Rory. She's fucking gorgeous. Inside and out.
The way she's dealt with everything being thrown at her, how quickly she's adjusted. She's forgiven Jace, forgivenmefor keeping the emancipation and my true self from her. We didn't really talk about how she feels about that. Honestly, I'm afraid to ask.
But I feel like I can be myself around her. That I can make jokes about who I am without her freaking out or scaring her off.
Hell, Mason and I aresleeping. Mase isn't wearing himself out by drawing til four in the morning to keep himself awake. I'm not waking up dripping in sweat and feeling the need to break something.
This morning, I woke up to my Butterfly curled into me. Mason was spooning her on the other side and Jace between her legs. Fuck, we've got it bad.
The screen door creaking breaks me out of my thoughts. Butterfly shuts the door and steps away slowly as though she expects someone to come racing after her. That wouldn't surprise me, I'm shocked the guys let her out of their sight.
Not noticing me, she walks to the edge of the porch and leans against the big wooden post beside the stairs.
Rory's long wavy hair is in a messy bun, low on her neck. Her shirt falls just above her ass that's showcased by her black, tight leggings.
"Who are you evading?" I ask softly. Her head turns my way but she mustn't be able to see me because of the table in the middle of the verandah.
I lift my arm up and wiggle my fingers. Rory walks around the table and falls between my legs. I hide the enormous grin threatening to take over by that lack of hesitation.
Her head turns to search my eyes. "Is this okay?" She asks with a hint of insecurity.
Fuck, we really need to have that discussion with her. I know it hasn't been that long but I can see where this is going. Hell, I think we all can.
I answer her by placing a soft kiss on her mouth. Her body immediately loosens.
"Of course, Butterfly," I tell her, in case that doesn't clear up the confusion.
I gently shift until her back is flush up against my chest, my arms curled around her like a boa constrictor.
"How are you feeling?" I gently grip her chin between my thumb and first finger, turning her head towards me.
The…heartache still clouds her features.
"Can we just pretend for one moment you're all less good at reading me than you are?" Rory sighs, leaning back in my arms.
"Rory…" I trail off, the name feeling foreign on my lips. I don’t often use her real name—just Butterfly.
"Please, Luci?" She turns in my arms, begging me to drop it.
I hesitate, seeing the familiar darkness swirling in her eyes but I force myself to nod.
"Thank you," she murmurs quietly. "I just…I'm sick of crying. Of living in the past." She studies my hands in front of her. Her own entwining our fingers until they lock seamlessly together.
"I saw that look Jace gave you," she says after we've been quiet for a while.
Hearing Rory admit that her father had threatened Jace…I remembered my own father's promises. I felt ready to run. An itching, crawling all over my skin. A buzzing noise filled my ears until I could only see the guys. They are a constant reminder of what I have to lose. What my father could take from me.
Then my gaze shifted to Rory. A whole other reason to not get attached, to keep my distance, to leave— a million different ways to ensure my father can never get his hands on my family.
I held her close as she took shuddering breaths in my arms.
As the feeling, theneedto go and never look back intensified, I felt eyes on me. I looked up to Jace. There was an undisguised sadness in the depths of his grey irises as I internally fought between the want to flee and the need to never let Rory out of my grasp.
"Luci?" My Butterfly's voice pulls me out of it. She's biting her lip, concern flickering across her face. I blink a couple times before remembering what she said.
I smile, trying to reassure her I'm okay but she doesn't look convinced.
Rory shivers and I'm reminded of how cold it is this morning. I pull her closer to me so I can share my warmth with her.
