Page 104 of Crucible
“And they say romance is dead. Besides, I thought you said you like it when I fight back?”
“You know what the hell I mean, Aurelia. Fight us, but don’t fightus. Just stop running. What the hell do you have to go back to anyway? There’s nothing real waiting for you back home, and know you it.”
Seth’s words, while true, are a punch to the gut.
He hasn’t known me long and already he’s guessed that I’ve been nothing to no one for a very long time. There’s hasn’t been anyone in my corner since my parents died. No one to truly miss me now that I’m “gone.” I’m sure even my fans have already moved on.
Heat flames my cheeks and neck, and before I know it, my mouth is moving, and I can’t stop the vitriol. Poison, after all, is my weapon of choice whenever people get too close. “Wow. Thanks. That’s some judgment coming from the weirdo with voices in his head.”
It’s my turn to crawl out of the cave and away from this discussion, and Seth doesn’t stop me. Although he’s slow to follow, he does follow.
I’m shivering almost immediately with my arms wrapped around myself in the early morning light, but I’m too stubborn to go back inside the shelter that looks like an igloo, so when he finally emerges and drapes Harrison’s coat over my shoulders, I’m grateful.
I don’t speak or look at him as I stick my arms in the sleeves—partly because I’m pissed at him for what he said, but mostly because I’m pissed atmefor whatIsaid.
“I’m sorry,” I offer as soon I’m burrowed inside the warmth of the coat. It’s the extent of the regret he’ll get from me because even though he risked his life to save mine, he still holds it in the palm of his hand. I force myself to meet his gaze. “That was low even for me.”
“I forgave you when you said it, Sunshine. Can you forgive me?”
“I’ll think about it.” Peeking up at him, I tuck my lips into my mouth to keep from laughing, but Seth has no problem letting his free.
“Oh, Sunshine. If you want me to stop being obsessed, you’re going to have to start making this easy.” Taking my arms as he pivots to stand in front of me, Seth pushes me against the side wall of the quinzee.
“Won’t it collapse?” I ask with a gasp when I feel the cold against my back.
“No. Thorin and Khalil know what they’re doing.” It’s all the explanation he offers before he leans down and kisses me.
“Mhm,mhm, Seth,” I immediately protest. “Morning breath.”
He chuckles but doesn’t stop kissing me, and I realize very quickly that his morning breath isn’t foul at all.
Oh, God.
He probably brushed last night or before I woke, and I’m the only one with yuck mouth.
Feeling self-conscious, I push him away. “Okay, that’s enough.”
Seth laughs, then walks over to his pack, which he’d dropped by the quinzee’s opening. He rifles through it before handing me a brand-new toothbrush still wrapped in plastic, a canteen full of fresh water, and a travel-size toothbrush.
“Knock yourself out, baby.”
I squeal and throw my arms around his neck. “Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Best boyfriend ever!”
Seth steals another kiss, closemouthed—thank God—and then pushes me toward the cluster of trees between the fire and quinzee.
“I’m going to go take a piss,” he announces. “Stay where I can see you.”
I sketch a mocking salute. “Yes, sir!”
“Sunshine.”
Fire pools in my belly at the rare commanding note in his tone. I think running last night changed something in Seth, too. I think his hold on me just got a little tighter.
“Yes, Seth,” I offer with a note of obedience that surprises even me. “I’ll stay put.”
“That’s my good girl.”
I turn away before he can see my reaction to the praise.Sick, sick, sick, sick, sick, sick, sick.By the time I’m done brushing my teeth, Thorin and Khalil have returned to the camp bearing two dead rabbits.
