Chapter 34
Marcus
She stayed.
Emotion bubbles in my chest as I stare down at the beauty in my arms. Lily is tucked into my side, her arms draped softly over my chest as her breath tickles my chest. My hands drift up and down her exposed spine.
Contentment rushes through me because she didn’t bolt.
When I bared my deepest, darkest secret, she didn’t run.
My mind whirls with what that could mean.
When we’re out of this bubble and go home, will she want to make this more serious?
I can’t let her go now; the mere thought of losing her is something I can’t bear.
“Stop.” I halt my ministrations, but her eyes are still closed. “D–don’t go,” she stutters as her arms tighten around my body.
“Petardo, wake up,” I say quietly, trying to coax her awake.
“Please don’t go,” she says louder this time, her body shaking violently.
“I’m here, Petardo. I’m not going anywhere.” Pulling her closer, hooking my legs around her, I cocoon her in my embrace.
“Y–you c–cant go,” she cries. “Please, don’t leave me.”
My heart drops to see her in this state. She’s so strong, a formidable force, and to see her scared, my heart breaks. Peppering her with kisses, I keep my hold on her, whispering to her the whole time that I’m here. “Petardo, I need you to come back to me.” My poor girl, what is she hiding?
Suddenly, she stiffens and stares wild eyed at me.
I don’t want to frighten her so I wipe the tears streaking across her freckles away and drop a tender kiss to her forehead.
“I’m here. You’re safe.” I swallow the lump in my throat until it is sitting heavy on my heart.
Her breaths are ragged as her chest rises and falls so fast. I need to calm her down.
“You’re here with me. I’ve got you and I always will.
” I promise.“Estas segura y nunca te voy a dejar.” You’re safe, I’ll never leave you.
Eventually, her sobs start to subside, and her body relaxes in my hold. “I’m sorry,” she mumbles into my chest.
Hooking my finger under her chin, I tilt her face so her glistening eyes meet mine. “Don’t apologize. But what’s going on in that beautiful mind of yours?” A vulnerability flashes in her eyes before she pulls her gaze away, but I don’t let her. “Don’t hide from me.”
“I don’t want to hide anymore.” She swallows. “I want to tell you everything, but it’s hard.”
“Take your time, I told you I’m not going anywhere.”
“I don’t open up, and you seem to have a way of making me want to. Even if I want to fight with you.”
“You can always fight with me, but just know I won’t let you win. Not unless you give me everything in that fight. You don’t hold back anything from me.” Kissing her forehead, I let my lips linger as she trails her palms over my chest, soothing the ache forming.
“I have to explain about my past before I can explain what I need to. I want to give you this piece of me, especially after what you’ve given me tonight, but it’s hard.”
“You can trust me with whatever it is. I promise.”