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I never would’ve had the courage to step out of my father’s plans for me or believe I could do something if you hadn’t encouraged me.
I’m sorry for all the times over the years I hurt you. I thought I could handle being around you and I felt guilty for leaving you alone, and I blamed myself for the events that transpired. I didn’t want to admit that to you. It was easier to hate you instead of myself.
But I never hated you.
How could I?
I regret the way I acted after the night we were together. I panicked, realizing I’d never be able to be with you, and hating myself for giving into the temptation. You were everything I always imagined you to be, and so much more. You are the embodiment of seduction, your body calling to mine in a way no one ever has. I know it’s because our hearts have been linked for years, the knowledge only increases the intimacy. I could count the ways of how sexy you are, but I think I’d prefer to wait until I have you naked and kiss every inch of you as I do.
Because I will have you again, Peach. There’s no doubt in my mind.
You are mine, and you are Simon’s. You’re ours, and I’m both of yours.
And I won’t quit until you’ve forgiven me and look at me like you did that night when I was just a tattooed angel.
Get ready, Peach. You’re about to get the full Slade treatment.
Love,
Your asshole
“Za-ck?”I managed to stutter out, shock giving way to my fright as I took in the half-dressed person standing in my bedroom. His mouth gaped open like a fish as he took me in too.
Standing, I ran to the man I hadn’t seen in years, throwing my arms around him exuberantly. “Oh my gosh! It’s you! I thought I’d never see you again. But wait… ”
Pulling back, my excitement and surprise fell away as I realized it still didn’t explain his appearance in my apartment in the middle of the night, or in my bed. Looking around the room discreetly, I double-checked I was, in fact, in my room. The familiar stack of books on the floor, my sketchpad, and even the several pairs of shoes I had lying around confirmed my whereabouts.
Stepping back, the recognition he hadn’t hugged me back settled in me. In fact, Zack still stood frozen in shock. He rubbed his eyes, blinking at me. It felt as if he expected me to disappear into thin air. When he still didn’t say anything, I tried a different approach.
“Not that I’m not happy to see you or anything, but care to explain why you’re in my bed?”
“Yourbed? But that can’t be right.”
Half-naked Zack rubbed the back of his head, his face scrunching up in confusion as he looked at the bed in curiosity. I had to keep my eyes up, or I’d fall down the sinkhole his happy trail inevitably led to. You know, the one where I sank to my knees to explore it? Closing my eyes, I mentally scrubbed all the things I didn’t need to be thinking about right now from it.
“This is my brother’s apartment,” he said indiscernibly, practically muttering at the end. But I heard the words and it froze me solidly to my core.
His brother. His brother. His brother.
But that meant… Slade owned Equinox Ink, making thishisapartment. But that couldn’t be right because Thane was his brother. Unless…
Everything began to spin, and I found myself sitting down on the bed, barely stopping myself from passing out.
“Lennox?” His gentle prodding had me blinking up at him, and that was when I realized he called me by name. Myreal name. The one I’d never given him. Scurrying off the bed, I placed my hands out in front of me as I slowly crept backward, inching my way out of the room. Unfortunately, my angle had been off, and I hit the desk behind me instead of making it to the door.
“How do you know my name?”
His face paled, and I watched his Adam's apple bob as he forcibly swallowed. “I can explain. It’s not how it looks.”
Huffing, “I’m sure that’s what every psycho in every book has stated! But guess what? It’s always how it looks!”
He laughed, and then smiled at me, the grin so beautiful I wondered if I’d accidently taken a hallucinogen or something earlier. I stopped, not expecting his behavior.
“Why are you laughing? Are you going to turn into that gif of the little girl making the creepy smile? Was this part of your plan all along?Was it you? Or are you the one messing with things, now?” My questions sped out of my mouth, the implications of everything had started to hit me full force, and I began to panic, sending my breathing into hyperventilation overdrive.
Zack’s face dropped, and he took a step forward, almost like he was worried. The move had me scrabbling behind me as I reached for anything to use as a weapon. Wrapping my hands around the first thing I touched, I pulled it forward and held it out in front of me, pointing it at him menacingly.
Zack stopped at my motion, before he burst out laughing. His reaction confused me again, and I felt quite like I’d been transported into an episode ofThe Twilight Zone. Glancing at the item in my hand, I inwardly cursed at myself when I saw it.
