Home > Work > Epilogue (The Dark Duet, #3)
61 " No, Kitten. I’m not okay,” I whispered. “I don’t know how long it’s going to take for me to be okay. I just know that as long as you’re with me, there’s a chance that one day… I might be. "
― C.J. Roberts , Epilogue (The Dark Duet, #3)
62 " We’re pretty far from perfect, Kitten. I’m the most fucked up person you know.” “Yeah, but I’m the second most fucked up person I know, and when you put two negatives together, you get a positive. That’s math, Caleb. Math is the language of the universe. You can’t argue with the universe.” Her grin was patently ridiculous. I love you so goddamn much. "
63 " I hate dry turkey. I may have over-basted it. Who am I kidding, though? No such thing. You’ll eat my fucking turkey and lick your fingers when you’re done. "
64 " I’d never considered myself socially retarded until that moment. "
65 " Claudia yelled at an obnoxious level. I must have made a face because she responded to me. “Get used to it, gorgeous man. If you’re going to be part of our group, you’re going to have to handle our rude-ass behavior. There’s no room for politeness in a family.” She winked at me. I smiled. "
66 " Their love was obvious and I hoped that one day Livvie and I could have what they did… without the skinny jeans… "
67 " I could be a hugger… maybe. No, it was weird. "
68 " I know you deserve to be happy. I know you deserve someone… better, but I’m selfish. I want you. I want you bad enough to try and be someone better "
69 " I can never overstate the depth and beauty of Livvie's eyes. I can stare into them forever, until I forget my name (which, let's face it--wouldn't take me long). "
70 " I plan to spend the better part of the day super glued to your body." She ran one of her mitten-clad hands down the front of my coat. I laughed."Well then, I'm looking forward to it already. I'll be sure to giftwrap. "
71 " Give me a hand, James? I can't seem to do anything in these ridiculously skinny pants." Rubio is a quiet guy. My head couldn't create inventive dialogue for him.I couldn't quite put the PlayStation together either."I'm dreaming, Rubio. I can't put this shit together. Hold on." I kicked the PlayStation and all the cables were magically connected."Nice! Someday, when Claudia stops coddling me like an infant, I hope you can teach me how to be more of a man," Rubio said (it's my dream--stop judging me)."You can start by taking care of this." I took out a pair of scissors from my pocket and cut the large hank of hair covering most of his face. There was a large round of applause. "
72 " ¿Y si ella me ama y lo único que tengo para ofrecer es una cáscara de un corazón para amarla? ¿Cómo puede alguien entender qué es el amor sin experimentarlo? "
73 " ¿Y si ella me ama y lo único que tengo para ofrecer es una cáscara de corazón para amarla? ¿Cómo puede alguien entender qué es el amor "
74 " I smiled and moved back. I had her where I wanted her, but more than that--I had her where I needed her. In a place where she could admit she could forgive me for the past. In a place where we were possible. "
75 " I felt incapable of speech. I had wanted her for so long. I had dreamt of her in my sleeping hours and ached for her in my waking ones. There was nothing I could say to compare with the intense elation and satisfaction of finally having that which I had desired for so very long. Nothing except— "
76 " She wanted me to put my tongue inside her… and I would, when I was good and fucking ready. In the meantime, I enjoyed the smell and taste of her. Some men don’t eat pussy. I think those men are pussies. "
77 " I enjoyed the smell and taste of her. Some men don’t eat pussy. I think those men are pussies. "
78 " And then I realized I’d done the same to you. I’d beaten you. I’d raped you, and worse—I even made you like it. I fed you hope and I snatched it away. I made you love me! How could I tell you? I couldn’t tell you, Livvie. I was confused. I was… broken. I’m still broken. I don’t know who I am or what I want. All I know is that without you… without you, there’s nothing. I’m nothing. Do you have any idea how terrifying that is for someone like me? "
79 " I ran the leather tongue of the riding crop along Livvie’s outstretched arm. I watched as she shivered. "
80 " Who am I?Am I Caleb?Am I James?I've often asked myself this very thing and have always come up with a different answer. Perhaps the only truthful answer is, "I am both."Caleb will always be a part of me--probably the largest part. I want to be James.James is a 29-year-old from Oregon. He was raised by his mother and always wondered about his father. He grew up with respect for women but also a need to display his masculinity to make up for his lack of a father. He went to college but took time off before grad school to go and see the world. He met Sophia at The Paseo de Colon and fell instantly in love.James never met anyone named Livvie. He never hurt her.We know different. We know the truth. So, for the purposes of this story you begged me to tell--I am Caleb.I am the man who kidnapped Livvie. I am the man who held her in a dark room for weeks. I'm the one who tied her to a bedpost and beat her. I'm the one who nearly sold her into sexual slavery. But, most importantly, I am the man she loves.She loves me. It's quite sick, isn't it? "