The Scattered Bones

by Nicole Scarano

I was untouched, untainted, unmarred. Even my thoughts were pure, but staring at his smile was an unadulterated sin. I didn’t realize an expression could hold that much magic.

“I’ve never seen anyone as beautiful as you. I mean this in the most respectful way, but you are divinely lovely. I’m almost ashamed to share the same air as you.”

He’d become my favorite part of my existence, breathing life into parts of my soul that had died. In such a brief acquaintance, this breathtaking man had carved a jagged hole in my heart and buried himself inside it.

The goddess has already claimed me. I can’t give anything to you.” “I don’t want to take anything from you.” Conviction fortified his voice. “I want to give everything to you.

“I’ll help you live an entire lifetime in the coming seasons,” he whispered. “I’ll make them the best days of your life.”

“I love you,” I said with conviction. Raw and strong and unbreakable. “Loving you isn’t a sin, nor will it make me unworthy. Loving you is the only choice I’ve ever made for myself, so when I say this, understand it’s with my whole heart. I choose you, and I cannot go into my future without knowing what loving you tastes like. You’ve filled my heart so completely, there’s no room for anything else.”

“You are my goddess.” His low admission rumbled through his ribs, vibrating against my skin. “You are what I pray to, what I worship, what I adore.”

“I will love you until my death,” Kaid promised. “And then I’ll love you from the grave until I’m dust. When your consciousness returns after she abandons your vessel decades from now, I’ll be here waiting for you.”

It hurts to think about him. It brings me peace to remember him.

“I love you, husband.” I propped myself up on his chest, my thumb finding its way to his scar, and I caressed it adoringly. “I don’t love you, my wife,” he answered, and I smirked at his declaration. “For what I feel is more than love. There are no words to describe my devotion to you.”

“Sellah, my love, look at me.” I obeyed, barely able to see through the tears. “I will love you until I am nothing but dust, and even then, I’ll still love you.”

“Until I am dust, wife.” “Until I am dust.”

As his lips meet mine stroke for stroke, passion for passion, I decide everything I endured was worth it. Every scar, every hunger pang, every fear. I would suffer through all the pain life inflicted on me again, because I’ve loved my thief from the moment I found him in my room, and I’ll love him until I am dust.