Desire: #4 Brightest Kind of Darkness Read Online Free PDF Page A

epiphany, not just that I was right about us being perfect together physically, but it proved what I knew in my heart—that I’d never feel complete without her. The peace that I felt while she slept in my arms left me shaking. I watched her sleep until my eyes couldn’t stay open any longer. I just didn’t want our night to end. It’s like I knew that as soon as my eyes closed, we’d be yanked away from each other, from us , once more.
    I shut off the engine, my love for Nara punching me in the gut as I turn to look at her. That another person can hold so much sway over my inner calm should scare the absolute shit out of me. I’ve worked so hard to control my reactions to all the negative and evil stimuli around me. Yet from the day Nara crossed my path, she crashed through my controlled façade with her own special brand of amazing. And she’s never stopped looking forward since; she never lost hope. Not for me. Not for anyone.
    Until today.
    Above all else, I will always want to keep her safe, but second to that, I’ll do everything in my power to make her happy.
    When she smiles, sunshine rains down on me, and all I want to do is soak in its warm, cleansing rays. The darkness only lives in the corners when Nara’s by my side.
    Today, I’m going to give my Sunshine her hope back.
     

     
    Nara
     
    Ethan has spent the last fifteen minutes trying to distract me from my thoughts. After I’d stopped by my house for snow boots, he picked up something from the sports store. But even though he keeps trying to get me to guess what’s inside the red plastic bag sitting on the car seat between us, it isn’t enough to pull me out of my conflicted musings. All I can think about is the Christmas store explosion that had gone off in my living room while I’d been at his house.
    When I walked in the door to get my snow boots, Mom and David were putting up a brand new Christmas tree. The fake tree was massive and sported thick branches that made it look incredibly real and near picture perfect. Boxes of new ornaments, garland, and additional lights littered every bit of furniture, waiting to be put on the tree. The whole lot must’ve cost her a fortune.
    I tried to quietly bypass them, but when Mom saw me start to head upstairs, she smiled and told me to come help them decorate the new tree together. Relieved I had other plans, I said, “Sorry, Mom. Ethan and I are heading out to do some…last minute shopping” —for mistletoe and all the wishes it’ll entail .
    While David wished me luck on my shopping, none of Mom’s earlier anger showed on her face. Instead, she just nodded her understanding to my excuse, then started to hum to the Christmas song playing in the background as she moved around the Christmas tree, May-pole-style, with a string of multicolored lights of purple, red, teal and blue. Yeah, I couldn’t get back out to Ethan’s car fast enough.
    Lifting my hand from my lap, Ethan kisses my knuckles, drawing my focus. “It’ll all work out, Nara. You have to believe that.”
    I blink at the snow-covered clearing in front of us, the pond to our left, and the stand of trees surrounding us. “We’re here already? I must’ve really zoned.”
    Ethan slides his thumb over my knuckles, and understanding reflects in his blue eyes “I left you to your thoughts, but now we’re here to cheer you up.”
    Right then, the noon sun slowly slides out from behind the gray clouds. When its bright rays spill across the secluded space, the blanket of undisturbed snow surrounding the pond begins to sparkle, as if someone has scattered a layer of diamond dust across it.
    “It’s gorgeous!” A smile spreads on my face, and my fingers tighten around Ethan’s. “If that’s not a good sign, I don’t know what is.”
    “I couldn’t agree more.”
    My attention slides back to Ethan, but he’s not looking at the snow; he’s staring at me.
    I squeeze our clasped hands. “Thank you for bringing me here. Even if we