Descent (Black Heart Romance presents Heaven & Hell)

“Because you still kiss me back. You like it—you did even that first night when you didn’t want
any part of me, but you still do, even after all the shit I’ve done to you.”
I frown, not entirely comprehending. “So… because I can handle all your crazy shit and still let
you fuck me?”
He shakes his head, like I’m still not completely getting it. “No. I don’t want someone who
doesn’t know the worst things I’m capable of, Hallie. I want someone who does, and wants me
anyway.” He props himself up on a bent elbow and considers for a moment, then he says, “Have you
ever been to Mono Lake in California?”
I’ve never been anywhere on the West Coast, but I don’t tell him that, I merely shake my head.
He nods like I gave him the answer he expected. I expect him to tell me how nice it is, to try and
entice me with a vision of crystal waters and warm sun beating down on me as I play in the shallows
outside some lavish resort I could never afford to go to without him.
Instead, he says, “It’s an unusual lake, toxic for nearly every creature that has ever tried to live
there. The water is highly alkaline and saltier than the ocean. Aside from shrimp, no fish can survive
there. Birds can’t tolerate it, either. On the way to the lake, you’ll see the carcasses of ones that tried.
But for a particular kind of fly—alkali flies—it’s home. The only home that suits them now, as a
matter of fact. See, ordinary flies would drown in such salty water, but these ones have adapted to
their admittedly challenging environment. They’ve evolved to be able to dive under the water without
getting wet. They’re able to make their own little air bubble to protect them so they can crawl under
to feed or lay their eggs. The lake is an impossible place that kills all life that tries to inhabit it, but
these special flies… they’ve brought life to it. They’ve found a way to thrive in its challenging
climate. They’ve made the lake their home.” His gaze meets mine with more intensity than I’m
prepared for given the topic. “If not for these extraordinary flies, Hallie, the beautiful but toxic lake
would be almost entirely barren.”
I swallow hard. I’m not an idiot, I understand the parallel he’s drawing. “You think I’m the fly in
this scenario.”
His lips quirk. “Well, you’re certainly not the toxic lake.”
I drop my gaze, fidgeting with the corner of my pillow so I don’t have to look at him. “‘You’re a
fly,’” I say, doing my best to lighten the mood a little. “That’s almost unbearably romantic. You should
write greeting cards.”
“Not just any fly,” he says, amusement laced in his tone. “You’re my fly.”
I try to bite back a smile, but fail. I look up at him. “You’re insane, you know that?”
He could be offended, but he’s not. “So I’ve heard.”
My amusement brings him pleasure, or maybe it’s just my presence. Whatever the reason, I can’t
deny I feel intensely admired when I’m around him—to the point of sheer lunacy, even. In my wildest
dreams of how much a man would want me, I could never have dreamed up one willing to go to the