Page 56 of Bellamy

He was hurting. Part of me wanted to hug him, but I refrained from doing so. Amazing sex didn’t mean he wanted me touching him after.

“Fuck,” he said, turning his head in the other direction as he lifted a hand to his eyes. “This crying shit pisses me off too. I’m not even sad. I’m mad as hell.”

“When I’m mad, I blow shit up.”

Bellamy glanced at me. “I expected you to blink out of here by now. With the door open, the warding’s been lifted. Nothing’s keeping you here.”

“You’re wrong about that.” I crawled over and plopped down beside him, my back against the wall. Only a few inches separated us. It felt like a mile. “Even with freedom being a thought away, I can’t leave.”

“Because you want to find Light Bringer.” Bellamy bent his head toward his lap, his jaw set tight.

“No.” I reached over and grabbed his chin. His eyes met mine. “Because I don’t want to leave you.”

“Nice try. I’m not falling for that.”

“You’re so stubborn.”

“Yeah, and you’re Asa’s fuck buddy.”

A dry laugh left me. “Fuck buddy? More like his dog. He gives me orders, and I obey.”

I let go of his chin, but he grabbed my wrist before I could pull away.

“Does he hurt you?” Bellamy asked.

Memories of Asa flooded my head. Each hit, slap, and rough fuck. The cut on my neck he’d given me days ago had healed, but I remembered the sting as the blade sliced me open. All because I’d made him mad.

“Only when I disappoint him.”

His stare turned lethal. “Why do you stay with him? Out of fear?”

“I’m not some damsel you need to rescue, Bellamy.” Gently, I pulled my hand from his grip. He let me. “I’m more like the villain who kidnaps the damsel. So quit looking at me like that.”

“Look me in the eye and tell me you’re not afraid of him.”

“Stop,” I said, getting irritated. “You’re trying to spin this tale to suit your hero complex. You want me to be afraid of Asa. You want me to be a victim who is only with the ‘bad guys’ because I feel like I don’t have another choice. You want to save me. But I don’t need to be saved.”

Bellamy moved closer. “I don’t believe you’re as bad as you say you are.”

“I stabbed Kyo in the back. Literally. I stabbed him. I’ve also sent shades to attack your precious little town, and I’d be lying if I said I didn’t get a sick enjoyment out of it. I captured Simon too. And Castor. Let’s not forget that. So you see? I don’t save people. I hurt them.”

“You saved me,” Bellamy whispered.

“I’ll always save you.” My chest got tight with the confession. “Only you. I don’t care about anyone else.”

“Then stay with me,” he said, his forehead lightly bumping mine as he gripped the side of my neck. “Don’t go back to Asa.”

If only it were that easy.

“Earlier today, you said you hated me. Now you’re wanting me to stay.”

“Want has nothing to do with it,” he responded. “This mate thing has taken me over. The thought of you leaving makes it hard to breathe. I don’t like it. I fucking hate it. But my soul needs yours.”

Mine needed his too.

“What would I do if Ididstay, Bellamy? I’m not like you. I’m not a hero.”

“I’m not asking you to be.” He pulled back to meet my gaze. “All I’m asking is for you to stay by my side.”