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That gaze left no question that if I gave him the chance, he would devour me.
“Sometimes the scariest journeys are the ones where the lost finally find the right path to lead them home.”
“It’s okay to be afraid. The courageous always are. They just understand taking the chance is worth the fear and the risk.”
“It’s all I see when I look at you. Beauty. You’re the definition of it. You don’t have to be shy. Don’t have to be afraid. You’re safe with me, darlin’.”
“This, Jud, this is how I feel when you’re looking at me. Like I matter. Like I don’t have to hide. Like for the first time in years, I am seen. Like I exist.”
I was right. This man was definitely, definitely dangerous. There was no question about it then. And still, I remained there, held in his gaze, feeling the safest I’d ever felt.
“You asked me when I felt the most beautiful. You wanted me to show you how I feel when you look at me. This, Jud. I feel this. I feel desired. I feel wanted. I feel real.” No longer mist.
“You see what you do to me now, Salem? You think it’s you who’s been lying in want? Been dyin’ to get lost in you.”
“You don’t want me to hunt you down, Salem? Get it. But I’m afraid my heart might have already claimed you as my own.”
Because looking at her? It made me feel like something ugly in my life had gone good, and there was a speck of the dead parts inside that wondered what forever might feel like with her.
“Since the moment I found you, you’ve been the only thing I could see.”
“I will burn the world down for you.”
“There’s no lonelier place than having to hide who we are.”
The past never has anything to offer but chains…chains and regrets and hard lessons. And yes, we can learn from them, but we can’t remain captive to them. You have to live each day for what it has to offer. You don’t have to be alone, either,
“I never expected you…to find someone who would make me dream beyond the hope of only surviving.”
“Not sure how it could be a burden, Salem. Not when you’ve become my everything.”
“You’re real, Salem. You aren’t vapor. You exist. You’re real and whole and mine. Exist with me.”
Every promise I’d ever made myself no longer existed. Because every part of me belonged to this girl.
Yeah. She was fucking worth it. Whatever the cost.
But it doesn’t matter how strong we are, every one of us needs someone who is willing to fight for us, too.”
“I can’t let you go. I can’t. I love you. I fuckin’ love you, Salem.”
“I know you’re scared of it. Hell, I know this is terrifying for us both. Neither of us expected it. But I love you, Salem. I love you with all of me. With the good parts and the bad parts. With the ones that are whole and the ones that are broken. All of them—they belong to you.”
“Say it’s forever.” The plea left me on a whimper. “It’s forever, baby. Today, tomorrow, and always.”
I see you, Jud, like you’ve seen me, and the two of us are so much greater than our circumstances. So much greater than the wickedness that those who should have loved us and protected us shaped us to be.”
“I love you, darlin’. Love you with every piece of me. Every hole and every scar and every hope. Everything belongs to you.
You’re mine. I’ll fight for you, live for you, die for you, whatever it takes.”
