Page 266 of Once Upon a Fable

I knew what I had to do.

Crawling back toward him, I hesitated just a second before placing myhand on his shoulder.

He jolted as if I’d electrocuted him. “Stop—”

“I forgive you.”

“You forgive—?” He hissed between his teeth. “Goddammit, you...you—” He pointed a shaking finger in my face. “Don’t. Don’teverforgive me. I don’t deserve it. I—”

“Kas...” I massaged his shoulder.

He shot from his ass to his knees, scooting away from me. “I told you to quit touching me, you idiotic fool!”

“And I told you it’s okay.”

“It’s. Not. Okay!”

“I’m not going to hurt you!” I reached for him again. All I wanted to do was give him a hug. That was it. A simple, stupid hug. Something I doubted he’d ever had. Something that enveloped all his sins and all his insanities and gave him something to cling to.

I needed to do it.

I wouldn’t give up.

If I didn’t make him believe I forgave him, he would suppress yet another shitty memory. He’d chew it up and swallow it down until it riddled him with yet more disease. He’d make me become just another sickness inside him.

No.

Just no.

“Would you have hurt me willingly?” I demanded.

He flinched. “I have in the past. I’ve locked you in the basement. I’ve chased after you. I’ve—”

“But not now. Not today. Today is different than yesterday. I know you better. You know me. I don’t believe you could hurt me willingly now. You didn’t mean to—”

“Yet, I did!”

“And I forgive you for it!”

“And I don’t want your fucking forgiveness!” His cock bounced between his legs as he fell to his ass again, his hands balled. Pre-cum beaded the top of his red erection, seeming to have grown in size, tormenting him from taking me and not finishing.

“Get away, Gemma,” he growled. “Get the hell away from me.”

“Tell me why when all I’m trying to do is be your friend.”

He froze. “Myfriend?” He sucked in a stuttering breath as he shook his head. Crossing his arms on his knees, he lowered his forehead to the splint bracing his broken bone. “I’ve destroyed you.” He groaned and this time it was even deeper, rougher, like thorn-studded velvet across my skin.

I went to him.

I slinked one arm around his chest and one behind his back and I hugged him, pressing against his side.

And if I thought I’d seen Kassen Sands reach rock bottom before, I’d been mistaken.

He collapsed forward, crying out as if I’d done exactly what heexpected and torn him limb from limb all while pouring acid on his bleeding pieces.

His entire body became an earthquake as he hunched away from me. “Stop,” he whimpered.

I didn’t stop.