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My eyes quickly swung to the guard because he felt the need to start paying attention that very second. The urge to protect Tony always outweighed the guilt I felt by denying my sexuality every day. “I’m not. My business partner has been my closest friend since we were children. Not having him around as often makes me feel incomplete.”
Satisfying the guard’s interest, he went back to scrolling his phone by the door. Lifting my hand, I covered it with my other so the camera wouldn’t see what I planned to sign to her. Most people didn’t know any form of sign language, but most knew the alphabet enough. My lips shushed her quietly as she caught on. B.I.
The second I revealed my secret, a devious smirk took over her face that I let her in on the biggest secret I had to keep. She clued in that the world would hurt him or me more for our love being of the same sex. That’s when a sadness hit her. She reached forward and placed her hand quickly over mine to give it a reassuring squeeze. “You know sign?”
“Yes, but not American. My grandmother went deaf just over a decade ago, so we learned together to make sure she felt heard.”
“Oh, I bet she loved the company.”
“She still does when I can afford the time to visit her. As my mother’s mother, its hard on both of us to see the other with the middle link missing. Though, my recent endeavors probably have her in a fury. I’ll have to gain her forgiveness, but I know she’ll be okay with my reasoning.”
“To be fair, if the world knew your reasoning, they’d have their torches and pitchforks lining the streets to demand your release.”
“But my sister would never be able to forget the part of her that fell victim to his power. The pity of others would make her forever live in her state of suffering. I’ll spend a lifetime in here if there’s the slightest chance she’ll get to have any sense of normalcy return.”
“She’ll get there with the right help, but she might hate she can’t see you again.”
“Her attacker can only haunt her mind now.” I felt a familiar tightening in my throat. “He can never hurt her again.”
A long pause settled between us because she could see I needed a moment to gather my wits. Sunshine could read people like I had only seen my mother do. Sitting right across from me, she made me feel more vulnerable than I ever had. She made me feel like my existence mattered.
“You said something about your book club making you feel like your work doesn’t matter?” I shifted with my eyes downward, changing the emotional air with a swift conversation shift.
“Oh, um… I guess that’s one way to put it.” She rocked a little in her seat. “The things we read would suggest an open mind, but they don’t.”
“And what things have you been reading, Sunshine?” I couldn’t help it because I could tell she didn’t want to say it out loud.
“Oh, you know. Some romance stuff.” She crossed her arms and coughed, turning redder than a tomato. If she was willing to admit this genre, I knew the true nature of her books would be delightful to learn.
“What kind of romance? Nicolas Sparks, Colleen Hoover… or something else?”
“Something else?” she questioned back as an answer.
“Millie, I’ve literally seen someone’s spleen be gutted from them. Whatever you read wouldn’t bother me in the slightest.”
“No? Not even a stalker gifting the woman he follows the hands of a man who touched her?”
“So dark romance?” A devilish smirk fell over my features as my eyes narrowed. “Do you enjoy when a man gives a woman dismembered body parts as a prize of his affection that no one else can touch her?” Her eyes widened, pupils blowing just enough to see my succulent, unscathed angel wanted a dark twist to her love life.
“I know it’s just a work of fiction, and that was their argument with criminals being unredeemable.” She unfolded her arms and clasped her hands below the table, keeping her gaze on them. “Men aren’t that attentive or possessive, and everyone knows the behind the doors stuff is just a lady’s way to get excited.”
“Is this because your boyfriend doesn’t do the things you enjoy?” Oh, yeah. I went there.
“I don’t know,” she admitted.
“What do you mean you don’t know?” A flurry of rage found its way into my cold heart, sweeping ire through it faster than a whiteout blizzard, heating it at the center, knowing this loser couldn’t treat her right.
“Um, I’ve never attempted anything like I’ve read about.” Her embarrassment refused for her to lift her gaze. “Women are harder to please, and statistics show most don’t get off during sex. It’s not like a man can snap his fingers and make a woman cum on command like his voice is powerful enough to make me cream myself.”
Oh, the things I’d get her to enjoy when she was ready for it. Letting out a throaty growl, I let my possession show. She looked up then to see my own eyes darken as I raked her slender body over. I focused on every inch I could see for her to witness my attraction for herself. There’d be no questioning my intentions. I’d devour every inch of her flesh if she ever gave me the opportunity.
“Oh, Sunshine. If a man can’t make you ache just by glancing at you, he’s doing something wrong. If a man can’t make you cum with just the sound of his intoxicated and delirious voice—drunk off watching you—he’s too inexperienced to be touching a woman as perfect as you.”
“Oh, God,” her breath caught. Good. I had her attention.
“Oh, trust me, Sunshine. I punish a woman who uses his name instead of mine while under my touch.”
She couldn’t move. She couldn’t breathe, and I knew she’d be forever mine from that moment on. She’d need a little more convincing to leave her mundane life behind for a ruthless fuck like me, but we had plenty of it while I waited for an escape plan to emerge.
