaze."A normal life.It's all I've ever wanted.I didn't realize just how much it was missing until you."

"Having a normal life is great, as long as once in a while you get to breathe."

"You're my breath, Vienna.I hadn't known I was suffocating until I met you."

"And I you."I bite his lip, making him groan into my mouth.

"I kept my promise though, right?I captured your heart?"

"Oh yeah, and now it's my turn to capture yours," I muse softly against him.

He makes me smile in a way I've never smiled.Soft and tender, no longer fleeting.

His touch?It's electricity running under my skin, reminding me I'm alive.

Deano pulls back, eyes wide in curiosity as he curls a brow at me but my only answer is another sinful kiss.

Deano

"Can I drive?"she asks, those large doe eyes making me incapable of saying no.She’s stunning without even trying, but right now, so carefree and light she’s simply exquisite.

"Sure, baby, just don't fuck up my car," I grunt, not even giving a shit if she did.

This woman could do anything, become anyone and I'd still plead with her to stand by my side.

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