Haunting-Adeline

me. He makes it a point to stay on top of the duvet, part of me resen ng
him a li le for that.
I’m nervous. Up un l now, every encounter Zade and I have had was
forced upon me. And now that I’ve made the decision for him to be here, I
don’t know what to do.
“Why were you on my balcony?” I blurt. He chuckles, facing me and
urging me to do the same. S ffly, I roll to my side and try not to faint from
the intensity of this man.
“I wanted to watch you,” he confesses. And then he tacks on with dry
amusement, “In peace.”
I snort. “So sorry for being so disrup ve to your stalking. Next me I’ll
strike a couple poses for you.”
I’ll never admit how his answer gives me chills. Both ice cold and fiery
hot. He smirks, and it makes me sad that it doesn’t reach his eyes.
“I’d appreciate that,” he murmurs distractedly. His eyes are tracing my
curves like they're scripture, and he's a sinner that is searching for proof of
a God that he no longer can hear.
“You need space from me while wan ng to be close. Sounds like a
marriage,” I deadpan.
“It will be.”
It’s ins nct to deny that. I s ll want to and do so in my head. But I don’t
give voice to it. Not tonight, I won’t.
So, I swallow the words and let him dream.
We fall into silence, but it’s weighed with sadness, guilt, and anger. He’s
swarming in the emo ons like a beekeeper holding a nest. I’m ge ng
stung by it, and it’s making my skin burn.
“Kiss me,” I whisper. If it could only ease the burn in both of us. He s lls,
and my bravery is slipping, so I lean forward and make a move instead.
I capture his lips within my own, relishing over the different type of burn
that blooms from our connected lips. He doesn’t hesitate to kiss me back,
but it’s slow. While it’s no less intense, it lacks his usual ferocity.
And that’s something I didn’t realize how much I’ve missed un l now.
Ge ng nearly desperate, I nip at his bo om lip before sucking it into my
mouth. His hands grip my waist in a ght hold, and for a moment, I think
he almost pushes me away.