“You’re getting married. Someone has to be your best man.”
I chuckle. “Thanks for letting us borrow your jet.”
He shrugs. “Anytime.”
“You didn’t have to come,” I add, wondering why he isn’t at home with Elli and the kids. He looks more awake now than he was an hour ago at Blackout.
He smiles and pulls his cell out of his pocket. “Elli is spending the day with my mom. I’m going to fly back tonight.” His cell rings and his smile widens. Patting my shoulder, he walks toward the back bedroom, answering his video call. “There are my girls…where’s my boy?”
“He’s still sleeping,” Elli answers before he shuts the bedroom door.
EVERETT
We landed in New York two hours ago. A car was sent to pick us up, and we were taken to a house in the Hamptons. A nice older man gave us a tour of the grounds and showed us our bedroom. I tried to act interested, and any other time, I would have been, but Kashton could tell I was distracted.
I’m married.
I’m nervous. I hate how much I doubt myself. How weak I’ve made myself look over the past month. That isn’t who I want to be.
Kashton’s Lady? Absolutely.
The woman who jumps when her husband touches her? No.
That’s not who he fell in love with. I’ve gone from broken to psycho to pathetic over the course of my lifetime. How do I get back to the woman I want to be?
I’m standing in the bathroom, finishing up my makeup while my phone sits on the counter. “Never Leave” by Seether fills the room to help take my mind off everything. I need noise. Silence makes me uncomfortable. I need something louder than my own thoughts.
He rushes into my room, like always, and I sit on the bed. “Get up,” Cyrus orders.
I stay where I’m at, my arms crossed over my naked chest. I’ve been free to roam my room for the past few days, but I knew it was too good to be true. No ropes, no chains, no visitors. It’s been heavenly.
“Fucking bitch.” He comes to the bed, grabs my ankle, and yanks me off.
I try to get a hold of the comforter, but I’m too slow, and before I know it, I’ve landed face down on the floor. “Get off me,” I shout, trying to roll over. It’s easier to fight face to face.
He grips my hair, yanks my head back, and then slams it into the floor. The first time, I see stars; the second time, I taste blood; and the third, I’m gasping to breathe as the pain sets in.
Grabbing my arms, he brings them behind my back and ties them in place. He wants an easy fuck. He’s never into the fight.
“You’re a whore, Eve. Born for one thing and one thing only.” He huffs and unzips his jeans. “If you can’t give us what we want…well, then you’re worthless. And you know what we do with worthless whores?” His chuckle fills my room as his knees shove mine open, forcing my ass up in the air. “We sell them off.”
Blinking, I see a set of blue eyes in the bathroom mirror, and I turn to face Kashton.
He’s not his father. Kashton is as good of a Lord as I’ll find. He has feelings and he cares about the ones he loves.
My chest hurts. I feel like I’m robbing him of a future. I’m in love with this man, but it’s going to cost him everything to love me. I won’t do that to him.
He slides his tatted hands into the pockets of his dress slacks.
The man is gorgeous. He’s got his dark hair slicked back and is dressed inan all-black tux. He looks mouthwateringly good. His blue eyes roam my body, looking over the white silk robe I’m wearing. I’ve done my hair and makeup, but I haven’t gotten dressed yet.
My heart races at what he expects from me. The life that he deserves to have. “I saw you that night,” I tell him.
His gaze meets mine, and he tilts his head in thought. It’s the smirk on his face that makes my palms sweaty. “On theIsabella?” He chuckles. “I remember, angel.”
I swallow the knot in my throat and square my shoulders. “No. At Hooke’s show.”
He frowns. “I don’t…” Trailing off, the recognition dawns on his face, his features hardening. “You were here recently? In New York?”
