The Ties That Bind Us: (The Ties Duet Part One) Danda K. (dark academia books to read TXT) 📖

hear anything but the plucking of the instrument and Cameron’s inhale of breath as she prepares to face her biggest insecurity head-on.

After a few beats, I notice she hasn’t begun to sing. Although I’m not sure when the first verse begins in this song, I’m worried she changed her mind. Just as I go to press pause on the song, I hear her voice join the music. She’s humming along with the intro, and I hold my breath for the words to follow.

Her voice is gentle and low when the first verse hits, and she sings about looking down at things she sees. After the first chorus, she sings on a higher note, adding more strength to her voice, and I almost forget to breathe.

Her voice is smooth with a slight rasp. The sight of her sitting there, eyes closed, hands gripping the chair between her legs, and illuminated in the light around her, has me desperate to get closer to her and just make sure she’s real.

Her eyes close as she carries the tune with the lyrics. I love watching her lips move and form the most beautiful sound I’ve ever heard. I’m lost in her. I was expecting her to be good, but I’m in complete awe of the natural talent she has inside her.

By the end of the song, her nerves have all but disappeared. The words flow out of her effortlessly. The higher-pitched notes at the end send goosebumps over my arms, and I’m unable to move.

It isn’t until the song is over and she clears her throat that I can actually form any words.

I dart over to where she’s sitting, eager to feel her. “My God, baby.”

Cameron looks down, embarrassed, not realizing what she just did to me.

I pick up her chin. “Don’t you dare look down. Never again, baby. Not after that.”

She looks up at me with a single tear running down her cheek, so I wipe it away with my thumb. I take her face in my hands, looking in her eyes. I’ve never been more sure of anything in my entire life.

“I’m in love with you, Nyx.”

I’ve known this for a while now. I just wasn’t sure when or how to tell her. But after she just bled her heart out for me, it’s clear there’s no better time than the present. Cameron’s become a part of me, and we’re bound together so tightly that I no longer know where she ends and I begin.

Every broken piece of her fits perfectly in the empty parts of my soul. I’d lay down my life for this girl without hesitation, and I want nothing more than for her to know she has every piece of my heart. To fill or break, it’s all hers.

She stares at me and, eyes blinking, takes a shaky breath. I don’t need her to say it back. Especially if she isn’t ready.

When her lips press against mine, I’m caught off guard.

She parts her mouth, and I enter without hesitation. Cameron wraps her legs around me, pulling me into her on the chair. Her hands squeeze my back, and I feel the heat rising between us.

She pulls away and climbs down off the chair, taking my hand. I follow her towards the blanket.  She moves the tray of food and wine to the side and sits down, patting the spot next to her.

I oblige and scoot right beside her.

Cameron climbs on top of me, straddling my waist and kissing me again. Our mouths part briefly, and I watch as the flames from the candles dance across her face.

Eyeing her long, dark hair, I twist it around my fingers gently, bringing it to my nose as I inhale my favorite scent. Her.

“Nobody’s ever told me they loved me before.” She gathers her hair to one side and kisses the bottom of my cheek, then corrects herself. “Not like that.” Leaning back, she takes my hands in hers, intertwining our fingers. “I was falling for you from the very second I saw you behind that counter, Jaxon. I had no choice.” Leaning in to kiss the other side of my face gently, she whispers, ”I never thought I would ever have the ability to love someone the way normal people do.”

Her eyes lock with mine. “And I was right. Because I don’t love you like normal people do. Being with you has become as natural as breathing for me, Jaxon. I don’t know if what I feel for you in my heart is even considered love,” she shrugs. “Honestly, love seems too simple for what happens when two souls become one entity. It’s spiritual. I was asleep and cold for so many years until you came along and brought me home. There’s no real me without you.”

She wipes the tears from her eyes. “You’ve completely consumed every dark space inside me and given them light. There are no words to categorize that. So, if what I feel for you isn’t love? Then love isn’t the endgame I want for us. I’m aiming higher than that. And this already feels better than what I imagined love ever could.”

Cam kisses me with more passion than I’ve ever felt from her. I love this girl so much. I think it would kill me if she ever left.

I wrap my arms around her as she bites my bottom lip hard, and I feel the slightest metallic taste of blood. I groan into her mouth as she slowly grinds against my hips. Cameron brings her tongue to my ear, licking the tip of my ear lobe. My dick’s already swollen, and my pants are about to burst at the seams.

She climbs off me and sits at my side. Her eyes are lust-filled, crazed, and staring right into me.

For some reason, I’m nervous right now.

She lifts her sweater over her head, and her camisole follows right after. My eyes widen at the sight of her in a beautiful white lace bra. She climbs back on top of me, pulls my leather jacket down my arms, and attempts to open up my pants between us.

“Whoa, whoa, whoa, baby.