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“You’re pathetic,” she snaps, her face flaming. She stands up and starts to walk away from him, but he quickly rounds the couch and grips her upper arms. He walks them backwards until she’s pressed against the wall, looking up at his furious expression.
“Sweetheart,” he starts, and she bares her teeth at him. “You want to talk aboutpathetic? I’m not the one who obviously hates herself so much that she purposely self-destructs.”
A traitorous tear rolls down her cheek. “You don’t know me,” she bites out, angry that she finally let herself cry in front of him. He’s right, but he doesn’t need to shove it in her face.
He quirks his lip. “I know enough already.No onewould willingly come near the island, yet you came more than once.Why?”
His grip softens as the tears fall, but she’s not crying for the reason he thinks.
She’s so touched-starved that his grip feelsgood,and it makes her feel pathetic.
“You have everything you want,” he continues. “Everything.The city gives you a stipend, you have—”
“Are youkiddingme?” she barks, her voice raw. “Everything I want? I can’t even leave the city.” She lets out a forced chuckle, and he narrows his eyes. “I have to be whattheywant.”
He searches her eyes, icy blue burning into hers, but she continues.
“EverythingI want?” she repeats. “I want to travel, and I never will be able to. I used tolovevacations with my family, but those stopped the minute I presented.”
She wipes at her face as shame colors his cheeks. He doesn’t step away, but his expression softens as he listens.
She confesses everything she couldn’t tell Ava.
“I lost my jobbecauseI’m an Omega. I loved what I did. My students changed my life and gave me a purpose.”
He remains silent and she can’t meet his gaze anymore.
“Ihatewhat I am,” she chokes out, wringing her hands. “I hate it so much. They force me to take these pills, just so it will stop theloneliness…”
She’s shared too much, and she can’t stop the ugly, hiccupping sobs.
She hasn’t cried this hard since her parents left Lincoln City.
Yet, he continues listening, and it makes it even worse. She covers her face with her hands, hiding her sorrow.
She’s shared her most vulnerable parts with her enemy.
Heisher enemy, right?
Strong arms engulf her suddenly, and she loses her footing. She collapses into his arms and stops fighting her instincts.
She allows him to hold her. She allows her captor to comfort her.
CHAPTER 16
ABEL
He’s pressingher close before he can stop himself.
He expected her to kick and scream against his embrace, but she willingly melts into his arms, letting her weight sag against his chest.
Holding her is as simple as breathing. He cradles her to his chest and sinks down to the carpet with her as she weeps into his collarbone.
This is all so fucked up,he thinks.
Her scent envelops him and sends tendrils of pleasure throughout his body.
Nothing could have prepared him for this. Nothing could have prepared him forher.
