Page 167 of Chasing Ruin
Liar.
That’s what I am. A fucking liar.
You don’t hate him, Charlotte? Really?
My brain isn’t able to process the amount of information I’ve been given these past weeks. But the fact that I’m suddenly sure of his love for me—is astounding.
Girl, you were already softening when he tatted himself. And don’t even get me started on this apartment you’re currently sucking his face in.
I jerk back. My widened eyes staring at his lust-filled gaze.
Then he smiles. Chuckling as he reverently brushes his fingers against my cheek. “Yeah, you definitely don’t hate me.”
Shit-fuck-damn!
Without thinking, I lunge. Straddling him in a blink.
That’s when it happens. My whole body shuts down, taking me back to the time where I could only see the terror and pain.
And all it took was his brief, pained grunt.
“Fuck,” he groans, eyes squeezing shut.
I try to scramble back, fearing I’ve accidentally hurt him. But his grip on me tightens. Holding me in place.
“Wait. Just—” He hisses, blinking hard as though he’s trying to grit through the agony. “Okay, we’re good,” he says quickly, pulling me back down so he can capture my lips again.
I lean back, putting my hands on his chest to stop him. “You’re hurting, Theo. Stop.”
He looks at me, almost bewildered. “Baby, I’m fine. Your knee, it just brushed against the… the, the…”
“Stab wound,” I whisper. My gaze locked on his stomach.
My vision blurs, and all I can see is the prospect sinking that knife into his abdomen. And Theo lying still through it all.
“Hey,” I hear him say softly. His thumb rubbing my wobbling lower lip. “You know I’m okay, right? This is nothing.”
My whole face twists, my lips turning downward as I remember his agonizing groans from the cell.
The fact that he still fought…
“Hey, look at me, baby,” he says, tucking my hair behind my ears, his eyes studying the quiet desolation on my face. “I’m fine. You’re fine. We’re both fine.”
“Are you sleeping on the couch still?” I murmur, dropping my gaze.
It hurts to look him in the eyes. My chest tightens every time I needlessly search his eyes for our shared pain. But the man deliberately chooses not to show the hurt anymore.
It’s almost as if he wants to leave that cell behind. All while I’m struggling to dispel the rusted bars between us. Even if I’m the only one that sees them.
“Why? Will you offer me your bed?” he asks, but I can hear the amusement in his voice.
I force myself to scoff, settling down between his spread legs. “No.”
I look up to see his smile falter a fraction. But he sobers quickly. It dawns on me that he’s still wary about showing his feelings. Especially if he thinks I don’t welcome them.
“I’ll offer youyourbed,” I blurt out, earning an instant boyish smile.
“Will you also change my dressing?” He grins, hooking his hands under my knees and pulling me closer.
