Page 62 of Balance

“Actually,” she began, her voice a conspiring whisper. “Youaregetting kind of annoying.”

My lips twitched. I really didn’t mind if she sassed, just so long as it was only between the two of us and that it was without malice.

I still had a reputation to uphold.

“And you’re being disrespectful again,” I lightly chastised, lips twitching. I moved slowly, carefully watching her wary expression as I wrapped my hands under her lower back. She was tiny, so small that she could easily break with my touch. Even though I was waiting for it, the spark of awareness never entered her narrowed gaze.

“But that’s not what I’m referring to,” I added.

Her brows lifted, more irked than curious, and I sighed, resting my cheek over the curve of her bare hip.

Her eyes widened, all traces of ire fleeing instantly. She sucked in a breath.

So, fears didn’t haunt her when she was angry. That was interesting.

“Are you all right?” I asked.

“Y-y-you’re layingonme.” She sounded alarmed, lost as to how we’d ended up like this.

I rubbed my chin against her silky skin, making sure not to break our eye contact. “I am.”

“Your face is too c-c-close.”

“Are you scared?” In any other situation I might have been more honest: because if she thoughtthiswas close, she was due for some enlightenment.

Later, when she could handle it.

“Yes…” she started, eyes brimming with uncertainty, and she continued. “No. I don’t know.”

“I’ve touched you here before.” I slid my hand toward her stomach, and goosebumps broke out over her skin as I moved. Time seemed to freeze, the moment fragile, and she held her breath as my fingers drew closer to her navel.

It was there I paused.

Her eyes had started to take on a glassy sheen, and she’d become so tense I thought she might shatter. “Bianca?”

“P-p-please don’t touch me there.”

The pain in her voice twisted at me, and I was done. I rolled off her, moving to my knees and gathering her against me in one quick motion. The blanket had been under her, pushed aside at her earlier movements. I wrapped it around us both.

“Do you want to talk about it?” I asked, rocking her in my lap. But I knew what she’d say.

She shook her head, and disappointment tore through me anyway. I’d hoped, since she’d opened up—even just a little bit—earlier, there might be a chance.

“A-a-are you going to tell the others?”

The words seemed familiar, and it took a second before the recollection hit. It was one of our first conversations regarding deep topics; where she’d depended on me to tell the others her history of being locked away.

Knowing her now, it had probably taken everything for her to open up the first time. And somehow, even back then, she’d trusted me to handle things when it became too much for her.

I’d seen her relationship grow with the others: Julian had become her support, and Titus her defense. Miles’s position was still up in the air, especially since he’d run off like an idiot.

All this time, I wasn’t certain where I’d fallen, but now I had my answer: she was asking me to be hervoice.

The realization took my breath away.

Our roles were reversed, but I could do that. I would do whatever she needed.

“Do youwantme to tell the others?” I asked.