me as their toy to torment. You owe me the truth," I scold.
Naomi shuts her eyes. When she opens them, they are glistening. "I'm so sorry. I'll never forgive myself for what they put you through."
"Then tell me."
She steps forward and holds my cheeks. "This isn't about trust. I can't tell anyone what I know. The danger isn't gone just because of our rescue. I don't want you to worry about it, but—"
I move my head out of her grasp. "I'm so tired of this song and dance you do around me."
She gapes. "What are you talking about?"
"I'm not a child. I'm not going to break anytime there is something that isn't sunshine and rainbows."
"I didn't say you would."
"You don't have to. It's constant. I'm not ten anymore," I cry out.
Silence fills the tent. Naomi's face fills with pity and guilt, which only makes me angrier. She's always blamed herself for what Zaka did to me. She was fifteen. I was ten. But there is no way she could have known or stopped it. And our mother only found out because Naomi walked in on Zaka and me, so I'm grateful to her for ending my nightmare.
Malin clearing his throat cuts through the air. We both turn toward him.
"Sorry if I'm interrupting."
"You aren't. Naomi and I were just going around the same circle we always do, isn't that right?" I glare at my sister.
"Emilia, please—"
"Just go. I don't want to fight about this anymore."
She steps forward and embraces me. I should push her away, but I don't. I hug her back. "I'm not going to melt. Please stop treating me as if I am," I murmur in her ear.
She squeezes me tighter. When she releases me, she says, "We'll talk later."
I don't reply, and she leaves.
Malin steps forward. "You all right, ma belle?"
I force a smile. "Fine."
He hesitates.
"Really. I'm good. What are you doing here?" I ask.
"Looking for you."
My insides do the happy dance.
Play it cool.
"Oh?"
Something shifts in his expression. "You should get some more arnica on your bruises."
My stomach flips. I blurt out, "Will you do it for me?" Heat runs up my cheeks.
His jaw clenches. "Yes. Hold on." He goes to the opening of the tent, shuts the entrance flap, and zips it so it's closed. He reaches in his pocket and pulls out the tube.
What am I doing?
Don't freak out this time.
I could put it on myself.
But I want his hands on me.
How can this be?
He stands in front of me, and I slowly take off his T-shirt, tossing it on the air mattress. Then I reach behind my back and release my bra. I hold my arm out in front of me and dramatically drop it on top of the shirt.
What am I doing?
Women flirt like that, don't they?
I probably look like a fool.
Why am I flirting? He's going to leave me in a few hours and forever be gone.
How am I able to be practically naked in front of him?
His Adam's apple bobs and the gray in eyes brightens. He scans my body. In a deep, commanding voice, he says, "Spin."
I obey with my body buzzing in anticipation, waiting for him to touch me.
Don't make him stop this time.
I take a deep breath.
"Are you ready, ma belle?"
I love that he's still calling me ma belle. He even put it in the note he left me. When I woke up and read it, I felt giddy. I folded the letter and tucked it in my pants pocket.
"Yes," I say, as confidently as I can.
He steps so close to me, I can feel the energy radiating off him. In small caresses, he applies the cream to my back. Heat and light pressure mix with the ache of my bruises. Instead of moving to the front of my body when he finishes, he moves his hands to my shoulders and massages me, digging his thumbs into two knots.
He puts his cheek next to mine. I close my eyes. Something hard grazes my back, making my sex throb. Limes and leather fill the air. "You smell so nice," I mumble. Mortified I admitted that out loud, my face burns hotter.
Why can't I control my mouth around him?
"You smell like peaches and coconut," he murmurs in my ear.
I take another deep breath. "Is that good or bad?"
"I shouldn't admit this, but it's driving me a little crazy."
Yes! That's good, right?
It has to be good.
Oh God! What do I do now?
Without thinking, I reach behind me and grasp his outer thighs.