She’s mine.
Until my last breath.
Lilac
Last Day of Spring Break
Irvin pulls out of me, then lies next to me. I rest my head on his shoulder. Every day I choose to stay active in our marriage, I realize more and more that I made this choice. That I choose to be his. That I choose for him to be obsessed with me. That I choose to let him control my life. I wouldn’t have it any other way. And I get to be just as obsessed with him too, even though it’s extremely unhealthy. We both know our love is fractured and obsessive. We accept each other for who we are. I know Irvin will never change, and I’m okay with it. I really am.
He rolls me over and bites my ass cheek.
I moan. “Irvin. That hurts.”
“Just biting what’s mine,” he says.
He pins my hands above my head, kisses the sides of my cheeks, then pulls my legs apart and slides inside me, fucking me harder. Sex between us is imbalanced. He knows he can fuck me without my consent—because, well… I enjoy it.
Once he comes inside me, we get out of bed, shower, and I change into a light sweater, denim jeans, and ankle boots.
Irvin opts for a cotton shirt and sweatpants. He smiles and grabs my hand.
“Did I tell you how beautiful you are, my love?”
“Every single day.” I smile. “Did you check our midterm grades?”
He nods. “I got twoB’s and you got threeA’s and one B.”
I cock my eyebrow. “What did I get the B in?”
“Consumer psychology,” he answers. “We’ll go out and celebrate tonight, after we see Winter one last time. I have a surprise for you.”
I arch a brow. “What kind of surprise? The last time you surprised me, we had dinner at the cemetery with your mother.”
My heart warms. He slides his fingers into mine. So far, our life has been peaceful, but sometimes it’s filled with dread because Winter’s mother somehow gained authority over her life and will pull the plug tomorrow. Then they will have her funeral.
There’s not a day that goes by when I don’t blame myself. I cry myself to sleep sometimes because of what Emerson did to her. No matter how many times I tell myself it wasn’t my fault, the guilt and sorrow don’t go away. I wish she could have known the real me. I wish she’d wake up so I can tell her how sorry I am. I wish I could see her smile and her kind eyes. I wish I could hear her soft voice.
I told Raven and Lyrical what really happened to me. Lyrical cried, and Raven said she understood why I hid my secret identity. Both hugged me tight, loved me even more.
The story about what happened on campus got out, and my name surfaced. News reporters swarmed the campus, trying to get an interview. Thankfully, Irvin is part of the American Billionaire Club, so the story died down within twenty-four hours.
The doorbell rings, and Irvin grabs my hand and walks me to the foyer. I stand next to a bouquet of pastel purple flowers on a wooden table.
“Close your eyes, my Lilac.”
I do as he says.
I hear footsteps—hushed. A faint, familiar smell of perfume.
“Open them, baby.”
I open them. My eyes water. Her dark skin, bright doe eyes, red box braids. Ally.
My hands fidget, and I shift on my feet.
“It’s been ag—”
“I know,” she answers.
