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“You’re killing yourself slowly every time you take a fucking pill and down it with alcohol. Eventually two pills will become three, then four. And one day, you won’t wake up.”

“At least I won’t dream anymore,” I cried, my eyes burning with the anger that had been buried inside me for five long years.

“No, you won’t,” he said. “It seems I was wrong about you after all.” His eyes seemed to burn into mine. “You’re not brave. You’re a coward.”

Something snapped inside me and I yanked my hand out of his, then I raised both fists and pummeled his chest.

“Fuck you.”

I kept hitting his hard chest. He didn’t defend himself, although his jacket probably made the impact almost nonexistent.

“No, Sienna. Fuck you.” I glanced up at him and my fists froze, resting against his chest. “No wonder you agreed to give me five years. You never intended to live that long.” He took me by the upper arm, lowered his head, and brought his lips against mine. “You owe me five years, and you’re going to pay up. Without fucking pills or alcohol.”

Then he took my mouth in a punishing kiss. He encircled me with his arms, trapping me within them. His mouth pressed to mine with a fierce urgency and his hands moved boldly over my body.

My heart was pounding so violently that I felt as though it might break through my ribs. It was like that first time he kissed me, when the entire world ceased to exist, leaving me in flames with him.

“Promise me,” he murmured against my lips, letting me drown in the taste of him.

I clutched his jacket as my knees weakened.

“Promise what?” I asked, sagging against him.

My mind was a scrambled mess.

“Promise me you’ll stay with me,” he whispered against my mouth. “Promise you won’t touch pills or alcohol anymore. You owe me that much at least.”

“I promise.” I gazed at him in despair. “Although you might not like me then.”

He studied me for a long moment, his expression unreadable. “Why wouldn’t I like you?”

“Because I’m cranky when I’m tired.”

“You’re cranky even when you’re not.”

I shot him an annoyed look. “That wasn’t very romantic.”

“I’m not trying to be romantic.”

“That’s obvious.”

A faint smile tugged at his mouth.

He grabbed my hand and we continued walking in silence.

The forest gradually thinned, the trees giving way to rough grass and low shrubs battered by the wind. Ahead, the land dropped sharply, a jagged line of cliffs stretching under the moon and overlooking the restless sea which stretched endlessly beneath the dark sky. The only silver lining was where the moonlight touched the water.

Waves crashed against the rocks far below, the sound carrying upward on the cold wind.

“I’ve been living here for five years,” I said pensively, “yet never came over to the cliffs. I usually stroll through the forest.”

“Maybe you were subconsciously trying to find me,” he retorted wryly, knowing full well that wasn’t true since he’d spent those five years behind bars.

I turned to face him and found him already looking at me. “Why won’t you let me explain why I betrayed you?”

His expression darkened and he shoved his hands into his coat pockets.

“Because there isn’t a reason good enough that would justify it.” He turned and stared toward the horizon, then continued. “However, you can make it up to me.”