Secrets From the Grave (The Veil Diaries, #6)

by B.L. Brunnemer

"Broken?" Those emerald eyes ran over me before meeting mine again. "Of all the things that you are, Angel, broken has never been one of them."

“Me Cambiaste la Vida,” he answered, moving behind me and sliding his arms around my waist. I stiffened, surprised. Then a lungful of spicy cologne had me relaxing against him. “Do you know the words?” I asked, my voice breathy. He rested his cheek against my hair, his lips brushed my ear as he began to sing to me in Spanish. My breath caught in my chest as heat rolled through me. His voice was soft, smoky and low, a whisper in my ear that had me closing my eyes.

My heart flooded with warmth as I covered her with her blankets. “I’m getting up, Angel.” She reached up and took my hand before I could straighten. “Stay.” I wanted to. I really, truly wanted to. But it wasn’t the logical thing to do. It could be rather disastrous if she ever guessed how I felt about her. “Why do you want me to stay?” I asked before I could stop myself. She smiled as she began falling back asleep. “Love you…” My heart stalled, then began pounding furiously.

“Why, Angel?” She pulled my hand to her chest just above her cami. “Mine…” My body hardened at the possessiveness in her voice. My hand spread out over her upper chest, just below her collar bones. “I am yours, Angel.” I breathed, finally realizing how true it was. Hers. I could live with that. Could she?

His fingers tucked a stray curl behind my ear. My heart raced as I met his warm eyes. Warmth washed through me as his fingers trailed down my neck. I missed him like this, close and looking at me like I was everything he wanted. His eyes went to my lips. Not thinking, I leaned down and kissed him. His lips moved gently with mine, his fingers going to my spine. My hands moved to his neck. One kiss melted into another, and another. I couldn’t seem to stop kissing him, it was as if I was starving for him. His touch. His kiss. It was exactly what I craved, it just wasn’t enough. The tip of his tongue stroked my bottom lip. I opened my lips. A knock on the door had me lifting my head. “We’re going to be late,” Miles called. Zeke’s eyes were soft as he reached up, held my chin in his fingers and ran his thumb along my bottom lip. “I’ve missed you, Baby.” I smiled. “I’ve missed you too, Tough Guy.” His eyes were full of promise as someone knocked on the door. “We’ll talk later.”

“I want to be with you, Baby.”

His breath moved my hair. “Ally, you said you’re in love with me.” “I…uh… yeah…” I couldn’t think, my face burned as panic started to take hold. What did I just do? No one needed to know that! He leaned down. His lips were a breath from mine when he whispered, “I’m in love with you too.” My breathing hitched just before he pressed his lips to mine. Stunned, it took me a moment to realize what he had said. Love washed through me as I kissed him back. My fingers found his waist as he held my face still. One kiss led to another, and another.

“Why do you have to feel so good?” he whispered. I couldn’t even put two thoughts together as I shifted a little. Sparks shot through me as I forced myself to stop moving. He groaned quietly in the back of his throat. “Oh, you need to stop that...”

Ethan turned to the door as well. “I’ll stay away.” I eyed him. “You love her?” He nodded. “You?” I nodded. “We’re fucked.” We said in unison.

“You can’t cry around me, Baby,” I rasped. “It makes me want to break shit.”

Jadis had asked me what I would be willing to do for them. To keep them safe. I didn’t have an answer then. But I did now. I’d not only let the world burn, I’d light the damn fires myself.