Free Back to You by Sia Wales Page B

mine.
    “You’ve gotta learn to just go with your feelings, sometimes. To give in to human warmth.”
    I freeze. He hugs me to his chest, feeling my passive resistance. His hot hand finds a spot of bare skin on my collarbone, and I shiver involuntarily.
    “That’s right,” he murmurs, looking at me.
    He runs one hand through my hair, the other holding my arm; my body arches into him, making me lose my already precariously balance.
    His face is familiar, cherished. There is more than one real reason to love him. He has always had my back, he’s been my safe house, my anchor. His hands caress my face again. His warm, delicate breath burns my cheekbones. Right now, he is deciding whether or not to kiss me. His mouth approaches mine, and he tries to make me his, whispering my name.
    I think I lost the only real love I’ll ever know. Jason will never come back to reawaken me from my wait, but it would be madness to think that my decision would not have consequences. Maybe it wouldn’t be being unfaithful. But I’m not being unfaithful to anyone, except myself.
    But I still block Vuk’s lips before they find mine. I free my head from his feverish grasp and feel the cold night air sting my numbed cheeks.
    He slowly releases me, and I give him a tender smile, not wanting to hurt him.
    Then a familiar voice brings me back to reality. Donn is calmly taking in the scene. He’s wearing the laidback expression he uses when he wants to curb his emotions, keep control. But I can see behind that stolid mask he wears. His eyes betray his profound anguish, but he would only have cut in if he had seen me resisting. In the meantime, torment was eating him up inside.
    “Please!” he roars, furious. “What the hell are you doing?”
    My smile disappears, as does Vuk’s serene expression. He’s anxious, worried. But he doesn’t lose his cool.
    “What?”
    “Do me a favor and control your instincts,” says Donn, his tone hard as steel. “What are you doing to her?”
    “Nobody’s forcing you to watch,” Vuk barks.
    “You have no idea how loudly Stella’s thoughts ring out,” Donn snarls. “It’s as if she’s yelling in my face.”
    Vuk ignores him.
    “Keep away from her,” Donn warns. “Just try to lay a finger on her again against her will.”
    “She doesn’t know what she wants,” Vuk interrupted. “You sunk your canines too deep into her!”
    Donn ignores him and walks up to me, trying to pry Vuk’s arms from around me.
    “Stella, are you ok?” he asks, sincerely worried, while Vuk curses him. I want to scold him for his language; his brother must be a bad influence on him.
    “Of course,” I shrug. “I’ll try to think in a lower voice. But please, get out of my head!”
    There is an instant of silence. I can’t believe that this is the same place where I first had a life-changing conversation with Donn. He releases his grip.
    “I’d like to be able to,” he replies jokingly to my thought, in a murmur so low, it’s barely audible.
    Vuk sneers, his hands are shaking.
    “Stella wasn’t kidding on the phone when she mentioned the power you use on her.”
    “Power,” confirms Donn, gratified.
    Vuk shakes his head and takes a deep breath.
    “You didn’t tell her, did you? What’s up? Afraid she’ll choose me? I don’t have to play dirty.”
    “Just go, Vuk,” says Donn.
    “Why should I?” Vuk grabs on to me again. “I’d rather stay here right now, if you don’t mind.”
    “Enjoy the moment, while it lasts,” Donn hisses. “Glad to see you having a good time.”
    “If you could give us some privacy,” retorts Vuk.
    “Want a hand to see me out? And I mean in the literal sense!”
    “Just try. It’d be fun to see who gets thrown out first.”
    “Give it a rest, Vuk. My patience has its limits,” warns Donn.
    “The truce is proving hard, isn’t it?”
    “What are you talking about?” I ask naively.
    Donn ignores me.
    “Need anything else, Vuk?”
    “Nope. All I need is here