Page 116 of Sinner's Perdition

Aurora’s chest rises and falls, and I breathe a sigh of relief.

I feel his heated gaze, but when I lift my chin, Kieran’s looking at her. Cato passes me by. I open my mouth to say something, anything, but no words come out. The silence between us has never felt this hollow.

Cameron sweeps his gaze around the compound, assessing. It’s as if with Kieran not able to do anything and Cato too unstable, he has to take charge of everything. I follow Cato outside where the moon and the stars above shine down on us.

“Do you hate me?”

He strides away, ignoring me, even though I know he heard me. It’s in the stiffening of his neck muscles.

***

Aurora woke up but fell asleep quickly once more; however, Alessandra assured us it’s normal. I pass Cato talking with Cameron. Walking toward the forest, I sit and lean against a tree.

Leaves and branches crunch under heavy feet and my body is on high alert. I dart to my feet and hit a very familiar chest, calming instantly.

“Tell me where you’re going next time.”

“Why? It’s not like you care.”

He turns around and my hands shoot around his torso.

“Don’t,” he says, his muscles tense.

“I need you.” Can’t he tell I am desperate to feel something else, and it’s him I yearn for?

“Since when?”

If he wants to be difficult, fine. I understand it won’t be easy to overcome the strain I put on us. He peels my hands away, and my stubbornness kicks in as I see him retreating. I run in the opposite direction and his groan echoes in the night.

My lungs expand with the need for him. With my love, guilt, insecurity.

I feel him at my back, and when he curls his arms around my waist and snatches me up, I can finally breathe.

It’s a rush of explosive passion that follows. He yanks at my dress while my fingers frantically move to unbuckle his pants.

“You want me to take you like a fucking animal?”

“As long as you take me.”

“So desperate, Chiara?”

“You have no idea.”

“Brace yourself.”

He pushes me against a tree and thrusts inside me. I moan so loud, the forest remains still for a few seconds. Yes, tether me to you. I’m so fucking lost.

The bark of the tree digs into my palms, and I welcome the pain, anything to feel. I need to feel. My insides need to be resurrected.

I missed this intense connection with him. Did I honestly think I could leave him and take only my mind and body with me when my heart is all his? He won, and I don’t even care anymore. I just want him in my life. I will do better. Be better.

“I love you.”

Please, say it back, or at least believe me.

I tilt my head to the side, looking into his eyes for reassurance, eyes that appear empty, desolate.

“You fooled me once; you won’t fool me twice.”

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