Page 46 of Temptation
A small nod was all I got, but it was better than silence. It was better than anguish that was there in her icy-blue eyes mere seconds ago.
“Living without you would be worse than hell. It would be worse than death. Why would I hurt you? You’re a part of me, You always were a part of me.” I pulled her closer until her chest meshed with mine, and her chin came to my throat. “I begin and I end with you, Sky. I have no other home, no other family. You’re all I’ve got. All I want.”
Her little hands started running over my chest, around my neck, until she buried her face between my pecs.
“I’m scared. I’m terrified, and I don’t want to be scared of you. I don’t want you to be my monster. I don’t want that,” she cried. “You were supposed to be the best thing in my life. You were supposed to be the light I could always go to, not this person who I don’t know.”
I wrapped my arms around her, caging her in. “I’m still me. I’m still the person who loves you.”
“But do you?” She looked up. “Do you love me, Dylan, or is it only an obsession you feel? Is it love if it was born out of duty?”
If she punched me, it would’ve hurt less.
I stepped away from her while those callous words played in my mind. Or maybe they weren’t callous at all; curious because she had every right to ask questions.
Some days, I thought the same thing. Some days, I thought that my love for her had nothing to do with love, but with the duty they instilled in me since I was a young boy. But no matter how much I broke my head thinking about it, trying to decipher if what I felt was really love, I always came back to the same conclusion.
I did love her.
I loved those small smiles whenever she thought that nobody else watched. Or the way she loved animals, and the way she cried for them whenever we watched a sad movie with animals in it. Or the way her eyes lit up like a Christmas tree whenever I brought her a new T-shirt from my trips with Dad.
My love for her was bigger than just physical appearance. Skylar was beautiful, but her beauty wasn’t only skin deep. Even though I hated him, even though I killed him, I admired the way she mourned for Zane. I knew she loved him, but it wasn’t the kind of love she felt for Ash.
It was there in her eyes, in the way they lit up whenever she mentioned him.
“It’s not an obsession, Sky,” I breathed out. “It’s not an obsession when I know that if you wanted it, I would set you free. I would let you go, but only once you were safe.”
Shock, disbelief, they all danced over her features, and I knew she didn’t expect that.
“Y-You… What?”
“I would let you go.”
“What do you mean once I’m safe? I thought I was safe now?”
“Sky.” I pulled out a chair for her to sit down on. “Sit.”
“I would rather stand.” She crossed her arms and glared at me. “What is it that you’re not telling me?”
“I’m not the one that gave you that.” I glared at the scar on her arm that wasn’t visible now. “I’m not the one that tried to kill you, but I’m going to find out who did. I’m going to find out and I’m going to make them pay.”
“You really were telling the truth?”
“I lied to you before, but I wouldn’t do it again. You’re already in. You already know everything, and whatever I do, whatever happens, I’m going to tell you the truth.”
She slowly breathed out, as if a weight was suddenly lifted off her chest, and with slow and calculated steps, she walked toward me and sat down onto the chair.
I kneeled, placing my hands on her knees. “I need you to trust me, Little One. I need you to look at me and see something other than the monster. I know what I am for you. I know you will never love me—”
“Dylan—”
“No, let me finish,” I cut her off. “I know.” I smiled. “I know I’m not him, but I am begging you now. Just for tonight. Just this once.” I took a deep breath, knowing that she could say no. Knowing that she might not want it, that it might disgust her. “Lie to me, Little One. Tell me how much you love me. Tell me how much you need me. Just fucking lie to me,” I whispered. “Just tonight.”
Her fingers curled into her palm, and she looked up at the ceiling. I let my head hang because I knew. I knew this would be the answer. I knew she could never do this. I knew—
Her hand suddenly lay on my cheek. Softly, her thumb rubbed over my cheekbone, and my eyes shuddered, remembering what it felt like having a soft touch on me. Remembering what love felt like.
“Open your eyes, Dylan.” I shook my head. “Come on. I need you to open your eyes and look at me.”
