“Don’t hurt him.” When Xavier doesn’t readily agree, I lean back and squint at him. “Promise me?”
He presses his mouth to mine, stealing the rest of my plea. It’s a soft kiss, meant to comfort. And to remind me I’m his.
The gesture is too tender to be from a killer. My body remains stiff with reluctance as he coaxes me with every sweep of his lips and every caress to my skin. When I don’t give in, he cups the side of my face and angles my head to trace the seam of my mouth with his tongue.
I’m torn between fighting Xavier and losing myself in him.
“Promise me,” I repeat against his lips.
“That’s not a vow I’m willing to take, not if it keeps me from you.”
“If you hurt him, I’ll never forgive you.”
Xavier’s gaze hardens, a mixture of frustration and anger flitting across his face. He leans back as if my words have physically struck him.
“I see,” he says, his voice a whisper swallowed by the tension in the room. “I promise not to hurt him… unless your life is at stake.”
The heat of the moment dissipates as quickly as it arrived, replaced with a cold, stark reality. Xavier would kill someone I love to keep me alive. I could never choose myself over Ben, but Xavier would. Without hesitation.
“Okay,” I say.
My stomach knots as my voice hits the air. Deep down, I recognize I’ve pushed Xavier to his limit. His compromise in this situation might be the only security I can cling to.
The complexity of our relationship, bound by a contract but initiated years ago, is something I’m struggling to navigate. However, I can move forward knowing Ben is relatively safe from Xavier’s wrath.
As long as I don’t provoke it.
Chapter 36
DELILAH
The bathroom door opens with a click, and Xavier steps out, his hair still damp. The black T-shirt fits him perfectly, the material clinging to his muscled chest and shoulders. His black cargo pants are loose and hang low on his hips, and the belt is cinched in place.
My mouth goes dry. It’s unfair how effortlessly attractive he is.
“See something you like, bride?” he asks, his lips twitching.
I lift my gaze to his and my cheeks heat. “Shut up.”
He stalks toward me, the amusement fading. In a blink, he’s in front of me, and I have no choice but to lean back. Xavier grabs the back of my head, his fingers threading in my hair.
“Careful, or I’ll fuck you goodbye instead of kiss you.”
“You said you wouldn’t rape me.”
“You can’t rape the willing.”
I gape at him. He chuckles and the sound vibrates through me, sending tingles up my spine. Then his mouth is on mine, his lips moving gently, as if he’s savoring me.
When he pulls back, I open my eyes, expecting to find him wearing his usual smug expression. Instead, he gazes down at me, his eyes swirling with desire.
Abruptly, he turns away from me, his movements deliberate as he begins to pack his belongings scattered around the room. A set of clothes, medical supplies, and weapons. A lot of them. Guns and knives of all shapes and sizes, plus ammunition.
Each item he places into his bag feels like a brick in the wall he’s building between us, a barrier made of silence and unanswered questions. As much as I want to know where he’s going and what a summons means, I don’t ask. Even if he did tell me, I’m not sure I could handle the truth.
Finally, he zips his bag closed and stands, his posture rigid. When he faces me, his face is covered in a mask. Not a physical one, but an emotional one void of everything except determination and focus.
“Let’s go,” he says. “Grab your stuff.”
