More beautiful than a symphony.
She was dreaming aboutme. A lump formed in my throat as the urge to reach out and touch her intensified. My bloody hands didn’t deserve to touch something so exquisite, so merciful and kind. Her heart-shaped face was pinched like she was scared.
“I’m yours,” she whimpered, turning her head to the side, her legs shifting underneath the blanket. I held my breath, grinding my teeth as the organ in my chest began to beat faster.
That’s right, Angel. You are mine. I am so fucking sorry.
She gasped and shot up. The room was dim, and the fire she'd lit hours ago was near its end. I remained in the shadows, watching her. Thunder clapped outside in the distance. Chicago was about to get hit with one of the worst storms of the year, bringing in the dreaded cold front of winter.
Karina ran her hands through her hair, gripping it at the base of her scalp as she brought her knees up. “It was just a dream, just a dream,” she murmured.
“Seemed like a nightmare to me, angel.”
She jumped at my voice, her eyes meeting mine in the darkness. Silence stretched between us for a moment, which I was grateful for. I had said enough words to her in California.
Words I didn’t mean.
Words I thought I had to say.
“You're in my bed, Karina.”
She lifted her chin slightly, her sky-blue eyes shining. “It’s where I belong.”
Fuck.
I stepped forward and tried to ignore the gasp from her. I looked like shit. An explosion would do that to you.
“Col,” she breathed, scrambling out of bed and coming to me. She didn’t hesitate to touch me, another thing I was grateful for. She still wanted to touch me after the lies I fed her. Her hands cupped my face, her eyes noting the tiny cuts and my shredded shirt. I didn’t bother changing on the plane.
The reminder of my father's death lingered on these clothes, and for some reason, I wanted to hold on to that a little longer.
My eyes held hers. “What were you dreaming about?”
“You.”
“I thought I sent you to St. Louis.”
Her hands dropped to my chest. “You should have taken me yourself.”
Infuriating.
Stubborn.
Mine.
All mine.
“You know damn well why I couldn’t do that,” I growled.
She stayed silent.
I stayed silent.
My lips crashed against hers in the next second, taking her by surprise. My hands grabbed her face to hold her where I wanted her as I ravaged her. She kissed me back, whimpering for me as her arms wrapped around my neck.
We both knew that if I took her back to her home, where her family was, where her life was, I wouldn’t even let her exit the goddamn plane.
“I wouldn’t have let you out of my arms, baby,” I hissed against her, my fingers weaving into her hair. She nodded against me, pulling me tighter, like she couldn’t get enough of me.
