Burning Truths (Consume Me #2)

27. Kenna

Chapter Twenty-Seven

KENNA

Stepping from the dark hallway the bright array of colors shine against the cobblestone path. Lilies line the walkway blooming perfectly under the wide open sky. It burns to breathe in the smell I’ve searched for, for the past two months, suffocating me with flashes of a distant memory. My bottom lip quivers when the path curves revealing the stone bench that held me open for him. Exposed to the monster who drank me up like a cure to all the nightmares come to life. If only I could fix the damage in our wake.

“Hey there, pretty.” A familiar voice says behind me.

Spinning, the sun bounces off dark sunglasses, his tongue flipping the ring through his lip. A smile fights its way onto my face but it slips just as fast. Looking from his mouth, my eyes travel over him, taking in the man before me. He’s either stopped shaving or something’s been keeping him from the task. Biting the inside of my cheek I allow myself to comb over his chest, wide and cut with muscle, he wears a tight Henley grey shirt, forming to the way his lean body curves. My gaze moves down to his tight black skinny jeans with a single chain hooked through the belt loop disappearing into his pocket. Steel toed boots are planted firm on the stone path.

“Eyes up here.” He chuckles.

The warm sound washes over me bringing a comfort I haven’t felt in so long. The walls I’ve tried to keep held high vibrate with the force of his gaze. He can see the slight panic start to slide away so he makes a move to step closer to me. The smell of hair gel and mens soap float through my nose bringing with it a wave of calm.

“Gio.” I sigh.

My eyes start to water when he cocks his head to the side with a crooked grin.

“I brought you something.” He says, “And I’m thinking it wasn’t the best idea but anything for you.”

Shaking my head I make a move to grab the can from his hold but he pulls it back placing it behind him.

“Not so fast, pretty. Tell me you have a plan.” He raises a brow.

The way his piercing eyes probe me feels like a therapist watching their patient for signs of crazy. Rolling my eyes I hold my hand out, “I need to do this.”

Looking away, G flicks that ring once again, doing what he does when he’s deep in thought. He’s worried I can’t put out the fire I’m starting so I give in and ask him for what he needs.

“Fine. You can stay and help but this is mine.”

Rolling his tongue over the back of his teeth he laughs, tossing his head back, before closing the gap between us. The can is pressed against my stomach, leaning forward his lips come close to my ear, he whispers.

“He knows.”

Of course he does.

“It’s nothing personal?” I quip, my eyebrow raised.

A breeze flows through the garden brushing his hair away from his eyes. I’ll give it to the man he’s a fucking wet dream walking in bullshit and bravery.

“Nothing personal.” Reaching in his back pocket he takes out a smoke and a black lighter with a skull on the front. Placing one between his lips his thumb flicks the lighter putting the flame to the end he pulls in a drag.

He watches the way my eyes track the cigarette. “Yeah?” He holds out the package seeing if I take one. My fingers twitch, unsteady, I grab one and place it against my lips.

Reaching out he holds the flame to the end and I suck in bringing his taste into my mouth. A single tear drifts down the side of my face with the combination of the reality I’m stuck in and the dream I’m fighting to get back to in my head. Mahogany eyes flash in my head when the smoke leaves my lips.

“You smoke to remind you.” G, says.

It’s the way he says it so softly that has my chest cracking wide open.

“Always the observant one.” I snicker past the tears threatening to fall.

Twisting, G sets the can on the stone bench, turning back to me with a stern stare. Watching me, waiting for me to bolt, his movements are slow when he reaches out with a soft touch. Pulling me into his chest, G wraps his arms around me, holding me in a cage of warmth and smoke. Several seconds pass by before my body moves on its own and my arms end up pulling him closer.

“They bleed for you, pretty. Let them show you the truth.” He murmurs against my ear.

Stepping back he flashes me a wink, picking up my braid, he tugs on it. A smile breaks through the ache in my chest.

“I don’t-” My voice breaks. “I don’t know what’s real anymore.” My bottom lip trembles.

A low chuckle falls from his mouth, shaking his head, he tips my chin up with his finger.

“If you need to fight your way back then just say so, but you need to remember the name you wear.” He says. “You're Kingston. A beautiful disaster that holds those men together. A group of college kids run an entire town, pretty. Nothing is real. You’re looking for what’s real instead of remembering what’s always been true.”

My chest rises faster. Fighting against the feeling of running away, my fingers close around the hand lifting my chin. G allows me to dig my fingernails into the flesh around his wrist.

“And what’s always been true?” I whisper into the open.

His eyes darken, “They bleed for you.” His words are so sure.

Moving around him, his hand drops to his side, I snatch the can from the bench and walk out into the circle. Opening the cap the smell of gasoline smacks me in the face. Walking up and down the cobblestone I douse every single lily with fuel. The aroma chokes me, forcing a cough out. Twisting the cap back on I toss the can to his feet and hold out my hand. A look flickers over his expression before he quickly hides it. Bending down, G grabs the now empty can, and heads towards me. Before he passes he drops the black lighter in my palm but doesn’t look at me.

“I’ll go get the fucking fire station ready.” He snarks.

His feelings are a little hurt but he gives me the space and control I need and for that I’m thankful.

“Thank you.” I say. I don’t yell it and I’m not sure he heard but the small hesitation in his steps gives me hope that he knows how much his coming means to me.

With the realization that I’m fully alone I let my walls fall, crumbling, bringing with them all the flashbacks of the time I’ve spent here.

Licking up my neck, he stops at the base below my ear, “What a shame it would be to taint the lilies with your blood. Then again, spill yours and I’ll spill mine. I just know we’d make the perfect color to paint the garden the deepest red.”

His touch against my skin scorches the image in my brain.

Growling at my words he dives in like a man starved. Both hands landing on my thighs gripping so hard I cry out in pain, and fuck, pleasure too. I’m falling. Falling over the edge of pure ecstasy, and all I see when I close my eyes are lilies and Ryker.

Another memory slams into me rattling my ribs with the force.

“That’s it, baby. It’ll only be me. No one can fuck you this good with their mouth. Even hate can’t keep our demons from each other.”

My thighs close around his head dragging him closer. My hips lift, rubbing my pussy over his face, riding him harder and harder.

“I bleed, you bleed.” I whisper.

Him kneeling between my thighs sends heat down my spine.

Each vision evokes memories of the way I felt with him under my hold. A scream builds at the back of my throat, unable to escape the flickers of his face behind my eyes, my mouth falls open. Releasing a hollow empty wail the anguish floods from my pores tainting the air around me. Sucking in a deep breath I can almost taste the bitterness in the breeze. Straightening, my hands fist at my side, in one the lighter sits. Holding my head high I let the tears fall freely accepting the fact that I’m slowly breaking.

Walking on the path my shoes pound across the hard stone plucking lilies along the way. Choosing a section close to the exit I spin facing the open area of colors. Each flower is different in its own way. The beauty of a blooming lily is insignificant in this moment. The hairs on the back of my neck stand when a shadow is cast across the garden from behind me. The heat from a body moving closer to where I am cloaks me in warmth. My breathing picks up in speed, the uneasy feeling in the pit of my stomach grows, but I don’t turn. I can’t stop what I’m doing.

“Killer.”