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He comes back to me, gripping the nape of my neck and dropping his head to mine. “In another life, Mia, I would give you the world. Romantic dates, the big wedding, a house with a white picket fence, and two or three kids running around, but that isn’t our reality.”
“It sounds nice,” I breathe, fisting his t-shirt.
“Our love isn’t born out of nice. It’s born out of blood and pain and darkness. But together, we can walk into the light. I know we can.”
“You’d want that?” I ask, palming his cheek. His brows crinkle and I explain. “You’d want to… marry me?”
“One day, yeah.” His mouth curves. “We’re not normal, Mia. Our lives are never going to be normal. But we can reign… together.”
“It’s nice to pretend.” A soft sigh escapes my lips.
“We don’t have to pretend, baby. We just have to stay strong.”
Bexley kisses the corner of my mouth, testing the waters. At first, I flinch. But then he kisses me harder, running his tongue along the seam of my lips. “Let me in, Mia.” It’s a low growl.
“I-I can’t.”
“Yes, you can. It’s me and you, baby. I promise. No one can touch you here. He can’t touch you.” He cups my face, rubbing his thumb along my cheekbone.
“And after?” I ask. Because this is temporary. A band-aid on a festering wound.
He steals another kiss, working his hand down my body.
“We’ll worry about what comes after later.”
24
Bexley
Istand in the doorway looking out at the deck, my eyes eating up Mia, who's sitting in the last of the fall sun before it drops beneath the tree line for the evening.
For the first time since waking up in the hospital, there's a peace surrounding Mia. One that I'd almost forgotten existed. She's sitting on the swing with her legs curled up beneath her body, staring out at nothing as birdsong breaks the silence.
This place is incredible. I had no idea what James was going to come up with when I called him and said we needed somewhere right away, but I couldn't have picked somewhere better if I'd tried.
We're totally off the grid here. It's exactly what she needs—what we both need—as we try to come out of all of this stronger together.
Pain lashes at my chest as I think about the fact that Cade has been around all this time and that none of us other than Ashton believed it. Mia should hate me for not trusting her. A part of her does—I see it in her eyes every time she looks at me—but I know that she's having a hard time trusting herself right now so she does understand.
As I watch her, I take note of all the visible differences in her from when we first met. The sparkle in her eyes has dimmed, the innocence that filled them back then long gone after everything she's been through. Under her eyes are dark circles, proving just how much sleep she's been losing because of that cunt tormenting her. Her cheeks are hollower than before from how little she's eating. But it's what's not visible that's the most terrifying. The memories of her telling me that it would be easier if she died that day with her parents. The vivid image of finding her trying to carve her brand from her chest.
My fists curl as I try to even imagine the pain she's experiencing every single second because of a game she never wanted to be a part of—a game I'm sure her father never wanted to be a part of either.
She blows out a long breath, dragging my eyes back up to hers. "Are you just going to stand there staring at me with that look on your face, or are you going to come and sit down?"
"I… uh… I'm sorry."
"I know, Bex. You keep saying that."
Picking up the drinks that I'd placed on the windowsill when I stopped, I walk over and drop down beside her. "Here, it's not too strong, but it should help you relax."
"Thank you." She takes a sip and lowers the glass to her lap. "Can we stay here forever?" she asks quietly.
"It's pretty incredible."
"Shame we're not here for a different reason."
Reaching out, I lace my fingers through hers. "It doesn't mean we can't enjoy it."
