Page 61 of A Dark Duet

He raises his hand to caress my cheek, sliding his thumb over my lips. I kiss his thumb, sliding my tongue lightly.

“I’ll do anything for you. I want you to smile. I miss your smile and your laughter.”

I close my eyes, loving his soft words. “Okay. I’ll smile for you, and I’ll laugh for you. Always,” I whisper, meaning every word, hoping to have the courage to tell him how much I love him.

His phone rings, interrupting the moment. He answers, says a few words, and hangs up. He looks at me with determination on his face.“Will you move in with me?”

My eyes go wide. I never thought he wanted me permanently in his house. That would mean that I would have to move here, and I was going to anyway with the opportunity offered because of Nate. I just never imagined moving here with Nate.

“Are you sure you want that?”

“Yes. I’m sure. I want you. I want to be with you. If you don’t want that, then tell me, and I’ll understand.”

I inwardly sigh. “Of course I want to be with you,” I say.

He releases a deep breath, lowering his lips to hover over mine, and kisses me softly. Tasting his minty breath, I move very little for fear I’ll open the cut on his lip, but I kiss him intimately with a soft brush of my lips.

“Will you agree to dance one last time at the club? But it has to be for me,” he says while tracing a finger down my hoodie.

My breath quickens as the pulling need between my thighs intensifies while his finger traces over my nipple and I squirm in the driver’s seat.

“Yes, if you agree to let me rub my pussy on your cock.”

“Fuck.” He closes his eyes, leaning his head back. “If you promise not to show too much when you dance.”

“Okay, deal. I won’t show too much when I dance, but when I come to you, I can sit on your lap and rub my pussy on your delicious cock.”

He adjusts himself in his pants, as his erection is clearly visible through his sweats. “We’d better get going, or the theater parking lot will get a show, and it won’t be a dance or ballet.”

I giggle and he smiles. “There’s my girl. I love your laugh.”

I stop giggling, looking at his beautiful face, even when it’s swollen with cuts and bruises.

“For you, always.”

I pull out of the parking lot onto the road. “Make a left and there is a place where we can eat lunch.”

“Okay,” I say, smiling, loving the fact that we can spend time together.

I can’t believe I agreed to move in with him. I’ve never lived with anyone else besides my parents and Brie. I really don’t count school because that was different. I’m nervous about having an actual relationship, but it’s Nate. I feel comfortable with Nate. He understands my pain, my nightmares, and my fears. He is always there to fight them.

In the back of my mind, I have the feeling he is about to do something dangerous sooner rather than later. It’s about what happened to Brie and me.

I know deep down Nate and Jaden will not let them get away with it. I should think of something else and avoid thinking of them getting arrested or, worse, ending up dead by a gunshot.

Jack and his sick, drug-addicted friends are cowards. They will pull a gun on them if Nate confronts them. I get nervous and my hands start shaking when I think of Jack or losing Nate or Jaden. My best friend has found someone to have a relationship with, even if they aren’t official.

I couldn’t bear it if something happened to them for something that wasn’t their fault. It happened. I’m broken because of it, with lasting nightmares, but it’s not worth it if I lose Nate.

“What’s wrong?” He frowns. “Why are you shaking?”

“What?” Lost in my thoughts, not realizing my hands were noticeably shaking on the steering wheel.

“What’s wrong, baby? Your hands are shaking. What are you thinking about?”

“Nothing. It’s just…” I pull into the parking lot of the café he wants to have lunch at.

“Tell me.”

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