To Kill a Vampire - A.K. Koonce Page 0,18

for myself, I retreat to the back of the group, sulking with a childish demeanor at how ridiculous my life has become.

I can tell Gabriel and Luca don’t want to hang around with me behind everyone else, but for some odd reason they do, matching my lethargic and pouting pace step-for-step.

“You’re overreacting,” Gabriel whispers to me.

I’m not an idiot. I’m fully aware I’m overreacting. It doesn’t change my behavior in the slightest.

Fallon glances back at us, her eyes locking on mine, her lips pulling down faintly. Rage burns through me as Declan skims his fingers up the inside of her wrist, catching her attention once more.

“We’ve got another twenty miles. Let’s take a break here and start back up in ten minutes,” he tells us as if we’re all just touring the countryside.

I close my eyes, dropping my backpack to the ground and walking away from them all, putting space between me and everyone else for the time being.

I don’t stop moving until I can’t hear his annoyingly instructing voice any longer. It feels like the forest is quiet for the first time in a long time. My mind is quiet as well.

A large tree trunk supports my weight as I slide against it, the bark biting into my back as I settle tiredly onto the dry ground. Leaves crunch beneath my boots as they skim across the dirt, my legs stretching as much as possible.

“What are you doing out here?”

Fallon’s question startles me, my attention swinging up to her in an instant. I swallow hard as I try to think of something to say that doesn’t sound entirely pathetic.

The silent woods wait for my reply, along with the confusing and maddening woman I love. She takes a few more careful steps toward me, her dirty boots nearly touching mine.

“Just needed some space, I guess.”

A long moment passes in the warm breeze. She assesses me while I wait for her judgment. Worry lines her brows as she studies me intently, her arms folding across her chest and bringing composure back to replace the minimal emotion she just revealed to me – as if her feelings are a weakness now instead of a normalcy of life.

A simple nod is all she gives me. One heartbreaking nod before she starts to leave. My stomach falls watching her turn away from me for the thousandth time. Without thinking, I grab her ankle and pull her back to me. The leaves shift beneath her stumbling steps. She’s all pushing arms and anxious breaths as she struggles to remain standing. A harsh landing is all that comes of her efforts. She lands in my lap, legs on either side of my hips. Her hand presses against the tree near my head to hold herself away from me.

Of all the things I thought might happen, her settling against me wasn’t one of them. My breath hitches when she lowers herself, relaxing her thighs against mine. I wanted to talk to her. I wanted her to remember she loved me. Once. She once said she loved me.

But she’s here now. And I’ll remind her any way I can.

Calm but eager hands slip up her thighs, grasping her hips and holding her against me. My eyes meet hers as I lean into her. Soft skin touches my lips for an instant, my nose skimming her neck, a familiar smell wafting through my memory.

The curve of her neck welcomes me as she subtly arches her back, her hand snaking out so fast I can’t even process the movement. Tightly her fingers dig into my throat, constricting my breathing ever so delicately.

Her strength holds me in place, threatening my existence as she brushes her body against mine. Her body betrays her efforts. Her hand holds me at bay while her chest pushes against me, closing the minimal distance between us.

“What are you doing?” she asks in a raspy whisper.

A careful breath meets my lungs as I push defiantly against her biting nails and press another slow kiss against her warm skin.

“Tell me to stop, Fallon.”

Neither of us moves for torturous seconds. Her grip loosens on my throat, her palm brushing up to caress my jawline.

A desperate breath shakes from my lungs before I place a kiss lower down the base of her neck. She leans to the side, granting me easier access as I trail farther up. A salty taste lingers against my lips as my tongue moves over her body.

Fingers slip through my hair as her other hand fists