Page 100 of The Gathering
“Let’s expand our truth’s together, then.”
She grinned with a sly, angled gaze on him. “I knew you would say that.”
“How?”
“Your mind is the sharpest blade I’ve ever encountered,” she marveled softly. “But I realize that’s not saying much coming from the sheltered swamp girl. But ambiguity, in all its colors, shapes, and sizes, is one guest that willneverstep foot on the welcome mat in your mind.”
Fuck, she was beautiful. “Your insight has moved to the top of my captivating list.”
Her smile said he’d just ticked off something on her list as well. “So who’s going first? Are you expanding your truth to me or am I expanding mine to you?”
“You are definitely expanding yours to me first,” he said.
She shot out a big laugh before eyeing him. “I don’t say this to insult you but to challenge you. Your strict mind is abeautifulthing.”
He stared back, chuckling. “But?”
She put her hand on his arm, electrifying him. “Work it out my King.”
He was on fire. “You’re saying that somehow an undisciplined mind is more.”
She nodded, golden gaze flaring. “But not undisciplined. Free. You need to remove the guardrails and unleash your mind.”
He moved his gaze back to the swamp at that advice. “I cannot.”
“Why?” she demanded sadly. “Why would you forbid that?”
“For safety reasons.”
“For who?” she asked, her raw innocence tearing through him.
“For those it would hurt.”
She gave a soft, long sigh.
Skul stood when his hungers and fears rabidly clashed.
“What are you running from in your mind now?” she asked. “Fine, I’ll expand my truth to you. But you’ll need to look at me.”
Fuck. “I can’t.”
The swamp insects filled the silence as his need to stare at her chewed through his muscles.
“Exactly,” she proved softly. “BecauseIam the thing you want to look at but don’t. And this is the thing right in your mind and wrong in mine.”
“And why should it be right in mine?”
“Well, I didn’t say itshouldbe right in yours, just that it’s wrong in mine for a reason. I want to share that reason.”
“Then share it.”
“There is nothing about me that you should fear learning.”
He gripped the porch rail tightly. “I don’t fear learning anything, I fear what I already know.”
She was rocking again. “And what do you know about me that is fearsome?” she challenged.
“It’s not what I know about you, it’s what I know about me that’s fearsome.”
