She slides off me and lays her cheek against my chest, panting. “That was amazing,” she murmurs breathlessly. I don’t have to look at her to know she’s smiling. “Like…become a new woman,sort of amazing.”
“You owned me,” I tell her. “Every second of my attention. My desire. My commitment. My obsession. You owned every single moment, Sunshine.”
She kisses my chest. “I know.”
CHAPTER 29
ELARA
Ilie in Rhett’s arms, listening to the sound of him breathing softly in his sleep. When we came together, everything disappeared…everything. The past, the future, tomorrow, what I have to do.
It all melted into nothingness in the heat of his eyes. He looked at me likeobsessiondoesn’t even come close. And with him, that’s what I wanted. Onmyterms. Withmyboundaries.
I like the feeling of his heartbeat against my cheek. I like knowing that he’s made sure this place is extra safe, and that if anybody even dared to crash through that door, he’d fight them off with a vengeance.
I love being with him. But that doesn’t mean I can start making plans for the future. Tomorrow is going to be a big?—
The vibration of my phone cuts through my thoughts. I reach the bedside table quickly, thinking it could be Mira.
The number is unknown. My stomach clenches.
Is it him?
“Hello?”
“Elle?” Mira whispers.
“Mira?” I snap. “Why are you calling from an unknown number?”
There’s motion on the other end of the line. Thenhisvoice.
“Hello, sweetheart.”
My spine stiffens. I sit up in bed, looking down at Rhett, at the peaceful, sleepy smile on his face.
“Don’t say anything,” he goes on. “I need you to listen to me and listen good. You’re not going to wake Rhett. Or to tell him I’ve called. Because if you do, I’ll kill her.”
I want to scream and yell so badly at the unfairness of the situation, but I can’t. Somehow, I keep my voice level. “How did you even…”
“I’m a very, very clever person,” he snaps. “That’s what people never understand about me. They think my… imperfections mean I’m not capable. But I am. I’m very capable of turning my attention to this little bitch if that’s what it takes.”
“How did you get her?” I whisper as I quietly stand and go into the en-suite, closing the door behind me.
“I take what I want,” he snaps. “You should know that. What I want right now is for you to be a good girl and get to uswithoutRhett.”
“I already told you, Lucian. I want you. I’m ready to meet you.”
“Call this insurance, then,” he snarls.
“Please let me talk to her.”
“We’re at your place,” he says. “Get here within the hour or I’ll do every interesting thing I ever wanted to do to you… but with her.”
He hangs up before I can say another word. My head is cloudy, my heart is pounding.
Should I wake Rhett?
But if I do that, then he could hurt Mira. If he hurts Mira?—
