“The Lords would never allow it.”
She didn’t say no. “They can’t stop us.”
“But they can punish you,” she whispers.
I let go of her hands and place mine on her face. “Don’t worry about me, angel. I spent six months in training; I can take whatever punishment they throw my way.” It wouldn’t matter, as long as I got to be her husband.
“They’ll take what you love the most,” she says.
Her.“I’ll build you a castle. One with a moat.”
She laughs again, softer this time.
“I’m serious. I’ve always wanted to own alligators. We’ll get seven and name them after the days of the week. And we’ll feed them nothing but human remains from Carnage prisoners. I can protect you, Eve. I promise.”
Lowering her gaze to the bubbles, she sighs. “You’re not untouchable, Kashton.” She looks up at me through her lashes. “Your family isn’t untouchable. This isn’t a game that we can win.”
“I won’t let us lose,” I promise her. Placing my hands on her face, I bring her to me and gently kiss her lips again, needing more.
EVERETT
I want to remember this moment. How good it feels to know for this second that I’m safe. That what woke me up back at my house was just a nightmare. It might have happened in the past, but that’s over. This is now. This is my future. Even if it’s for a short time.
“I’m sorry,” I whisper.
He frowns, wondering why I’m sorry; but honestly, it’s a long list. “You don’t have to apologize to me, Eve. Ever. Okay?”
But I do. When he finds out who I really am, he will run as far away from me as he can. He’ll realize how broken I truly am and that I’m not worth it.
His knuckles run down my chest, over my stomach, and softly touch my hip. I flinch when they linger on my butterfly tattoo. I know he wants to ask about it. He saw the marks on me that night on theIsabella.
I just can’t seem to say the words. To tell him what I’ve been through. I’m ashamed of who I allowed them to turn me into. The me Kashton knows now isn’t who I was. And if I tell him anything about my past, he’ll see me differently.He won’t want me anymore. I can’t take that chance. I’m not ready to let him go.
We finish up in the bathtub and dry off before crawling into his bed.
“Why is the TV on?” I ask softly.
“I can’t sleep without it,” he answers with a yawn.
“I can’t sleep without music playing,” I tell him.
He shifts to roll over and grab his phone. “I can turn on some music?—”
“No,” I interrupt him, placing my hand on his chest to stop him. “I just meant I can’t sleep without some sort of noise either.” When a person’s forced to live in silence, they begin to crave chaos. Their mind needs something to distract them, otherwise they’ll go crazy.
He rolls back and gently kisses my forehead. “I’m right here, Eve, and I’ll be here when you wake up.”
I snuggle into him, and he turns onto his side. I place my leg over his hip, and he slides his hand under the covers to grip my bruised thigh, holding it in place.
I crave his touch between my legs, so I move my hips back and forth.
He opens his eyes, and I search them as my hand runs over the back of his head, feeling his soft hair.
I want to be his wife, but I’ll never tell him that. Because it’s not fair to him. He deserves a woman he can be proud of. Who can give him a family. I’m not that woman.
“Horny, angel?” he asks as his tatted hand runs up my thigh and dips between my legs.
I moan when he gently plays with my pussy. Teasing me. “Yes.” He hasn’t touched me since he played with me a couple of days before the reception. I had a little meltdown afterward, but I’ve wanted him ever since.
