"Are you saying-" I began but he cut me off as he looked up at me with teary eyes from his generous pair of dark eyelashes,
"That I love you?Of course,I do Armani, can't you tell?" He replied almost in disbelief that I ever questioned it, "I only knew it was love when you were back in America and I knew what it was like to yearn for someone with as much longing as I did you. I spent sleepless nights worrying about you and your well-being, I was already planning on a way to bring you back to Paris. And if you didn’t I was willing to come and find you. So please know this; that I know what it means to have loved in silence once before but I didn't have to with you, I love you openly and irrefutably with everything I am." He told me and I leaned into the palm of his hand against my cheek, "And I don't think I ever really thanked you, you brought me out of the darkest place I had ever been in my entire life. You taught me to see the good in all things. Before you, I didn't look forward to waking up every day or watching the sun go down at dawn. It tired me and I felt like I was trapped in this infinite abyss. Actually, I believe that it's you that ismylight, you helped me find the one thing I'd struggled with since I saw the world for what it was- hope. Armani Nnandi, you gave mehopeand I love you for it." He said and I leaned in to kiss him and I could taste the faint salt of our tears on his lips.
"You never have to explain anything about Jace if you don't want to to me, your past with him doesn't define our present or our future. And never let anyone- even me ever make you feel like it's wrong to love who you love do you understand me?" I declared and his eyes filled with tears once more,
"Perhaps he didn't love me, perhaps it was all in my head." River spoke softly, "I hate that I'll never know for sure."
"Perhaps it's better that way, no? That way you get to decide your own ending." I expressed and he pressed his forehead against mine,
"Perhaps." He replied and leaned his head into my neck. "I never meant to hurt you with the truth."
"That's where you're wrong, youhealedme with it," I assured him.
I ran my hands through his dark hair and he sighed trailing kisses down my neck, slow hot, and passionate. I turned away and he moved his kiss to my lips and I was molten honey under his touch. He'd done so much already, it was my turn to show him how much I loved him.
"Let me show you how much I love you," I whispered and his pupils dilated at my words, a sigh fell past his lips as he dug his nails into my side and pulled me onto him.
Chapter 29
The Thorns That Bind Us
Wemustletgoof the rope no matter how strenuous, if not we are the ones who'll end up getting burned. Our minds are prisons and we are the only ones with the key to set ourselves free.
RIVER AND I were cuddled up next to each other on my dorm room bed watching the Blair witch project, I was doing my best at acting like I wasn’t terrified. We had a fluffy white blanket draped over us and my laptop was in front of us.
“Remind me why I let you suggest a horror film again?” I asked jumping slightly at a really scary part.
“Because it was my turn to choose.” He told me then wrapped his arm around me pulling me closer. “And you’re really cute when you’re scared.”
“I’m cute?” I huffed folding my arms in disapproval.
“Adorable even.” He insisted. “If you’re bored we could do something else.”
“Yeah?” I wondered tracing a gentle finger along his jawline and he grinned wickedly. “Like what?”
“I can think of a thing or two…” He alluded to, leaning in to kiss me and suddenly the movie faded into the distance. “That starts with this.” He spoke lifting my leg over his waist so I was hovering over him, “And ends with this…” His fingers then neared my lips slipping past them.
“Hmmm, I can get behind that idea.” I giggled and just as I was about to lean in to kiss him once more, the doorknob turned with a click and I gasped.
“Woah!” Keomi choked standing awkwardly in the doorway and then covered her eyes with her hands.
“Keomi!” I yelped climbing off of him. “We aren’t naked relax.”
“Yet,” River smirked and I swatted his shoulder.
“My fragile innocent eyes,” Keomi whined closing the door behind her and tossing her bag on her bed. “Oh, how ever will I recover from this?”
“You’re insufferable.” River teased her.
“Is that so?” Keomi leered.
“Whatever we know you want to, come watch the film with us!” I suggested as River and I separated to make room for her in between us.
“You mean it?” Keomi smiled.
“Yes.” River nodded and she cheered clapping her hands before jumping onto the bed, and shifting to get comfortable.
“I have the best friends ever.” Keomi hummed.
