“Yes,” he whispered, and my heart pounded at the admittance.
Before he could ruin it with his next barbed words, I leaned forward and stole his lips. Shadow opened for me instantly and stole the lead. He cupped the back of my neck and thrust his tongue into my mouth. I moaned, clit throbbing, as he ravaged my lips. There was so much haste and fever inside me, I started clawing at his tuxedo.
Shadow tore away from me, covering his face as he huffed. He leaned against the tree, still hiding himself.
“Why did you stop?” I asked, crawling between his legs.
He stopped me. Dropping his hand, his pimply cheeks were rosy red. “You’re entering a part of your life I can’t see. And I think I know what I want now so much more clearly.”
I froze. “What?”
“I can’t be a part of your life anymore.”
If a heart were a sponge, mine shriveled up and died. “I don’t understand.”
“You do. You know exactly what I mean.”
Tears seeped out of me. “Can’t or won’t?”
“I can’t be a part of this stage of your life.” He shook his head and stood. “I shouldn’t have been a part of it at all.”
I followed, tugging at his arm sleeve. “Is it because I desire you? I won’t kiss you. You’re a shadow anyway. I couldn’t even if I wanted. I’m sorry.”
“You don’t know me!” he yelled, causing me to flinch. “You don’t know a thing. You’re so naïve. Fuck, you’re still a child.”
I cried, covering my eyes.
“It’s not meant to be like this. You need to live your life, but I can’t see you do it. I would kill any—” He stopped suddenly, going quiet.
I wiped my eyes and saw how stiff he was. His jaws were clenched tightly.
“You can’t see me? Why?”
“I can’t even feel you!” He gripped my arm, yanking me to him and putting my palm against his cheek. He shut his eyes. When they opened, his shoulders had straightened. “And yet… I know what I shall do.”
“You’re confusing me.”
“This is goodbye.” Shadow kissed my knuckles, and the crimson blinked within Gregory’s brown eyes.
“You’re leaving me.”
“Yes.”
I yanked my hand from his grip. “I’ll be fine without you.”
“Yes.”
His dull responses pissed me off. “I can’t stand you.”
“The clock’s ticking. Live your life, Kara, because you never know when it will be the last time you witness this world.”
“I’m immortal,” I said defiantly. “I’ll see the human world as much as a want! You don’t get to just leave—”
“Kara?” Gregory stumbled away from me as he glanced around. “Wait. How did I get here?”
My arms fell to my side as I finished what I tried to say to Shadow, “Me.”
Only he was gone. And it would be a long time before he, or should I say it, returned.
