"It's okay," he whispered. "It's okay."
The blue of his eyes seemed to shine in the sudden sunlight, and my body finally seemed to remember how to function.
I missed him. I missed him so fucking much. How could I have missed him when it was only hours since I'd been with him?
I had no idea, but what I did know was that I didn't want to let him go ever again. I didn't want to be stupid any longer. I wanted to be smart. To be loved. To be cherished. I wanted him.
"I know," I answered back.
As he hugged me again I cast a glance at Victor. I'd taken a life. I'd killed someone. I...
Two seconds ago I felt dread wash all over me but now? I felt the tension lift from my body, and it was replaced with nothing but lightness. By warmth. Hope.
I was free. He couldn't hurt me any longer. He couldn't manipulate me or haunt me anymore. All the years I spent under his rule, under his wrath, under his abuse disguised as affection, ruptured out of me like chains shattering in pieces, leaving behind only a faint scar of what had been there before.
I would heal though. Because Victor was dead. I'd killed him. I'd taken his life. Maybe there was something wrong with me that I felt no remorse, but I didn't care.
He was gone. I had hard proof. I'd made him leave us alone. I could stop hiding. I could stop looking over my shoulder. I could be me.
"I'm free," I muttered, closed my eyes and took a deep breath, as if inhaling my new-found freedom into my lungs. "Hang on." I paused and looked at Dare. "What do you mean before it's too late?"
"Huh?" Dare asked.
"Before. You said you wanted to tell me you loved me before it was too late."
Dare smiled and cupped my cheek.
"I only meant I wanted to tell you before something else happened to split us apart. I don't want to go another second without having told you how I feel about you."
I blinked. His smile deepened. I blinked again only my eyes felt raw all of a sudden and a tear ran down my face before I could wipe it clean.
"You love me?" I asked, my voice barely audible.
"I love you." He gave a single, assured nod and more tears found their way down my face.
"I...I love you too," I said and it was as if I'd opened the floodgates because everything else was just a soundless sob. "I'm so sorry. So sorry. I shouldn't have left. I don't know what I was thinking. I'm the biggest?—"
Dare pulled me back onto him and my mouth collided with his. I swallowed everything else I wanted to say and let go. I let him kiss me and after a few moments, I put my hands around his neck and kissed him back. I kissed him as if it were the first and the last time. Even if our kiss tasted like copper and dirt, I didn't stop. I couldn't stop. A few minutes ago, I thought I'd never see or hold him again. I could survive a little blood and mud if it meant being with him.
I deepened our kiss and I slid my hands down his arms when he winced, hissing in pain.
"What is it?" I pushed away and looked at him, but he didn't need to tell me.
I could see it. The sleeve soaked in blood. How could I forget?
"Shit, Dare. We need to get you to a doctor." I touched the impromptu tourniquet as gently as possible, and he let out a beastly growl that made me fall back.
"Sorry," he said and I shook my head.
"Nothing to apologize for. You're in pain."
"We need to get back to the car. I left my phone there."
I nodded and lifted myself off the ground then reached around Dare's other side so I could help him up. Once he was up, he could walk just fine, but I still stayed by his side in case he felt lightheaded or needed my support.
We walked away, going back the way we'd come but I stopped after a few feet and looked back.
"What about him? We're going to leave him like that?" As I spoke, another realization hit me. "Oh shit. I'm gonna go to prison. Oh my God, what have I done?"
