Page 111 of I Dare You
“I respect that.This is my fault.You’ve done nothing wrong.I’ll go.”I turn to leave again, afraid of what will happen if I stay, but Kit spins and grabs me by the wrist—hard.
His eyes are on fire.
I don’t know whether he hates or loves me right now.
I don’t struggle.I allow him to do what he must to somehow feel better.
Whatever that may be.
“You lied to me.How can I trust a word you say?”
“You can’t,” I whisper, licking my suddenly dry lips.“But actions don’t lie, Kit.You’ve felt the response you provoke in me.”
A low hum slips past his parted lips.
“That’s not a lie.My feelings for you are not a lie.If they were, do you think I’d continue seeing you, knowing what’s at stake?I knew being around you was dangerous, but I couldn’t stay away.
“Just how you couldn’t with me.”
He hisses, turning his cheek as if he’s been burned.“What a fucking mess we’re in.”
“I know.That’s why I kept you away.”
Kit slowly turns to look at me.“Stopping this was impossible.We were doomed from the very beginning.So, the question is, what happens now?”
The silence is tense with expectation.
Without pause, I peer up at him from under my lashes.“I fucking kill Rebecca, and I destroy the Bloom name.”
Kit’s jaw tightens, aware he can’t stop what’s unfolding.He lets go of my wrist and grips my nape, pulling us face-to-face.His breath is warm against my lips.“We do this together, then.You’re not alone.Not anymore.”
“I can’t ask that of you.”
“You’re not.I’m doing this because I want to.I’m doing this because…I want you.”
“You want me?Even after everything I’ve done?”I whisper, unsure if this is a dream or not.
Kit softly says, “Maybe we’re both a little crazy.”
“Kit, you can leave anytime.You should.”
He looks at me with longing, knowing that’s impossible for us both.“I promised you that when I catch you, I’ll never let you go.”
“This is dangerous.”
“I know.”
“Yet you’ll stay?”
“Where would I go?Wherever you go, I follow.”
“But why risk everything for me?”
Kit grips my nape and presses his forehead to mine.“Because you areeverythingto me.And I protect what’s mine.No matter what you’ve done, it doesn’t change my feelings for you.It kills me inside knowing what was done to you.And that I wasn’t there to protect you.”
“You didn’t know.”My heart hurts, but in a good way.
“But I know now, and that’s why, please, let me do this my way.If something ever happened to you…” He stops for a moment, his head shaking in fear.
