Oleander: A Great Expectations Reimagining

by Scarlett Drake

He made a noise then, some desperate whimper that I knew I’d spend the rest of my life thinking about, and tore his mouth from mine to look down into my eyes. His cheeks were flushed pink and his mouth a bright strawberry red and I thought I might cry from how beautiful he looked.

Only I could love Caspien how he deserved to be loved. And so I would. I’d love him in spite of everything he was and everything I knew he could be. No matter what he did, no matter how much he hurt me, in this I would be constant. As long as Caspien Deveraux breathed, I would love him.

When his hand settled on my head again, fingers sifting almost tenderly through my hair, I had the strangest urge to cry. From pleasure and fear and the overwhelming sensation that I was nothing unless I was allowed to be this to him. Have this with him. I could not imagine a life outside of this. It would be as void and empty as death itself. The words sat on my tongue for hours after, the immense and terrible truth of them: I love you. I don’t want to remember a time when I didn’t. I love you. And as long as I am able to draw breath, then I will love you with every single one. I love you.