Night Fury: Second Act by Belle Aurora Page A

didn’t give us up?”
    “No, ma’am.”
    I don’t understand. “Why? You don’t owe us anything.”
    His gaze moves down to my lips. My heart skips a beat as he mutters distractedly, “I’d do anything for another taste.” Shaking his head, he answers with, “I know I don’t owe you a damn thing. But it just didn’t feel right.”
    Why can’t I just be a normal teenager sometimes? “Listen, if this is because of the sex —”
    His eyes narrow as he cuts me off with a dangerously calm, “It was more than sex and you know it.” He regains composure quickly and adds, “It was because I support what Mirage is and what you do there. I’m a cop. I know how often people can get off on a technicality. And it’s not right. You fix what I can’t.”
    I can’t help it. A part of me is so desperate for contact right now. When I reach out and place my hand on his chest, he wraps an arm around me. He lowers his face as I close my eyes. Our lips close, he runs his nose down mine.
    My stomach flutters. But something isn’t there.
    He pecks my lips, softly, before pulling me closer and taking my mouth in a deep, controlled kiss.
    Hmm.
    This isn’t how I remembered it. Eyes closed, an image is suddenly projected in my mind’s eye. Xavier pulling me close in the kitchen, laughing out loud. What little feeling I had towards Marco immediately dissipates.
    The hand against his chest pushes and he steps back. He watches me cautiously. “Sorry. Old habits, you know?”
    I nod but remain silent.
    After a moment, I ask more out of curiosity than anything, “So… you’re letting me go, right?”
    He lifts a hand and scratches at his short hair. I learned this is something of a nervous habit for Marco. “Yeah, honey. I’m letting you go.” He looks away and mumbles, “Again.” He walks away from me, but before he hits the street, he turns and states, “If you ever need help, any help at all, you call me. I’m at the precinct. My surname is Watts. Officer Mark Watts.”
    As he hits the street, I hear Marco call out an annoyed, “Put it away, Bob. I didn’t hurt her. Fuck, man. Get a grip.”
    A car starts then takes off. Not a second later, Bob is by my side, holding me up. “You okay?”
    I don’t answer but wrap an arm around his waist as he walks me to the car. We get in and go along our way. Halfway home, Bob asks, “You want to talk about it? Any of it?”
    I speak into the window as I lean my forehead on the cool glass. “No. Thanks.”
    “Okay. But you know I have to ask.”
    “Marco?”
    He sighs, “ Yeah.”
    Feeling bitter at losing my first lover and my best friend to shitty circumstances, I answer a cool, “No need to worry, Father Robert. Our secret is safe.”
    “You sure?”
    My jaw steels. I respond in an icy tone. “I would bet your life on it.”
    We drive the rest of the way in complete silence.

Chapter Fifteen

    I smile as I watch Tomas read a hundred miles a minute. He flicks through the pages of his biology textbook in record speed as he sits on the floor¸ gently rocking. The funny thing is that although it looks as though he’s not taking a thing in, I know he is.
    Super smart , I think as I shake my head lightly.
    Xavier is packing the rest of their things. They didn’t come with much. I know it shouldn’t be taking this long. My chest aches as I wonder whether Xavier is putting off leaving because he wants to stay. In my heart, I believe he wants to stay. That he wants to stay with me.
    He’s the first friend I’ve made in years. He’s the first friend I’ve made outside of the church, outside of Mirage, period.
    I walk across the room. Without a thought, I open up a juice box and bring it over to Tomas. He takes it without looking up and I smile sadly. We’ve already formed habits over the last week and a half. I’ll be sad to give them up.
    Kneeling behind him, I wrap my arms loosely around his neck and he stops rocking. I gently pull him back into me and squeeze him