I’m his. I’ve always been his. How dare I let someone else touch me? I’m going to hell. He’s going to watch my skin burn off as I scream in agony.
“Can’t he stay away? He’s a damn monster, preying on you like this, William.”
I look up, finding Gracen at my office door. My heart jumps, and my lips curl a little at the sight of him.
“Can I come in?” Gracen asks.
“Fuck you. No. You’re not allowed near him. He’s mine. William is mine! I’m going to kill you.”
“Yes,” I answer, maybe a little louder than necessary because I have to talk over Ryan. Or maybe quieter than I intended because I want Gracen to hear me, but Ryan not to.
That doesn’t work, though. Ryan turns on me with fury.
Gracen crosses the room, walking straight through the image of Ryan, and stops at the edge of my desk. I press my face into his hip and inhale deeply. Ryan’s yells are abruptly cut off, mid-word. I sigh. Thank fuck. My head is pounding.
Gracen’s hand moves gently over my head, through my hair. “Are you busy? Am I interrupting?”
I shake my head.
“Think you can take a break for a while?”
Blindly, I reach up and close my laptop. “Yeah.”
He chuckles. “Come here. Up.”
I get to my feet. Gracen pulls a shirt over his head and wraps it around my head. I smile because I’m hidden within it entirely. It takes him a minute to adjust it, and I stare into his eyes. He can’t see my smile through the fabric, but I’m grinning.
“Better?” he asks.
I nod. “Yes. Thank you.”
“Good.” He takes my hand and leads me to the door. “I have somewhere to bring you.”
We’re quiet as we walk through the building, take the elevator to the underground parking, and get into his truck. I’m not sure where we’re going, but I’m a little surprised when we park in the side parking lot of the big house.
“I’ve been here before,” I say.
He snorts. “Have you?”
“Uh-huh. Once or twice.”
Gracen turns the engine off and turns to me. His hand cups the back of my head, pulling my face to his, where he kisses my forehead, the only place he can reach outside of his shirt around my head.
I’m disappointed when he pulls away. I’d like to be cuddled in his arms for a while. He climbs out of the truck, shutting the door. I unclick my seatbelt and reach for the handle. Gracen is there as I slip down from his truck. I’m glad when he pulls me to his chest for a minute, shutting the door behind me.
“Ready?” he asks.
I nod. Once more, Gracen takes my hand and brings me inside. We don’t move deeply into the house but into one of the rooms close to the side entrance. I’m surprised when the triplets are there with Daddy Jalon. My stomach twists.
“Am I in trouble?” I ask quietly, pulling the shirt down so they can see my face.
“Of course not,” Ellory says.
“Come here,” Gracen says, pulling me to a couch that’s across from Jalon with the triplets sitting perpendicular. “Sit.”
I do, and he crouches in front of me. “A while ago, you told me you’re haunted and that he never goes away unless you’re with me.”
“Yes,” I agree, nodding. My eyes flicker up, and Ryan’s image is there, just over Gracen’s shoulder. “He doesn’t really go away when you’re here. I just can’t hear him.”
