Page 26 of Fatal Fantasy

“That’s okay. I’ll stay up with you, if you want,” he says, propping himself up on an elbow, tapping the space across from him, and I snuggle into the pillows, keeping my eyes on his.

After all these months apart, his icy irises are still as captivating as the moment we met, and I’ve missed looking into the windows of his soul.

“You don’t hate me anymore?” I ask, my voice shaking because while I’m afraid to know the truth, I’m curious if he still feels the same as I do.

“I never did. I was … broken without you and Tyson, but I let the anger cloud my judgment. You’re the only person I could ever love, Carter.” He brushes his fingers along my cheek, a soft but meaningful touch that reminds me of the many nights we shared under the moonlight.

“You’re the only ones who cared enough to save me,” I say softly, still haunted by the fact that I had to be rescued from a predicament I wasn’t strong enough to run away from on my own.

“Will you tell me about your nightmare?” Jasper laces his fingers through mine and with a simple touch, electricity shoots through my body, similar to the first night we met.

If I want to heal, I’ll have to work through it, like Tyson said earlier, and contrary to what I believed less than twenty-four hours ago, I don’t have to be alone anymore.

“My time in the basement … the guards would waterboard me if I said no to my father, and he’d watch, giving the orders when to stop and start. This time, in my dream, he was telling me you couldn’t keep me,” I explain, a shakiness in my voice that I’m not used to causing my breathing to intensify, all while Jasper’s eyes never leave mine.

He listens intently, like what I’m saying is the most important thing that he’s ever heard, and I’m once again reminded that our connection will always prevail, because he’s one of two people that have enough of me to truly know the inner workings of my mind.

We may have been separated, split and secluded from each other, but in the end, souls who intertwine themselves always find their way home.

“I’d kill anyone who tried to come between us. You’re never leaving my sight again, my little masterpiece.” He smiles, a Cheshire cat grin breaking across his face as he debuts a nickname for me, something that hasn’t happened in so long, I forgot how seductive he can make the most insignificant words sound when they’re put all together.

“I’ve missed that,” I giggle, unable to contain the girly side that Jasper can lure out of me with the simplest gestures of affection I grew to adore.

“Tell me something else, Principessina. Anything. I’ve just … missed your voice,” he says, tracing my lips with his thumb, tugging at the bottom one until my tongue darts out, swiping against his skin.

“Well, since the torture, I’ve been struggling because I’m afraid of water. I didn’t even get my hair wet in the shower earlier, I can’t … fully step under the spray,” I tell him honestly, the ability to completely give him the real Carter Cassini feeling like a breath of fresh air.

“It’s a lot, so I’d understand if my irrational fears become too much to deal with.”

If he doesn’t want this broken, terrified version of the girl he fell in love with I wouldn’t hold it against him.

Piecing a person back together is no small task, and after all I put him – and Tyson – through, I’d be heartbroken if they walked away once I’m safe, but it’s a decision I’d respect.

“It’s normal for people to have things they’re scared of, Carter. We were the anomalies, but I have something I’m afraid of now, too,” he finally says, and I raise my eyebrow in response, not expecting his confession.

“What is it?” My voice comes out in a breathy whisper, nervous that if I even blink, our moment will be ruined.

“Losing you,” he answers, not hesitating for a second, and I snap my eyes shut, forcing the tears to stay at bay, already tired of all the crying I’ve done.

“Did you mean what you said earlier, about bringing the girl I used to be back?” I shoot, keeping our rapid fire rounds of truths going.

“Every. Single. Word.” He accentuates his words by pulling me closer, our noses practically touching as I fall into his arms, wanting nothing more than to pour all that’s left from my depleted body into his.

“I’m sorry, Jasper. I really want you to know how terribly I feel about how I left you. Our entire world was burning down, and I was a coward. I think about that night often, what I could’ve done differently … I was scared of my father, but I should’ve put you, me, and Tyson first,” I sigh, knowing that he struggled the most in my absence, believing that I was capable of such a betrayal, when all along, I was the scorned party in the end.

The guilt he carries pairs with mine like it came from a matching set, but in order to start fresh, we both need to absolve ourselves, even if only slightly.

“I forgive you, Carter. I never thought I’d be able to say that, but I do. You’re loyal, and you stand for much more than I was able to give you credit for.” He presses a kiss to my forehead, his lips lingering as I soak in every ounce of affection he gives.

A few minutes pass, our bodies tangled in one another while the silence takes control, a feeling of peace washing over us both while we come to terms with what we’ve lost, and what we’re reclaiming.

“You said your own name. I’ve never heard you refer to yourself as anything other than Massi.” I dig into his mind a bit, recognizing that his voice brought me back from the place I was trapped in.

“What do you mean?” He looks down, a slight kink in his eyebrow, but still so fucking handsome, I could melt into a puddle if he keeps staring at me like this.

“When I was stuck in my nightmare.”

“Oh, yeah. Well, you’re the only one allowed to call me that, you know. You’ve never referred to me as Massi,” he counters, but I shrug in response.