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“The moment,” I growl. “Don’t talk about what happened.”
Lila sighs. “I don’t understand.”
“What’s there to understand?” I snap.
“We need to talk about what happened to your?—”
“Don’t say it.” My fingers clench into fists. Talk? What is there to talk about? I met my dad for the first time since I was born. He got shot, and we buried him. End of fucking story.
“There’s nothing to talk about,” I say.
She sighs but accepts that I’m not ready. I may never be ready. “Fine. What happens now?”
My heart hammers in my chest. What happens now? Two people whose lives have become irrevocably intertwined. Two people bound together by desire and circumstance.
“You’re mine, and I’m yours; it’s that simple,” I finally say. I reach out and take Lila’s hand, interlocking our fingers. “We’ll figure this out,” I promise.
There’s a mixture of hope and uncertainty in her eyes. “I hope you’re right.”
We lie down again, facing each other. Lila's eyes are clear and unguarded, reflecting the tumultuous journey we’ve been on.
“I love you, Lila,” I whisper, the words tumbling out of my mouth again before I can stop them.
Her eyes widen. She shakes her head. “Ash, I don’t?—”
I press a finger to her lips. “Don’t say anything, starlight. It might take you longer to get there, but you will.”
The bold words roll off my tongue with an air of finality, a declaration of ownership that leaves no room for argument.
I lean in, closing the distance between us. Her eyes, those captivating pools of sapphire, shimmer under the pale moonlight that filters through the window.
“You’re mine,” I repeat, my breath ghosting across her cheek. “And I’m yours.”
I press my lips against hers, a soft, tentative kiss gradually deepening. Our tongues dance a sensual tango that speaks of our undeniable connection.
I feel her surrender in the way her body molds against mine, in the way her fingers tighten on my shirt.
“I can’t promise you it’ll be easy,” I continue, “but I can promise you this - you’ll never experience anything like it. You’re meant for this, Lila. Meant to be with me.”
Lila is my starlight, piercing through the darkness and illuminating my soul.
“You really believe that?” she asks, her voice barely a whisper.
I nod, my gaze unwavering. “I do.”
She leans in and kisses me again. Her fingers tangle in my hair, pulling me closer. Time stands still as we lose ourselves in the kiss, the world around us fading into insignificance.
For the first time, I feel like I’ve found a home. Finally, we pull apart and dress silently before continuing our perilous journey.
A sense of unease lingers as I revel in the newfound closeness. The shadows of my pasts still loom, threatening to consume both of us. The road ahead is fraught with uncertainty.
Can I truly escape the darkness that lurks within me? Or are we both destined to be consumed by it?
22
ASH
The tires crunch on the gravel as the car pulls to a stop, dust settling around us like a shroud. We’ve been on the road for days, the horizon stretching before us. The anticipation, a quiet hum beneath my skin, finally comes to a head as I stare at the place my father built.
