Stay(89)

“Adeline,” he said and moved his face away just enough to be able to see me. There was a light in his dark eyes and he gazed down on me, looking as if he had just found the thing he had been searching for his entire life. “I think I love you.”

The breath caught in my chest. My heart swelled, and I smiled. “I think I love you too.”

Jackson’s entire face lit up and he gave me one of his rare smiles, the kind that erased the years of sadness and torture from his eyes. I slowly ran my fingertips down his back. He put his lips back on mine and kissed me again. I wanted him closer, so close our hearts pounded against each other’s. I hooked my arms under his and leaned back, letting him know what I wanted. He let me pull him onto me with ease, carefully keeping his hips off of mine so only the upper half of his body was against me.#p#分页标题#e#

Jackson froze. “Is this okay?” he asked, afraid he went too far too fast.

“Yes,” I whispered and put my hands on the small of his back. “It’s perfectly okay. I can’t explain it, Jackson,” I started. “But it’s different with you,” I said. “It just feels right. I want you. I want this.”

“I do too,” he said with a smile. My heart fluttered when he lightly put his lips to mine, giving me a soft kiss. I pulled him close, wanting more.

The floor creaked above us. We both froze. Jackson slowly turned his face towards the stairs, as if he was afraid he would see Nate or Zane standing there.

“You should go,” I whispered.

“Yeah,” he agreed but rolled to the side, wrapping his body around mine. I moved around on the small cot being careful not to accidentally push Jackson over the edge until I faced him. My head rested right under his. I hooked my leg over his and he pulled me into a tight embrace.

“I wish you could stay. I want to fall asleep in your arms,” I whispered. “I feel safe when I’m with you.”

“I’ll do anything to keep you safe,” he told me and kissed my forehead.

I carefully touched the wound on his shoulder. A sticky scab was starting to form. I traced my fingers down his shoulder and wrapped my hand around his bicep over the spot where a bullet ripped through his skin. “Does it hurt?” I asked.

“It feels weird,” he said. “My muscles feel tight around it, and the skin is tingly but has no feeling at the same time. Weird.”

I closed my eyes and listened to his heartbeat. “What would happen if they found you with me?”

I could feel Jackson shake his head. “Kill me. Seriously.” I buried my head against his chest. Cold fear pulsed through me, causing my nerves to prickle. “But we won’t get caught,” he added, sensing the terror that plagued me.

He couldn’t promise that, but I wanted to believe it.

“What if we do?” I pushed myself up onto my elbow. “Jackson,” I said frantically. “No, we can’t. You can’t. I don’t want you to die.” I shook my head so quickly it caused my hair to fall into Jackson’s face.

He reached up and gently tucked my hair behind my ear. “Addie, I’d rather live one day with you than a hundred without. You’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me.”

Jackson put his hand on my shoulder and I was able to relax. I laid back down and let out a breath. “But then I’d be alone.”

“You have Phoebe,” he reminded me and began rubbing my back. “You’ll be okay … somehow.”

I pushed his hand away. “Stop it!”

“Stop touching you?” he asked, his face falling.

“No. Stop acting like you’re going to die!”

“Addie,” Jackson said, his tone clearly telling me that he thought it was all too possible.

“No!” I shook my head again and squeezed my eyes shut, forcing away tears. Jackson sat up, crossing his legs. He pulled me to him. “Don’t say it.”

The front door opened and closed, sending a rattle throughout the old house. Jackson tensed and quickly disentangled me from his arms and climbed off the cot. I groaned in frustration. I didn’t want Jackson to leave.

“The basement door isn’t locked,” he told me. I nodded, knowing how important it was for him to rush upstairs. “I’ll come back,” he promised.

He turned to me, eyes locking for a few seconds. Then he pulled me close and gave me another lingering kiss before he hurried to the stairs, skidding to a stop. He turned around and sprinted over. He threw his arms around me and pulled me in for one more kiss before he disappeared upstairs.#p#分页标题#e#