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Enzo settles into the hot water across from me. “I didn’t expect you to get off on degradation.”
I shrug. “I grew up in a strict society with a lot of weird views about sex. Calling me those names was strangely cathartic. Also, extremely hot.”
He nods. “You took the themes meant to suppress you and turned it into a kink,” he says with a smile. “You really are a slut.”
I laugh and push away the voice that agrees with him.
“What about you? Do you want to do the things you did to that mannequin to me?”
Enzo’s gaze goes distant for a moment before he meets mine again. “You went snooping?”
“I did. You guys left me alone for a long time. I snooped to keep the boredom at bay. And look, I don’t know how I’ll feel about it when I’m myself again, but for now?—”
“Don’t. Dove, don’t say it.”
“Say what?”
“Do not give me permission to penetrate your skin with knives. I—I can’t let that side of myself out. Not around you. You can never see that part of me. Everything else, but not that.”
I nod and lay my head back, enjoying the soak.
“Can I ask you a question?” Enzo hedges.
“You can ask, but I don’t promise to answer.”
“OK. Um…” He laughs, rubbing the back of his neck. “Sorry, it’s just, um… Do you actually like me, or was I just a convenient dick to get you through theustrues?”
Of all the heirs to ask me that, Enzo was at the bottom of the list. “Yes, to both. I like you, and you were convenient.”
“Right. OK. Well, then can I sleep in your bed tonight, too?”
I lift my head, meeting his eyes. “I didn’t know you wanted to be invited.”
“No one likes being left out.”
“Least of all me.” Axe’s voice sends a chill down my spine and not a good one.
He leans in my bathroom door, face mottled with anger and?—
“Seven flames! Who did that to your face?”
The left side of Axe’s face is one angry purple bruise.
I stand, dripping wet, and go to him. I reach out in comfort. “Are you OK?”
Axe backs away.
No.
Heflinchesaway from me.
I stop dead in my tracks as the pieces settle into place.
I haven’t seen Axe without a bruise somewhere in weeks. Since the heirs came to blows weeks ago. But the other heirs healed within hours.
A bruised cheek, bruised side, and now this.
“Who’s hurting you?” I demand, suddenly full of anger.
