Deviation (Clone Chronicles #2)(35)

I’m too afraid he’s right to stay calm. “I’ll figure it out,” I snap. “You had no right to do this.”

His eyes flash and I know I’ve hurt him. “I have every right. He tried to kill you,” he says, his voice rising to match mine.

“But he stopped. Something stopped him. Don’t you see?”

The silence hangs heavily between us. With my eyes, I plead with him to understand this, to agree to take me back to Rogen Tower, but his expression is stony as he leans away. His lids droop until his expression and his thoughts are hooded. “The only thing I see is you wanting to die, just like before.”

“Linc.” I try to say more, but rather than words, tears slip out. First one, then another. They trail wet tracks down my cheeks, cutting through the layers of cosmetics. I sniffle and turn away, hating my own display of weakness against Linc’s stoic strength.

When I sniffle again, Linc sighs. The angry energy between us dissipates with his dispelled breath. Gentle fingers wrap around my wrist, pulling my hand from my face. I twist free, determined to cover the evidence of my reaction.

“Ven.” He gives up on my hands and scoots closer, wrapping his arm around me and pulling me to his chest.

“What?” I mumble, hiding my face in his shirt instead.

He tucks my hair behind my ear, exposing my cheek before rubbing it dry with the backs of his fingers. “I’m sorry,” he says. “I shouldn’t have said that about you wanting to die. I know it’s not like that.”

I sniffle again. The tears lessen.

“When you leave is your choice.” His voice is pained, and I know it’s not easy for him to say those words. “I’m sorry I tried to force you. I … don’t ever want to force you to do anything you don’t want. That makes me no better than him.”

I bite my lip.

“Ven, please say something.”

I take a deep breath, attempting to steady my voice, and swipe at my face one more time before sitting up to face him. My eyes don’t quite make it to his when I say, “I’m sorry I yelled. And you care about me, so you do have a right to want to protect me.”

His fingers catch my chin and nudge it up. I drag my gaze to his. “Angel. It’s more than caring. I’m in love with you. It makes me want to protect you from the world, not just Titus.”

My eyes water and I scowl. “I hate crying,” I say. “I wish I could be mad and mean like you.”

He laughs and it lightens the heaviness in my gut. “You can. I’ve seen you do it. And I don’t like it when you cry either. It makes me crumble every time.”

My mouth twitches, wanting to curve. “Are you saying crying makes me win?”

His eyes sparkle with a heady mixture of relief and sincerity as he replies, “I’m saying I would do anything to make you happy.”

I smile at that, inside and out. Linc scoots in, combing his fingers through my hair. Then running them over my jawline. Then cupping my cheeks.

The words that have been on my tongue, the mark, the city segregation—all of it fades away in a rush of pleasure. In the back of my mind, I know it is urgent. That the possibilities of these changes could be disastrous. But right now, inside the cocoon of this backseat and the protection of Linc’s arms, I’m so much a human girl that it hurts. All I see, all I want, is Linc.

When our lips touch, it’s a burst of flame, licking heat from my mouth to my stomach and beyond. It burns between my thighs, building to an ache. Before I know what I’m doing or can question my bravery, I slide onto his lap. My legs straddle his and my arms wrap around his neck, hanging on tightly as our mouths move together in a passionate dance.

His hands are everywhere. In my hair, stroking my face, gripping my hips. His mouth leaves mine only to press lingering kisses along my neck. His face disappears into the crook of my shoulder, his tongue leaving a moist, hot trail in its wake.

“Linc …” I say, not even certain how to finish the thought.

He makes a low noise and his hands are suddenly back on my hips, pulling me harder against him and pressing me down against his thighs. “Oh,” I manage before his mouth collides with mine and my breath and words are stolen away.

My awareness dims. I can’t think beyond Linc’s kiss or his hands as they explore my body. Everywhere his skin touches mine, I ignite. If he asks again to take me away, I’ll say yes. I’ll promise anything as long as it means not losing this feeling. It’s the one experience no one describes in the City, and I have a suspicion it’s the one thing we’re never supposed to discover. I am grateful and elated and desperate that I have.

The car door is wrenched open. I gasp as sunlight streams inside, blinding me to the world beyond. My heart stutters and then sprints off, full speed ahead, as I try to focus on the shadowed body leaning toward us. “You two lovebirds gonna take a break and come inside, or what?”

“Yeah, yeah,” Linc says lightly. When I try to move away, he catches me and plants one final kiss on my mouth before letting me go.

Their nonchalance isn’t enough to stop the blush from rising to my cheeks. I scoot sideways off Linc’s lap and onto the seat beside him, hastily rearranging my skirt and blouse. Linc chuckles and when I finally look up, he’s smiling as he waits on the seat beside me.

The sight of it gives me a burst of daring. I press a kiss just below his ear, and whisper, “We couldn’t have done that on a motorcycle.”