Page 47 of Forever Midnight

“Are you okay, Tru?”

He nods. “Yeah. I guess I just like the name, but it doesn’t feel like you. Midnight is better.”

“Thanks.”

I continue massaging his feet as he floats across from me, eyes closed and face relaxed.

“Should we talk about how I randomly spoke French earlier?” Tru asks after several silent moments.

“What is there to talk about?”

“Oh I don’t know. The fact that I don’t speak French, have never taken a French class, but all of a sudden, a whole-ass phrase comes out of my mouth?”

“You must have heard it somewhere before.” The memory of his words washes over me again, jarring me like I saw a ghost. I almost feel like I did. Benedict used to call me his dark prince all the time.

“Let’s say I did hear it somewhere,” Tru says. “Why the fuck would I repeat it during sex with you?”

“How would I know, Tru?”

“Sorry.” He blows out a breath. “It’s just a little freaky, that’s all.”

“It is,” I admit. Now I wish I hadn’t erased his memory about the piano. Maybe there really is a ghost and it’s affecting him. It would be just like Benedict to decide after all this time to haunt me.

We fall into a silence that I wish were comfortable, but it’s far from that. It’s filled with unspoken words and emotions. My desire to keep him close to me swirls between us, the beast inside me ready to claim him for eternity.

And fuck me if I can understand why I have this reaction to him.

ChapterTwenty

TRU

Time feels like it has no meaning. The hot water soothing my worn muscles combined with the man across from me still massaging my calves and feet is like stepping into some alternate reality where I can be out and into a guy.

The sex we had earlier replays in my head, my cock hardening with desire again, a situation Midnight definitely notices. The sexy smile on his face as his hands move up and down my legs sends ripples across my skin.

“Have you ever been in love?” I ask, shaking my head when the words leave my mouth. “I was only thinking about it. I didn’t mean to ask it out loud.”

“Why? Do you not really want to know the answer?”

“I do, but it’s not my business. Unless you want to tell me.”

Midnight shifts in the water, leaning back as he places my feet on his stomach, his erection rubbing against the backs of my legs.

“Yes,” he says quietly. “Once. A long time ago.”

“Was it, like, true love?”

“It was…all encompassing. It was torrid and clandestine. It was, ultimately, my ruin.”

I nod, studying the faraway expression on his face. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to hit a nerve.”

“It’s okay. You’ve shared your body with me. The very least I can do is answer your questions.”

“That’s why you’re hesitant about opening up to me? Because you’re still hurt?”

“I’m not hurt anymore. I’ve made a certain peace with what happened, but I intend to learn from my mistakes. Sometimes…” His words trail off as he runs his hands over my skin. “If I’m honest, Tru, there is a part of me that desperately wants to spill all my secrets to you. Unfortunately, self-preservation prevents it.”

“So you think I won’t accept you. You think you could be something I would judge? I already know what you do for work and I’m fine. What else could there be?”

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