Page 68 of Psychotic Nightmares

She leans back, forcing me to look up into her eyes. “I see you, Julian. I see a man who is willing to risk his life to save others. I see the protector of his family. I see the kindness and care you showed me for all these years. I see you, Mr Julian Stalker. I see the man I love, even though he can be possessive sometimes.” She chuckles quietly. “But I still wouldn’t change him for the world.”

“That’s all positive.” I furrow my brows confused.

“I only see the negatives when they happen. We may be on a very rocky surface at the moment. But that doesn’t mean I’ve forgotten everything you have done for me. How much you cared for me. How much you loved me.”

“Love.” I correcther.

“Love.” She smiles. “I know you do. Even after locking me up and trying to force me to kill my boss. You did it out oflove.” Her expression hardens. “Never do that again though.” She tells me sternly.

“I promise.” I press my lips to hers.Bad choice, Julian, bad fucking choice. She gasps as I pull away. “Sorry, I’ve been wanting to do that again for a while. Think of it as a promise I’ll wait for you.”

She shifts closer to me, so close she could be part of my skin.

“Then, show me what I could come back to. A peck is good but…”

I don’t hesitate, I grasp the back of her neck and capture her lips with mine. She moans softly when I lick and suck at her bottom lip.

Just a kiss. It’s just a kiss. Even if she chooses Dante, I’ll always have this kiss to remember her by.

She hums with pleasure as my hands start to roam her body. I should have let her see the real me years ago. I missed out all these years because I thought she would recognise me. My anxiety fucked up my chance with her.

I’m glad she can’t remember me.

Ifthatsecret came out she would leave.

Her hands explore my chest, her fingers play with the patch of hair I have there. I glide my own hands up the back of the loose tee she is wearing and stroke every one of her scars. Memorizing all of her. If this is the only time I get to do this I have to have my fingers remember her smooth and rough skin. My tongue must remember the taste of her.

I have to fill all of my senses with Grace.

All of them.

We’re both breathless by the time we break apart. “I have to go.” She whispers. Giving me a quick peck on the corner of my mouth.

“I know.”

And with that, I’m left alone on my kitchen floor, a now cold cup of tea beside me, a dead man in the room next door and a waiting game of who Grace is going to pick in five months.

I justhope she chooses me.

Twenty

Grace

After the talk

“Are you sure you want me and not Pea or one of the lads?” Bull asks as he starts the engine. His mask is already down over his face.

“I’m sure.” I smirk. “The two men would want to hover and Pea is watching Nico.” He chuckles, lifts the handbrake and I give instructions on how to get to the farmhouse for the second time tonight - or this morning. What time is it anyway? I look at the dashboard - almost two in the morning. Oh yeah Ma should be back by now. “What’s with the mask?” I ask, poking at the clownsnose.

“One of the rules of being a bandit.” He chuckles. “Mask stays on from the time we leave here until we return.”

“Oh,” I furrow my brows. “I’ll keep mine off. I wouldn’t want to scare the kids.”

“That…is a good point.” He sighs. “If you need me to remove it I will.”

I shake my head. “No, if it means keeping your identity from being found out, I’d rather you keep it on. I don’t care if I get caught. She deserves what’s coming to her.” I laugh darkly. Maybe being around Julian has made me more deranged than I realise. “Honestly, I’m fucking ecstatic to be the one sending her to hell.”

“You and Pea by the looks of it.” He looks into the rearview mirror. “I guess Dante went back home and told her where to come.”