Treachery

“Is that what we are? In love?”

That arrogant smirk of his emerges.

“We better be. Do you know how much crap I’ve put up from you to get to this point? For fuck’s sake, woman, do you always have to be so difficult?”

More laughter, but inside I’m melting into the cushions, sucked in once again by the maelstrom.

Only this time I’m not drowning and struggling within the churning waters. I’m happily riding the chaotic swirl of them instead.

He loves me.

This man.

And despite it all, I know I love him, too.

I’m not sure if that makes me an idiot or simply just a glutton for punishment, but I can’t help how I feel.

My father used to always tell me I would never be happy until I found my equal. Someone who is just as smart. Just as strong. And just as stubborn.

Well, I found him.

Or, if you really want to get technical about it, he found me.

And although it’s been hell to pay since the moment he first yelled at me that night at the Inferno party, there were parts of this chase that drew me to Ta

He’s cu

Ta

“Fine, I’ll stay.”

Ta

“But only because my life is in jeopardy and all. Not because you told me to.”

He leans down to bite the side of my neck, his arms wrapping beneath me as he growls, “I swear, if you don’t tell me you love me and shut up, I’m going to lock you back in your prison room and not let you out.”

My cheeks hurt from gri

“And stuff?” Those green eyes meet mine as he cocks a brow.

“Just kiss me and shut up,” I tease.

He does, his mouth claiming mine with such male possession, I’m breathless as a result of it.

Ours isn’t the perfect story.

It’s not what anybody would think of when imagining a romance.

But it’s the story that matches who we are and who we’ve always been.

Ta

And even though I hate to admit it, I would have just become another uninteresting Ta

We needed this to come together.

Every part of it.

Not only because it threw us in each other’s faces, but because it revealed who we are beneath the masks and polished surface. It brought out the best in us because we had to fight so hard to get to this point.

Breaking the kiss, he presses his forehead to mine.

“So about that doing as you’re told thing. Are we sure we can’t renegotiate that better? It really would make my life easier.”

I shake my head and roll my eyes.

“That, Ta

The corner of his mouth curls at that.

Moving so that his lips brush mine, he kisses me softly and says, “Challenge accepted.”