Page 74 of One Quick Obsession

“Then he came at me with a knife, and I ducked. Instinctively, even in pain because I wasn’t taking my meds after being shot, I ducked. And Jefferson fell right off the side of the cliff. Slipped with a single scream that I can still hear in my dreams. A scream that ended abruptly when he hit the jagged rocks below. He’s dead. Michelle’s dead. Her parents and brother will never forgive me for it. And it’s been years. Years of this. Years of dreaming of everything that had happened. So yes, that’s my penance. That’s why I’ve been hiding.”

Tears began to slide down my cheeks, but then he moved forward and wiped them from my face.

“Don’t cry, Scar. I don’t want any more tears.”

“Then you’re going to get them.”

“I don’t know what I’m supposed to do.”

“I don’t know either. I’ve never… I’ve never felt like this before. And I don’t know what I’m doing. Because I thought I trusted someone before, and I was wrong.”

He staggered back as if I’d hit him, and I reached forward, gripping his hand.

“I know you aren’t going to hurt me. I’m not comparing you two. I’m just talking about my feelings, like you’re talking about yours, and I’m all twisted inside, but I don’t want you to blame yourself, Hudson. You didn’t do anything wrong. You have to believe that.”

“I want to. It’s so weird. Because after so many years of you and me fighting, I never thought you’d be the one that I would need to tell me that you trust me. That you believe.”

“I find it ironic as well, because I usually like yelling at you more. But Hudson, you didn’t do anything wrong.”

“Part of me knows that, and then things like this happen.”

I move forward and reached up to cup his face. I winced though, forgetting I had the cut on my side, and his eyes went stormy.

“Let me get you to bed. You need to rest.”

“As long as we’re okay. Because you told me something that I know you’ve been hiding. That I know has to hurt. And I’m so grateful that you trust me.”

“I trust you with everything, Scarlett.”

My throat tightened. And I knew I needed to tell him I loved him. Soon. Not now. Not when everything was so raw, so shattered.

“I just want you to be okay.”

“That’s what I was thinking about you.”

“Then we’ll figure it out. I’m sorry. I’m sorry about Michelle, about Jefferson. About your dad. About my dad. I feel like we need time away from here. Just to breathe. It’s been ridiculous.”

“Tell me about it. I never expected you, Scarlett Blair.”

His hands were on my face again, and I leaned into his touch.

“You are more than unexpected, Cage.”

He smiled, then, and brushed his lips against mine. I moaned into him, needing him. Trusting him with everything.

It was odd that I could trust him and yet sometimes couldn’t trust myself. But maybe that’s what love was.

“I’m going to tuck you in, okay? You need rest.”

“Are you going to rest with me?” I asked, a frown on my face.

“I will. I just, I need to paint.” He took a step back, running his hands through his hair. “I know that’s stupid, but whenever things are like this, I just need to paint. I hate being the whole temperamental artist thing, but sometimes it’s just there. You know what I mean? I’ll talk to you. I swear I will once I figure shit out.”

I didn’t take a step back. I didn’t even feel a blow. Because he was telling me his truth. Something I was afraid that he had never told anyone else. Because he trusted me. So I cupped his face and took his lips with mine.

“Okay. But can I sleep in my own bed? After everything that’s happened, I just want my own bed.”

He opened his mouth to say something, and I kissed him again. “And then you can meet me there later.”