Page 31 of Pushed

I saw it differently, I knew the world was wrong. And that was exactly what I set out to prove.

Sniffling, she brought her fingers to her cheeks and wiped them clean. Letting her head fall onto my thigh, she wriggled her body in tight. Wrapping a hand around the base of my leg, her fingers curled over the tongue of my shoe and played with the small tag on the inside.

The weight of her against me made my heart beat faster, the scent of coconut in her hair forced my muscles to stiffen. There was something that sparked inside me, something that lit a small flame in my gut, making me warm.

She was beautiful, far too beautiful to be in a place like this. Not one inch of this girl belonged there, she was meant for more, meant for a world that wasn't filled with this type of pain.

Running my fingers through her hair, I let the frizzled strands tighten around my fingers then loosely fall off. “This place is harsh, Pixie, it will eat you up and spit you out, devouring anything you ever thought you were.” Twirling a thick lock around my hand, I spiraled it tight against her scalp. “It's not kind, it's not forgiving. . .” Pausing, I caressed the side of her face, drawing long strokes down her throat. “It's exactly what nightmares are made of.”

I felt her inhale a sharp breath and hold it in. Her back dipped in as she rolled her shoulders, creating a small pool at the base of her spine. Sweat was beading up over her skin, riding the center of her back and filling the tiny crevice.

My eyes kept drifting to the watery basin, ready to taste her, ready to lick her up and feel her coat the back of my throat.

No. . . You can't, it's not allowed. They'll kill you if they think you crossed the line.

Death can't find me yet, I need more time.

Moving her head against my leg, she didn't look up. Reaching around, I placed my hand under her chin and tipped her face up.

Her eyes were closed, pinched up tight; a silent demand of not wanting to learn. Leaning down, I kissed her forehead, allowing the subtle flavor of her skin to seep between my lips.

“You don't have to fear me, I'm not a monster, even if you think I am.” Rubbing the spot my lips had graced, I ran my thumb over her eyebrows. “You're only going to see what you think you already know. But it's not what you think it is, not all of it. We all have our reasons, some are different than others, and mine. . .” Biting my bottom lip, I took in a deep breath. “Mine run black.”

Sylvan had already done enough, he had tarnished my existence and turned living into torture. Until her. . .

Imperial brought the first glimmer of light back into my dying soul. She made me feel when I thought there was nothing left to live for.

I wasn't going to let any harm come to her, no one would touch her, no one would lay a finger on her.

The curtains drew back as the lights dimmed to blackness. A bright spotlight hit the stage, illuminating the vast open space.

Grabbing the sides of her face, I turned her towards the stage. “You can look now, Imperial.” Holding her jaw in my hand, I placed my lips on the outside of her ear. “Don't be afraid, things aren't always as they appear, remember that.”