“Plenty of pleasures in this world don’t require the use of your eyes,” he shouted.
I laughed through my tears. “That sounds like a really bad pickup line.”
“It is the truth. I’ll not see you give up even a moment of your life in order to give me back mine. That’s not in my future. I forbid it.”
“You can’t forbid me, you idiot. You forget that I’ve read your story, too. ‘If he loved you with all the power of his soul for a whole lifetime, he couldn’t love you as much as I do in a single day.’ You said those words, didn’t you?” Tears streamed down my face. Heathcliff glared at me in stone-faced silence. “There are not two people alive who share a love like that. You may think I can’t imagine what it is like to lose that, but Ican. I know what it is to have your passion severed. It’s as if a piece of yourself has been cut out and tossed away—”
My words cut off as Heathcliff’s mouth met mine.
Chapter Twenty-Four
My heart leapt in my chest. All the need in my body sizzled to the surface, shedding the depression that clung to me like a second skin. My mind screamed that this was a terrible idea but my hands reached up and tangled in Heathcliff’s hair and my body folded into him and I dived into the abyss of darkness and despair and longing that was Heathcliff’s soul.
The kiss fired up my whole body, every atom of me in brilliant glow. Heathcliff’s huge hand cupped my cheek, clamping me in place as if he expected me to flee.I should be fleeing. I should run away so fast right now.
But how could I run, when this man and I connected with such inevitable force, our bodies and minds colliding with the fury of nature? We drank in each other – an elixir more potent than wine or the tiny pills Ashley and I popped one night at a punk show that sent me into a spiral of rapturous worship.
It was like kissing a part of myself, and not in a sad narcissistic way, but in a ‘nobody sees into all the dark places of my heart’ way.He’s more myself than I am.
Behind me, Grimalkin howled, jabbing at us with the stick of her toy.
Heathcliff tore his lips from mine. The spell broke. We stared across the void at each other, both fighting for breath, for control.
He backed away, his eyes blazing. “Stay away from this room,” he growled, dragging me out the door and slamming it shut behind him. “And stay away from me.”
Chapter Twenty-Five
“You stay away fromme,” I growled, my heart pounding against my chest. “You’re my boss. You can’t do this.”
Before Heathcliff could reply, I shoved past him, elbowing him in the ribs as I fled out of the secret room, through the shop, and down the stairs. His boots clattered after me.
“Mina, don’t run away from me.”
“You just told me to go!” I screamed, and slammed the back door in his face. I sprinted down the narrow lane behind the shop, emerging on the other side of the bakery, facing the village green. Angry tears rolled down my cheeks, and I swiped them away.
Where to go?Home was out. Mum was there today and I didn’t want to talk to anyone right now. The one place I felt safe in ___field was Nevermore Bookshop, and Heathcliff’s kiss had shot that all to hell.
I balled my hands into fists, then uncurled them.Bloody Heathcliff.
How had everything got so messed up?
I thought Heathcliff could be my friend. God knows I needed some of them.But then he kisses me and my body just melts into him and I think all thesethingsabout souls and lines from a book…
“Mina. Hey, Mina!”
“Not now, Darren.” I wiped my eyes and turned to face him. It must’ve been Darren’s day off, because he was wearing a hideous striped sweater and tan trousers, and had his hair combed up in a flick. Red circles ringed his eyes, and his skin appeared blotchy. He carried a brown bag from the off-license under his arm.
“I was just heading back to my flat, and I recognized you. You’re upset over Ashley,” his face collapsed in concern. “I know. Me too. I haven’t been able to go to work since I heard. I just… I can’t believe she’s gone.”
“Yes, it’s awful.” Fresh tears rolled down my cheeks – tears of guilt. Ashley was dead, and I was upset over aguy. Meanwhile Darren – who’d been the brunt of Ashley’s jokes and derision for years – had clearly been up all night crying over her. “Please, Darren, I need to get home—”
“Listen, I’m not doing so well. I think it would help if I just… if I could talk about her with someone who knew her. Do you have a minute to grab a drink with me?”
I shook my head, not trusting myself to speak. Heathcliff’s kiss still burned on my lips.
“I never told you, but I’m in love with Ashley.Wasin love, I guess I have to say now.” His voice cracked. “I never got up the courage to tell her in secondary school, and I was hoping now that she was back in the village I’d get the chance to take her out and tell her how I felt. Now I’ll never have that opportunity and I just…”
“I don’t really want to talk about Ashley, Darren.”
