“My father.” I pause, bracing myself for this part. “You said that he was going to do something to me, and that it was part of the reason you killed him.” I swallow. “What was he going to do to me, Riven?” I ask. I already know the answer, but I need to hear him say the words.
He studies me, his eyes searching mine for permission to speak the words into existence. I nod once, tears already on the verge of an avalanche. I pull them back, not wanting to give Gideon another second of my sorrow.
“Gideon was going to sell you to the highest bidder. At the time, it was shaping up to be Preston Marston. He was the—”
“Preston Marston? The governor’s son? Everyone knows that he—” Riven stops me.
“He was abusing women and even put one of them in an ICU. Yes, I know,” he says, confirming what I already knew to be true. I did a story on domestic abuse and how to find your voice in the chaos. Gideon was going to sell me off to Preston, knowing whatkind of man he was? Knowing that my life would be inactualdanger? I start to shake, a single tear streaming down my cheek despite all of my attempts to stop it.
“Hey, come here. Shhh, darling,” Riven says softly, pulling me into him and against his chest. He brushes the hair out of my face, tucking it behind my ear. His thumb wipes at the tears that are now a steady stream. “I know, darling.I know. Let it all out. You’re safe with me now.” His words soothe me, settling the shaking in my body and mind.
“I’ll kill him,” he whispers so low that it could pass for a thought instead of sound. I lift my head from his tear-streaked chest to study his face.
“I’ll do it. I’ll end his miserable existence on Earth. Just say the word,” he says, eyes devoid of humor. He’s serious.
“I … no. I don’t want any more death. I’ve seen,done, enough. It’s enough. I just wantthis.” I run my hands over his bare chest. “I just want us,” I say softly.
He cups my cheek in one of his large palms. I bring up a hand and place it on top of his, running my thumb up and down the sides of his calloused skin. I bite my bottom lip, another nervous habit that I’m suddenly aware of.
“I’d do anything for you, Sloane. You know that, right?” he says, voice low and raspy. I bring my attention to his eyes, peering into them like I’m searching for his soul. Mine quickly connects with his, assuring me that he means every word.
“I know,” I say, laying my head back down against his chest. I can hear his heartbeat, strong and steady like him. The echo of his heart tames the archaic pulse within my own, until our souls are dancing to the same silent song. Before long, I’m drifting into the oblivion of his warm embrace.
? ? ?
I awaken in a panic, shooting upright and adjusting my eyes to the dim light of the TV in the room. I feel a hand on my shoulder, pulling me back down. I panic, still coming to my senses of who and where I am.
“Shhh, darling. It was only a dream. Come back to me.” I hear a male voice, so familiar. Awareness suddenly brings me back to the present.
“Shit, Riven. I’m sorry. I—I don’t even know. The dream, it was so … vivid,” I say, coming to a full sitting position between his large thighs.
“Wanna talk about it?” he asks, looking up at me with that soft, understanding gaze. His hair is disheveled, falling into his eyes in the mostdeliciousway. I gulp, taking a deep and cleansing breath.
“I was in my room, asleep. Someone was talking to me over the cameras?” My eyes widen, darting straight to his in horror. “Youwouldn’t,” I say, fire creeping up in my veins and threatening to consume me whole. If he did what I think he did,I swear.
“Sloane, if you don’t rein that in, I will have to spank it out of you,” he warns. His words confirm the suspicion.
“How could you put a camera in mybedroom, Riven?” I am seeing red, but I can’t help the fire that shoots straight to my core at the thought of him watching me. What the actual fuck is wrong with me?
“Many, many things, darling,”the devil on my shoulder purrs, sharpening her talons on her pitchfork. I glare at her, daring her to utter another deceitful word. She grins, knowing she’s right, and remains silently judging from afar.
“Okay, let’s talk about this like rational adults,” he starts. “I wasprotectingyou. I couldn’t be here at all times, so … cameras.” He has the nerve to smirk at me, a devilish expression in his eyes. The gray is a rich, smoky color. It appears like astorm caught in a globe, dangerous and so painfully aware. If I reach for it, will it shatter me into pieces?
I snap back from my derailing thoughts, still pissed that he’d do such a thing.
“Riven, there are boundaries,” I say, unsure of where I’m even going with this, or if my words even hold an ounce of truth to them.
“Oooo, I love it when you’re feisty,” he teases, his grin growing until that stupid dimple is on full display.
I can’t help it, I’m as stubborn as they come. So, naturally, I can’t let this go. “Maybe we should take a break, let the dust settle for a bit,” I say, even though that’s thelastthing that I want to do right now.
His eyes turn cold, violent even. In an instant, his hands are gripping both of my wrists, and he’s on top of me and pinning me to the sofa. My senses are heightened, suddenly aware ofeverypart of him that’s pressing into every part of me. He chuckles, and it’s laced with velvet and darkness. I almost don’t recognize the depravity in his tone. My chest rises and falls against his at a more rapid pace now, all too aware of our proximity and the need to beso muchcloser.
“Careful, Sloane. It almost sounds like you’re suggesting we go our separate ways.” He pauses, studying my watchful eyes. “Now you know that I’dneverallow that, don’t you? You aremine. Mine to have, mine to love, mine to punish, and mine to do all of the depraved things that I want with. I’m not going anywhere, darling, and neither are you. If I have to chain you to my bed and never let you see the sunlight, I will.”
His jaw flexes, and I can see the lightning dancing behind his stormy gray eye. His gaze flicks to my mouth, watching eagerly as I run my tongue over my bottom lip. I push my hips upward, feeling everything thatIdo to him. His words are lacedwith warning, yet they fall on me like worship. I’ve never heard anything so devastatingly beautiful.
“Tell me that you want me, Sloane. Tell me that I’m enough.” His emotions warp into desperation, reaching and ravenous.
