"What?" I repeat, still somehow dazed by the turn of the conversation.
How could she question such a thing? Has she not seen a mirror? Has she no shortage of suitors that would gladly sweep her off her feet given the chance? Is she completely blind to what the rest of us see when we look at her?
Cora turns her back to me, reaches for her bourbon, and downs it in one gulp.
"Cora," I say as softly as I can.
"What?" She doesn't turn around.
"Ask me again."
8
CORA
"What?" I find myself saying the same thing he already did twice.
I should have never asked. I should have kept my mouth shut. I don't know what I was thinking. Why I let my insecurities get the best of me—why it matters to me what he thinks.
"I said." Silver's voice grows rugged. "Ask me again."
I face him but don't meet his gaze. "Do you think I'm pretty?" I hate the words more the second time around.
Silver brings his hand forward, slowly, cautiously, like I might explode if he touches me the wrong way, and rests it against my cheek. He tilts my head upward and forces my attention. "Yes."
I swallow the lump that forms in my throat but don't say anything. It's not as if he would have told me no. He might be a ruthless criminal but he's not a complete asshole. What I should have said wasattractive, not pretty. Anyone can be pretty, but not everyone is attractive. And when it comes down to it, that's what I really want to know, if I'm attractive. To him. To anyone.
Except for Joshua, or Ricardo, or someone who doesn't respect me.
Someone who I'm attracted to. Someone who I want to want me.
"You're pretty," he confirms but then adds, "and beautiful, and gorgeous, and radiant and sexy and..."
My heart pounds at his declaration, and I wonder for a second if he can read my mind, although I'm desperately hoping that he can't, because I'd never want someone to know what goes on in my head.
"You don't mean that," I whisper.
"Why would I lie?" His dark gaze bores into me, and a strong part of me is terrified but a stronger part of me is electrified by his intensity.
"I don't know."
My cell phone buzzes in my pocket and threatens to steal my attention, but I don't allow it.
"Do you need to get that?" Silver maintains his closeness, his hand still resting on my cheek.
"No."
The music continues to play in the background, a perfect soundtrack to the evening.
"Angel..."
"Kiss me," I blurt out before I change my mind.
"What?" Silver doesn't back away. Instead, he rubs his thumb along my jaw.
"I said, kiss me." I stand up a bit taller, closing the distance between us, daring him to make good and prove to me that he isn't lying.
If my life is going to end soon, when I give myself over to Ricardo, I might as well live a little while I have the chance. And if Miller and Alec don't want to be a part of that, why should I pass up this tall, dark, and handsome opportunity standing in front of me?
