Page 24 of Road to Redemption

I also knew they were desperate for more. And so was I.

Probably better to get some rest.

Biting my lip, I slipped into my room. I tossed my sweater off and climbed into bed, keeping a piped pajama top on as I pulled the covers over myself.

The pitter-patter of the rain outside soothed my racing mind. Even if my body tossed and turned every few minutes.

As my eyelids grew heavy, the calm of the storm outside easing me into sleep, the light from the hallway poured into the bedroom as the door swung open.

Blinking in the light, I tried to focus my gaze on the towering shadow in the threshold.

There was a glisten on her skin, a mix of rain and sweat — and dirt. And then her voice, low and rumbling, filled the entire room as she stepped toward me. “I’ve been patient enough, Viper.”

17

DOM

I went into the woods to be alone — to clear my head, to exorcize whatever demons were trapped in my chest far from anywhere they could hurt anyone else.

Or anywhere that my mother could chastise me.

The disappointment in Vivienne’s eyes was almost as bad as the way Kiera flinched when my fist met the dashboard.

Despite what Kiera might think, I didn’t want to be like this. I’d spent my entire life trying to avoid becoming my father. But his anger lived deep in my soul, something that felt like it had sunk its talons in the moment I saw Kiera on that bed in front of Kieth.

There was no escaping any of it. Especially not Kiera.

Maybe once they’re all dead it’ll go away.

I stared down at Kiera’s half-asleep body, blinking away sleep in the bed.

Her fucking dog had followed me into the woods, refusing to give me time to myself and instead haunting my shadow. Every time I met her big brown eyes, they pleaded with me to come home.

Eventually, I felt bad keeping the rottie out in the woods in the rain. She was built for it but I knew she wasn’t comfortable.

I’d have to come back to the house at some point. And all I could do was hope that the impromptu run through the forest had gotten some of it out.

At the very least, the house was going to be quiet.

Something that turned out to be true.

And as I prowled upstairs, I thought I’d calmed myself down enough.

But then I opened the door. And she looked so afraid and confused. Her skimpy pajamas left her vulnerable, soft skin ready for me.

And then all of those uncontrollable urges rushed back.

Need ate at the lining of my stomach — whether it was to have or destroy her, I couldn’t be sure.

But my chest heaved as the words left my chest. “I’ve been patient enough, Viper.”

She couldn’t even open her mouth, hardly registering the monster at the foot of her bed, before I had strode across the room and gripped her ankles. The rage made her feel like she was made of paper. Yanking her out from under the thin top sheet, I spread her legs and pressed myself between them.

“Dom…” she whimpered.

Ignoring her, I grabbed the silky fabric of her pajama shirt and tore away the buttons. A few of them clattered to the floor, exposing her chest to me.

Her perky nipples stood on edge as she half-assedly thrashed underneath me.