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“Magic isn't the only thing that can surprise you.”
With a subtle yet deliberate movement, Vinnie closes the distance between us. His touch, once light and playful, now carries an undercurrent of intensity. The shadows cast by the dim lighting in the room seem to amplify the intimacy of the moment.
As our eyes lock, the unspoken tension reaches its peak. Vinnie's hand traces a delicate path along my jawline, leaving a trail of heat in its wake. The room becomes a sanctuary where the complexities of our lives fade into the background, and for a fleeting moment, there is only the dance—our dance—within the shadows.
In that charged space, where secrets and desires converge, the boundaries blur, and the dance becomes an exploration of uncharted territories. The shadows, once witnesses to the clandestine world, now envelop us in a cocoon of shared vulnerability and connection.
The intricate tapestry of the Obsidian Shadows momentarily takes a backseat as Vinnie and I navigate the unspoken language between us. The shadows dance in harmony with the uncharted rhythm, and for that brief interlude, the world outside ceases to exist, leaving us suspended in the delicate balance of desire and uncertainty.
In the midst of the charged atmosphere, as Vinnie begins to guide me toward his bed, an unexpected wave of emotion crashes over me. Tears well up in my eyes, catching both Vinnie and me off guard. The weight of my past, the scars left by an abusive husband, and the complexities of my present collide in a moment of vulnerability.
“Vinnie, I... I can't,” I mumble, my voice shaky.
The realization hits me like a tidal wave. Despite my sleeping with Leo and Dante, the emotional toll of my past lingers, manifesting in this unexpected flood of tears. The shadows that once seemed like a sanctuary now echo with the haunting whispers of past traumas.
“Olivia, what's wrong?” he asks softly, rubbing my arms.
I’m choked up. “I thought I could, but... I just can't. I… I want to, but…”
Vinnie, ever perceptive, recognizes the pain behind my tears. The weight of my past and the fear of repeating patterns that led to my escape from an abusive marriage have all become all too real. The vulnerability I feel at this moment exposes the raw wounds that still linger beneath the surface.
“It's okay, Olivia. We don't have to do anything you're not comfortable with.”
As Vinnie's understanding words envelop me, the shadows in the room seem to soften, offering a moment of solace. In the midst of desire and intimacy, the ghosts of my past demand acknowledgment, reminding me that healing is a process, and the shadows can be both a refuge and a mirror to the complexities within.
"I'm so sorry," I murmur.
Vinnie rubs my back. "You don't need to apologize, and you don't need to sleep with all of us."
I flinch. "I..."
"I heard from Izzy and Cara that they basically put you up to sleeping with Leo."
"That's not... They mentioned it, yes, but... I... I wanted to."
"It's not a requirement for you to sleep with any of us."
"I never felt pressured, and... you've been so sweet and kind. I just..." I rub my face. "I think it's just... Derrick was an asshole. He didn't want me to look at other guys, and he didn't want other guys to look at me."
"You have more worth than just spreading your legs."
"Do I?" I whisper. "I feel like I haven't done enough to help--"
"You don't have to do anything. You were forced into this."
"Yes, but I want to help..."
"Trust me. You don't want to be a real Obsidian Shadow."
I stiffen. "So I'm not--"
"I know you help with the finances, and that's great, but you don't want to do more. Trust me."
"You all are protecting me?—"
"We aren't all good and kind. We're known as shadows. If you stay in the shadows, it's because you want to be hidden, and that's not because we want to pop out and shout, 'Surprise!'"
"I get that, but…"
