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“I’m here. You’ve seen me. Now you can fuck off,” I grumble, and he leers down at me. It makes my skin crawl, but I refuse to give him the satisfaction of knowing he gets under my skin. There’s no good way or bad way with him. Either way, it gives him the attention he wants.
“I got the Ruthless Brothers to place me near the whores so I could be close to you, only to find that you’re not there,” he breathes, planting his palms on either side of my head as he leans down, bringing his face far too close to mine for comfort.
“Back off, Declan.” My voice is monotone, bored from his proximity as my hands desperately itch to punch him in the throat, face, or stomach. I’m not fussy either way, as long as I hear him scream.
He moves in closer so our noses are nearly touching and strokes a finger down my throat. “I took you once before, I can take you again, Scarlett. I don’t usually fuck the same whore twice, but I can make an exception for you. Look how much you’ve grown. Perky tits, peachy ass, and hips for me to bruise as I pound into you.”
Those words from anyone else’s mouth might excite me, yet I’m quite sure my vagina curls in on itself in fear. He’s still as clueless as he was the first time I met him. When I decided it would be freeing to hand my virginity over to someone I would never have to see again. I was wrong, real fucking wrong, and now that bout of spontaneity is biting me in the ass.
I hate the old me right now.
Does he know what his father taught me? Do either of them understand their impact on my life and the things I can and will do? Surely not, because he wouldn’t be trying his fucking luck right now. Not unless he thought he could still ‘handle’ me, take me down. But he didn’t know any of those things when I bled for him seven years ago, when I didn’t realizewhohis father was, so I’m going to hope and assume he doesn’t know now.
Tilting my head to the side, I quirk an eyebrow at him. “I’m only going to tell youonetime. Get your hands off me.”
He smirks, his sneer running from ear to ear as he pushes me further against the door, wrapping his hand around my throat in the exact same hold Emmett did earlier. Only this time, it’s not for my pleasure.
Before I can retaliate, a hand darts out between us, locking around Declan’s wrist at my throat, tearing him away from me. It takes a second for Declan to release his grip, yanking at me, but a moment later, he releases his hold and my head flies back against the door.
Gasping, I turn to my left. Axel’s grip on Declan’s wrist is deathly, the snarl on his lips haunting as he all but growls at the man who dared to touch me.
“Move, before I make you,” Axel bites out, and I’m sure the floor fucking rumbles with his boom. His grip on Declan’s wrist slackens, and the asshole quickly raises his hands in surrender as he takes a step back.
“It’s all good, man. I just thought this merchandise was available to sample,” he says with a grin, sweeping his tongue along his bottom lip as he rakes his eyes over me.
“Not to you. Not toanyone. Not ever.” Axel sidesteps to place himself between Declan and me, blocking me from his leery gaze.
Instinctively, I lift my hand to soothe him, but stop myself before I touch the fabric of his t-shirt. Pinning my arms at my sides, I hold my breath, scared I’ll make the situation worse if I spook him.
“If that ever changes, Axel, which I’m sure it will, just let me know.” Declan chuckles and retreats. Axel inches closer so his back is touching my front. I’m too scared to move, my mind flipped upside down.
I’ve gone from pain over the loss of Duffer, anger over Declan’s sudden appearance and the reminder of my past mistakes, to fear of making one wrong move and fucking everything up with Axel.
Axel slowly turns to face me, putting a little more distance between us, but not much. He’s closer than he usually is, but not as close as yesterday when I was in his arms. I long to feel that again, more than I care to admit.
We stare at each other for what feels like an eternity before I clear my throat. “I’m supposed to be of no importance, remember?”
He shakes his head, eyes blazing into mine as he sighs. “I really couldn’t give a shit when your safety is at risk.”
It feels like he has thrust his hand into my chest, encasing my heart with his palm as he squeezes raw emotion from me. When I’m sure my knees are going to give out with how close he is, he shocks me even more by raising a hand to my face, but stopping a breath away from touching me.
The hesitation is clear and my body stills. His eyes search mine, but it’s not because he’s searching for permission. I’m not entirely surewhathe is looking for, but he must find it, because he ever so slowly cuts the remaining distance andcupsmy cheek. My skin tingles, goosebumps flaring under his palm as I involuntarily lean into his touch.
His eyebrows pinch for the briefest moment before he relaxes, rubbing his lips together as I remain locked in place. “Are you okay?” He’s raspy and uncertain in his actions.
I want to lift my hand to his, feel his hand beneath mine, but this is dangerous territory with no map, and I refuse to step on a landmine right now. This is too important.Heis too important.
“I’m okay,” I murmur, which earns me another shake of his head.
“It’s cute that you’re pacifying me, but I can see right through you.” His thumb dusts over my cheek, setting me alight. “You can’t hide from me, not even if you try. So, tell me what’s going through that pretty head of yours.”
I feel like a teenager with a fucking crush or something because my knees just got weaker at him saying I have a pretty head. Fuck.
Write me off now and call me done. I’m a killer, a survivor, a fucking warrior, but I’m nothing but putty in his hands and he fucking knows it.
He doesn’t rush me as I take a few moments to calm my breathing, but every time I think I have it under control, he strokes his thumb again and I’m right back at the beginning.
“I can’t think straight with you this close,” I admit, gaping up at him.
