Page 12 of Touched By Darkness

His fingers dig into my skin as I try to pull myself free. It’s useless.

“I’m not good for you, Oliver.”

“I know you’re not. In fact, kissing you will see me banished from Eden, but I’m starting to think maybe that’s not such a bad idea.”

My back connects with the tree, and he traps me with his hands on either side of me. Ocean blue eyes, so like mine, pin me in place. “Convince me why I shouldn’t kiss you again.”

“Oliver,” I breathe out, “I’m trying to protect you. Don’t you see? You don’t know what’s on the other side.”

“Somehow, you do.” His hand lands on my hip, pulling me closer. “And I can see in your eyes that the sacrifice is worth it.”

There’s no convincing him otherwise. I can see it now. His light is slowly fading like mine. “I need to escape Eden,” I whisper.

His trembling breath coasts across my bottom lip as he shifts closer. Stroking my hair behind my ear, he places a soft kiss on the corner of my mouth. “How are we going to do that?”

We…

“I’m not in love with you, Oliver.”

His deep chuckle vibrates his chest as he nuzzles the sensitive spot below my ear. “Now that we have that established, let’s make a plan.”

Shoving him away, I ignore his amused laughter when he stumbles back. “There’s no ‘we.’ This is your home, Oliver. You’re happy here.”

Undeterred, he falls to his knees and runs his hands up my thighs as my gaze snags on a bright red apple hanging from the branch.

“Oh, my God,” I whisper, my eyes widening.

Oliver’s warm hands grip my hips and yank me closer. Before he can put his mouth on me, I pull sharply on his hair.

“Look.”

Following my line of sight, he frowns. “It’s an apple. What about it?”

Batting his hands off me, I round him and walk up to the red fruit. “I get it now.”

“You get what?” He shifts closer behind me.

“Adam and Eve.” My voice is barely audible as I continue staring at the apple. “They ate of the forbidden fruit.”

Oliver looks confused as he comes to stand beside me. “It’s just an apple.”

My head shakes, and I turn to face him. “Do you see any other apples here?”

Looking up, he scans the branches overhead. His questioning eyes return to mine.

I don’t wait for him to ask the question. “The apple shows up when I fight temptation.”

Now he looks even more confused. “What are you talking about?”

Blowing out a breath, I rub my face. My thoughts are swirling at a million miles an hour, too fast for me to pick apart and analyze. “Adam and Eve were banished from Paradise when they ate the forbidden fruit.”

“You think we’ll be banished from Eden if we take a bite out of the apple?”

Chewing on my lip, I consider this. Could it be that simple?

Before I can finish that thought, Oliver pulls off the apple and sinks his teeth into the flesh.

“No, Oliver!” I cry out, but it’s too late.

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