“Zach,” Dare whispered and lifted the edge of the pillow.
Light stabbed my eyes and I shut them harder. Tears stained the sheets under my cheek, but I couldn’t stop. I couldn’t do anything. I was powerless.
“Oh Zach, please don’t cry,” he whispered. “I hate seeing you like this.”
“It’s my fault,” I said, but I couldn’t hear my voice. Maybe I’d mouthed it. Maybe I’d wailed it. I didn’t know.
“It’s not, sweetheart. It’s not your fault. You did nothing wrong.He’s the monster, not you.”
I shook my head refusing to hear it. Refusing to hear anything, but…had he called me sweetheart?
“Don’t blame yourself for his actions. He’s a sick individual, and this has nothing to do with you. He’s at fault here—him and his perverted mind. Do you hear me? It’s not your fault.”
His hand brushed my cheek. His thumb wiped the tears in my eye. He leaned in closer until he was the only thing I could see.
“Don’t cry, sweetheart. Not for him, please. He doesn’t deserve it. You hear me? He doesn’t,” he whispered and I could almost taste his words.
It was then I noticed how close he was. How far apart our lips were, which wasn’t that far. I swallowed a knot in my throat and blinked away the blurriness so I could look back at his gorgeous eyes.
“There you go.” He smiled. “That’s better.”
I smiled back. I couldn’t help it when his affection filled me and replaced my misery and sadness with hope and happiness.
“You…” I started but had to clear my throat and blink some more before I continued. “You called me sweetheart.”
He pressed his lips together and nodded so gently it was barely noticeable.
“I’m sorry,” he said and tried to pull away but I put my hand on his face too and he stopped.
“Don’t be,” I said. “Do it again.”
I sounded pathetic, like a beggar, but I couldn’t help it. I was desperate to hear it again. As desperate as I was for my next breath.
“Sweetheart,” he said in a low, barely audible tone before saying it a little louder. “Sweetheart.”
I licked my lower lip and leaned in closer so I could beg some more.
“Again,” I said.
“Sweet—” he started and I caved.
I closed the distance. I locked his lips with mine and pulled him onto me so I could taste him.
He took a deep breath and pushed me back, his tongue sliding between my lips and waiting as if asking for permission.
I glided my hand along his cheek, to the side of his face to the back of his head and tugged him even closer as I opened up and let him in.
He kissed me and I kissed him back and it was…it was everything I’d ever dreamed it would be and more.
So much more.
Because in my imagination it was easy to stop. In reality? I never wanted to let go.
And more importantly, I didn’t know if I could.
NINETEEN
DARE
