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“No.” I shake my head. “I think you said exactly what you’re thinking and now you’re wishing you hadn’t. What does Lev have on you? Is it in regards to the governor’s death?” Her lack of surprise tells me she already knew I was aware, which also leads me to believe I’m right. Lev knows. The question is, who the fuck told him? “It is, isn’t it?”
“You’re hurting me.” She pulls her hand away. I didn’t realize I was squeezing so hard, so I let her go.
“Answer the fucking question, and this time, don’t lie to me.”
She gulps, her bottom lip trembling, and I’d love more than anything to take it between my teeth and stop it from shaking—to stop her from being afraid.
“There is so much more to all of this. Just please, trust me. Okay?”
“It’s not you I don’t trust. It’s him.”
“He’s your best friend.”
“He’s also everyone’s worst enemy. If Lev has something on you…”
“What? Just say it. If Lev has something on me, then what?”
“Then it seems my hands are fuller than I thought.”
The trepidation in her eyes has me weeping inside. I wrap my arms around her, pulling her close, though she hesitates to allow her body to relax against mine.
“You never have to be afraid, Angel. It’s my job to carry the weight of your fears. I’d never let anyone hurt you. Do you understand that?”
Her voice cracks. “What if it’s not someone else hurting me, but it’s me hurting myself?”
“Then you let me make it all better.”
“I don’t think you can.”
“I can and I will. So quit fighting me. I am not the enemy.”
I lean back so I can look at her beautiful face. Tears soak her cheeks, and her damn lip is still quivering.Fuck it. I press my mouth to hers, and an immediate calm settles over me.
Gripping her shoulders, I hold her in place, knowing that she’ll surrender after a few seconds of resistance.
Our lips seal, eyes wide open and cemented to one another’s. Hers are stunned with a bit of curiosity behind them, while mine clutch onto hope. Every touch, every word, every kiss is one step closer to the life I dream of. Every second of every day, with this girl.
Parting my mouth slightly, I lead the way, confident that she’ll follow. My eyes close, unable to see her reaction, but only feel it against my lips. And when she grants my tongue entrance, I take advantage, sliding it in nice and smooth while my knees weaken.
God, she’s fucking everything.
All the beauty this world needs. All I need. All I want.
A salty taste seeps onto my tongue and I disengage from my own thoughts, not allowing myself to wonder what it is.
Her body relaxes. She falls into me and I catch her. Our chests heaving against one another’s, and it’s the reaction I need to give her all of me, knowing she’ll accept.
I walk her backward, until she’s halted by the footboard of her bed. Slowly, I lay her onto her back on top of the perfectly-made bedding.
One may say I’ve manipulated her into this, and they’d probably be accurate. Love isn’t black and white. At least not at first. It’s an array of colors and distorted lines that have you questioning what you really feel. It’s my goal to erase the confusion, until it’s perfectly clear that her heart has always belonged to me.
It will be messy. It will hurt. But in the end, it’ll all be worth it.
She can fool around with Maddox, thinking they have a chance. I don’t mind at all, because once the dust settles and she realizes I’m the one who saved her from herself, I will own her. Mind, body, and soul. Maddox might not be so accommodating. He’s a good guy with good intentions. But when he realizes Riley is allowing another guy to taste her body, he’ll pull back, leaving her free for me.
Blanketing her body with mine, I drag my lips down to her neck, sucking on the thin skin with enough force to mark her.
She contests by straining her neck, trying to free it from the vise grip of my teeth, but I suck harder and harder, bruising the delicate nape of her neck, while making it painfully obvious to Maddox—and Lev—that she’s mine.
