Lust by Abigail Livinghouse (ebook reader android .txt) 📕

I cared about was that Pearce thought what had happened was his fault. So many innocent lives had been taken. I didn't even know who was alive and who wasn't anymore. And now, Pearce refused to touch me because he was afraid of hurting me. This was all my fault.  

 

"I'm so sorry Pearce." I cried, clutching his forearms and burying my face in his chest. "I'm so, so sorry."      

Chapter Twenty

"Kyla, you have no reason to be." Pearce assured, but I could feel his touch, barely there. He was still afraid. I shook my head, sitting straight up.

 

 The pain in my gut was more prominent than ever, and especially stung after doing that. I wasn't paying attention to it though. I was too focused on what was going on right now in front of me.

 

 "No Pearce! Listen to me. You. Are. Not. Responsible. For. What. Happened. I am!" I nearly shouted.

 

 He scowled, confused. "What do you mean? You've done nothing to provoke them, and even if you had there was nothing you could've done that prompted them to come here. You're not the reason this happened. Kyla, don't cry . . ."

 

 I pursed my lips, tears running down my face regardless. I realized that I would have to tell Pearce about what had happened before all of this, in the woods where I had accidentally met up with Trine.

 

 "You don't understand. I . . . came into contact with one of my old friends. A hunter like me . . . Trine." I admitted in shame, my sentence trailing off as Pearce's eyes widened and narrowed at the mention of Trine. I went on, the tears continuing to flow.

 

 "He asked me to come back with him. When I said no, he started questioning what I was doing on immortal territory. In return, I fought back asking what he was doing here. He said he was looking for me."

 

 "The people in my village were gathering a search party for me and waiting for Trine's word. He obviously told them where I was before he came back here on his own. When he didn't come back they must've gone looking for him. Judging by how poorly they were armed, they weren't expecting a fight."

 

 I finished explaining in hasty defeat. Pearce was quiet for a few moments, his expression calculating. I couldn't stand the silence, so my babbling picked back up again.

 

 "I had no idea he would return and my people would come here. I'm so sorry Pearce, I feel awful. I never thought something like this would happen, I thought everything was under control but it's all my fault. It's my fault that they came here because Trine wasn't happy with my refusal. I should've talked to him more, or not talked to him at all, oh god, Pearce I'm just so sorry-"

 

 Pearce's kiss halted my tirade of words, and my insides melted in relief and heated passion. I kissed him back feverishly, my arms going around his neck and my hands grasping his hair. Gently, he moved me into his lap and had my legs wrapped around his waist so that our bodies were slightly touching. It was more than enough for me.

 

 Our embrace lasted until I ran out of breath and we broke apart, my exhausted panting ruining the moment. Pearce smiled in amusement and joy, lighting up the whole room. I couldn't help but smile back, so grateful that he seemed to forgive himself, and me.

 

 "Kyla I could never stay mad at you. You're my light in darkness my love, without you I would be plunged back into the abyss I was once in, and I never want to return to a place like that. I am drawn to you no matter what you do. You could tell me you hate me and I would still never stop trying to convince you otherwise. You are my life, Kyla Tyler." Pearce's endearment tugged at my heart, and with a tearful smile I kissed him again, and again, and again.

 

 It went on for a while just like that, kissing, holding, crying, and talking. During this time, I was hit with the realization: what would my life be without Pearce? It would be horrifying, just as he had stated. In the short time I had known him, I had fallen deeply in love with Pearce. It was something that was beyond my control.

 

 From the very moment we met, and we couldn't bear hurt one another, I knew things with him were different, and that we were about to change everything. Change everyone's outlook, everyone's thoughts, on the world of immortals and humans. Existing together as enemies wasn't a huge reality to both Pearce and I before we met. But after that first kiss, I knew that everything had been altered. For the better I hadn't been sure yet, however now I was.

 

 Just like back during Parker and Hanna's time, the world itself had been rocked exponentially, but along with it came new knowledge and the hope for a better tomorrow.

 

 Once word was returned to my village by myself and Pearce that we were together, as mates, as one, many were revolted as we expected. And yet, there were some who accepted the fact that you can find love anywhere, and in anyone. And that is something to truly rejoice in.

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Publication Date: 09-12-2013

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