You Are Mine Little Sister (by Syra Tucker) novel Chapter 191

The world returned in color and sound; the cold air, the chatter of the crowd, the sweetness of ice cream. I looked to my side where his arm wrapped around mine. His grey eyes held concern. It was then I realized I'd been leaning on him and would've hit the ground if he wasn't holding me.

"Yeah. I'm good. Sorry." I forced a shaky smile and focused on my melting ice cream, pretending nothing had happened.

Dominic didn't seem too convinced though. I felt his curious stare on me as we continued walking. God please. The last thing I wanted was to scare him off with my trauma.

But why was I suddenly having these flashes of the Torturer? Were my memories trying to return?

Until now, I hadn't been sure if I wanted to get those memories back. I hated the demon so much I didn't want to remember a single thing about him. But then, getting my memories back would also help me remember my friends and families and tell me who I can trust. So maybe I wasn't completely against it.

For the next couple of minutes, we didn't say a word to each other, the only sound being the crunch of snow underfoot. Then the road opened up into light and music—the festival grounds.

The crowd was crazy. I nearly jumped on my feet when the fireworks began, clawing up the sky and bursting into a thousand jeweled veins. The crowd gasped as the world above us ignited in colors too beautiful to be real.

"This is amazing!" I shouted over the thunder of it, spinning toward Dominic.

He didn't answer; just smiled faintly, his eyes fixed on the blooming chaos of the sky. The shifting lights painted his face gold, then blue, then red, like even the skies argued over which shade of him to adore.

Oh, it felt good. This entire feeling. Will it last?

When the fireworks dimmed into smoke and applause, we walked away together. My ice cream was finished then.

"Rali," Dominic called just when I was about to thank him again for the treat.

I turned to him, still licking the last trace of cream from my thumb. "Yeah?"

He didn't speak right away. Something in his silence made me stop walking.

"Is ... there something wrong?" I asked, searching his face.

He'd suddenly grown cold.

He shook his head once, then reached for my hand. It wasn't the first time, but this touch was different. Cold electricity ran down my spine, coiling in my knees.

"You're one beautiful woman," he said softly. "Walking into that bookstore is one of the best decisions I've made in life."

My heart began to move cautiously, like it wasn't sure it should.

"I really, really like you, Rali. I love your smiles, your voice, your heart, every single moment I get to spend with you. I know we've only known each other for a week; it might sound ridiculous to someone out there, but it feels like I've known you my whole life, Rali."

He brushed his thumb over my knuckles. "I hope this doesn't sound rushed, but I'd like to have something serious with you. And I hope you won't mind that. You might still be getting to know me, but we could do that while in the relationship. What do you think?"

It was the longest I'd ever heard him speak. His words hung in the air like the last firework, glowing, waiting to fall.

I couldn't explain what I felt. Dominic asking me out wasn't something I'd envisioned happening in the nearest now. My pulse drummed in my ears, my mind splitting between disbelief and longing. Someone wanted me.

"I—" I stared down at our hands still joined. "I don't know what to say, Dominic."

My nerves clawed upward. Wasn't this too rushed? He didn't even know me yet. Didn't know the things I'd been through.

He'll run, Rali. As soon as he discovers how 'dirty' you are, he'll run.

My eyes rimmed suddenly with tears as I looked at him. Then, I looked past his shoulders at a figure that caught my attention. And that was when the crumble happened—everything I'd rebuilt in my chest; every fragile sense of safety.

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