But I can’t.
So I do the next best thing.
Wrapping her into my arms, I release the ball of rage and soothe her worries. She clings to me, her beacon of hope in a sea of black, and buries her head. Running a hand through her hair, I hold her tight, infusing her with my strength.
“I’m madly in love with you.” I’ve told her multiple times. Saying it is as natural as breathing. “Madly, Collins.” She’s yet to say it back.
This anger stemmed from maybe her not loving me back. It’s soon—weeks of dating, forced together and that doesn’t always equate to love. But I hoped—begged the universe, that she would soon.
“Even after…?” She trails off, still hiding in my chest. Yanking her head back, I cup her jaw.
“Viper, there isn’t much you can do that would ever make me stop loving you.” I kiss her forehead. “I love the way you fight me.” A kiss to her nose. “I love the way you care about me.” A light one to each of her eyelids. “The way you take my cock.”She smirks at my joke and my heart soars. “Nothing you’ve done could make me stop. I’m in it for life.”
Gulping, she chuckles. “You don’t think I’m horrible?”
“Oh, the worst,” I reply solemnly. “But so am I. I’m selfish, terrible. We both don’t think twice about killing someone. If anything, all this shit that happened to you, just makes you even more perfect.”
She brightens at that. “Perfect?”
Nodding, I brush my lips to hers. “Perfect for me.”
She tries to smile, but it’s heavy with the memories that won’t leave her. Her mind is her best asset but it can also be a real dick to her.
“Do you trust me?”
“Yes.” It’s quick, firm.
Having her trust is almost as good as having her love.
“Good.”
The only way to break the memories is to give her something else to focus on. And I know what to do.
“Get on the table, Collins. I won’t tell you again.”
She jerks back, looking from vase of roses, to the lacy runner, confused.
“Excuse me?”
“You’re in your head,” I explain, crossing to the pocket doors. “When that happens, you spiral. We’re not doing that tonight.”
“So, you want me to get on the table?” She pouts and it’s so fucking adorable, I smile.
“Baby, at this point, I will take you any way I can have you. The table is just for aesthetics.”
She glares at it like it offended her. “You must have sustained a brain injury. I’m not getting on the table.”
Surging across the room, I grab her neck, bodies curving to match like two halves of a whole. Her breath stutters and I inhale her arousal. Picking up the bottle, I take a large gulp.
She tracks my throat, bobbing as I swallow.
Yanking her head back, I take another swing and spit the scotch into her mouth, snapping her jaw closed.
“Swallow, viper. We both know you can.”
Her cheeks flush, liquor dripping down her chin. My tongue laps it up and her knees begin to shake as she listens.
“Now.” My rough hands pull her up by her ass, swiping all the things on the table off to the floor. Everything crashes and I smirk. “Where were we?”
