Page 134 of Blackwood

“But now that I’m around you?” He leans in closer. “I’m not letting you go, baby. Not now. Not ever.”

I stare at him, heart still pounding.

“You said,” I start, voice barely above a whisper, “you didn’t want to fall for someone that wouldn’t and couldn’t.”

He blinks, like he didn’t realize he said it out loud. “Huh?”

I hold his gaze. “You said you didn’t want to fall for someone thatwouldn’tandcouldn’t… what were you going to say?”

Lex looks away for a second, jaw flexing. Then back at me.

“Someone that wouldn’t run away when I held on too tight, because when I fall, I fall hard,” he says. “Someone that couldn’t only see me as a darkness, but who could handle the darkness in me. Calm it. Tame it.”

I don’t move.

“I love Cade,” he says, quiet but fierce. “I’ve loved him since before I even knew what the fuck love really was. But it was hard at first. It all scared the shit out of him. Especially when he found out what my family does.”

He swallows hard.

“But you?” He leans in closer, hand sliding to my jaw, thumb brushing my cheek. “Me and you, baby… this isn’t hard.”

His lips hover above mine, voice barely a breath. “I have a darkness, Bella. And so do you. I saw it.”

A pause.

“And baby, I fucking love it. I don’t want you to hide it from me. And if it ever gets too much, I want you to come to me so I can pull you the fuck out of it. Because I’m pretty sure you are the only one that could ever fully pull me out of mine.”

He brushes his thumb over my lips, gaze locked on mine, those icy-blue eyes piercing into my soul.

“And I swear to God, Bella, I’m not letting you go.”

My heart stops.

So, I do the only thing I can. I lean in and kiss him. And this time, he doesn’t kiss me like he’s trying to own me.

He doesn’t kiss me like he’s starving.

He kisses me like he’shome.

Like maybe this is what he’s been waiting for all along.

I pull back, just for a second. “Lex, I need to show you something,” I say hands shaking slightly as I hand him my phone.

Chapter 43

LEX

Ashmoor Hall – Wexley University

Bella and Josh’s private rehearsal… not looking good

636 Days Since Zeke’s Death

Bella is on the major struggle bus. She just missed the same turn again—chest too far forward, wrong arm extension—and Josh barely caught her in time.

“Sorry,” she gasps. “I’m sorry. I’m just… I’m in my head.”

“You want to talk about it, B?”