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Vitus was the first to turn away from the spectacle he’d single-handedly created. He started towards me, slowly perusing as he did.
I’m not sure what he was expecting to find. I had never once shown him how I truly felt, a major feat for a girl who once walked around with her heart on her sleeve.
Without a word, he took my hand in his and led me away.
We walked in silence, following the rocky path that led to the rear entrance of the prison.
Crickets chirped dubiously in the overgrowth that stood on either side of us. Tendrils of my hair lifted on a breeze, causing me to shiver.
Vitus immediately dropped my hand so he could take off his leather jacket and drape it over my shoulders.
“You didn’t have to do that.” I was quick to object.
“Of course I did. Can’t have my favorite girl catching a cold.”
From my peripheral, I caught a glimpse of his flirtatious smile. His words did nothing but make me feel unclean.
I’d overheard him say the same thing to someone else just the day before.
Choosing to keep quiet, I pressed my lips into a straight line and made a point of studying the ground, earning a sigh in response.
Having been on the receiving end of that sound a dozen times, I knew it meant one of two things. Either he was disappointed, or his cock was content. Obviously the first option was preferable.
When we entered the room we shared, I took a fortifying mental breath, knowing what was coming next.
Sure enough, as soon as the door was shut Vitus’ hands were on my hips and I was being turned into his chest.
“Look at me,” he commanded softly.
I breathed in the smell of him, smoke from the fire and the liquor he’d used to fuel it, gathering my bearings before I forced my eyes to meet his.
Vitus was a far cry from ugly.
He was ruggedly handsome, well built, and had captivating greenish-blue hues. His personality, on the other hand, left much to be desired.
He brought his hands up and cupped my face."You know you could be happy if you gave us a chance.”
I covered his hands with mine and fought the urge to rip the damn things off, unable to form an acceptable response.
I’d never understand how he could go from the man who ordered a whole family be executed to a doting lover in five minutes flat.
It was more than a little unsettling.
“One day, you’ll agree with me.”
Not likely. What kind of woman fell for a man who acquired her through a trade? A man who was essentially keeping her against her will?
We always ended up right back at square one.
From the time I’d arrived, he’d made it abundantly clear he wanted me to be his in every sense of the word.
Sometimes, I wished it could be that easy, that I could wipe everything else away. I’d be protected from everyone but him. I’d have a roof over my head and food in my stomach.
I would have someone in my corner who gave a damn, even if the feeling was misplaced and he was a terrible human being.
If I had to pick a monster to love, I’d already done that, and it wasn’t Vitus.
I was willing to risk the fear of being alone for the simple fact that I refused to settle, regardless of how fucked up this world was.
