He stands and drags me to the edge of the bed with him. Collecting my legs in his large hands, they wrap around his hips as he fills me with his cock again. “Is this what you want?”
“I want it all, Ash. Screw me all fucking night.”
Chapter 28
Tainted Love
Theearly-morningsunripplesover the pool water in a way that makes it look so damn enticing. I dip my toe in and pull back just as quickly as goosebumps scatter up my leg. Martika’s “Toy Soldiers” plays through my headphones. Today’s mix is right on point, eighties break-up songs, and it’s bringing the exact vibes I need to feel a little stronger and know I’m doingexactly what I have to. I need to put myself first, like Asher said. I just need to get through Malachi’s engagement party tonight, then I’ll tell them all I know the truth. Not only that, but I’m taking over my share alone, no marriage of convenience to keep me safe like they’ve all planned. They may not believe in me, but I know I can do it.
I want my phone back, my room at Sloane’s apartment, my job dancing, my independence, and I’m not taking no for an answer. If they want to stay in my life, they can grovel their way back into it. If they’re lucky. I nod to myself, my plan falling firmly into place. And once I confront my papa and brother and tell them I know the truth and I’m going to take over my share myself, no more marriages, they will have to listen to me. I’m not sure why Valentine left his share to me, if it really was to trap me like Sloane said or not, but it gives me the power I never had before. If I can just talk to Sloane tonight, then I might be able to make it all happen quickly. I’m sure she’ll help me. She has the majority share, and she knows that world as well as anyone.
My headphones are lifted off my ears, and I turn to find Cruz behind me, his chest glistening from an early-morning session in the gym. “What are you doing out here alone?”
“Asher is still asleep. I wasn’t going to wake him to babysit me because I felt like an early-morning dip,” I grumble, not wanting to get into it with him this morning, but is he really concerned I’m alone? There’s enough security around this place, we all know no one is getting in or out without one of them knowing about it.
His eyes run down my bikini-clad body then flick back up to my face. “You’re not wet.”
“It was colder than I had anticipated.”
“Best way to get over a hangover though, right?” His lips twist menacingly like the two of us are in on a secret. BloodyAsher. I was with him the entire night, how did he even have time to tell Cruz what I got up to last night?
I shrug, not admitting to anything. But I was kind of hoping the cool water would help to rid me of this terrible thumping in my head. I suck in a breath then push off the step, taking the plunge into the icy-cold water without another thought for how it’s going to freeze my brain. It prickles over my skin, but I don’t stop moving my arms and kicking my feet until I’m at the other end of the pool. It might be cold, but for a split second, it feels like escaping reality. Escaping Cruz and his assessing eyes, anyway.
Following me on foot, he jogs down to the other end of the pool, squatting down so he can get closer to me. “I didn’t think you had it in you.” He grins at me, impressed.
“I’m not some weak little princess like you all think. If I set my mind to something, I will do it,” I snip back, not talking about the swim anymore.
He thinks on that then nods. “I believe you.” He tosses my headphones on one of the recliners. “I’m not one for cold water, but you make it look enticing in that cute little bikini.” He plunges into the deep end, popping up right in front of me, splashing me playfully before pulling me into his arms, kissing me.
My heart does a stupid flutter, and I beg it to stop. I can’t have this reaction when they’re around anymore. I need to be stronger than this. But when he places kisses down the side of my neck and softly presses my back into the side of the pool, my legs wrap around his waist, and I pull him in close, inhaling everything Cruz.
“What did you think of Sloane’s game last night? Did Myriah find true love?”
I shrug. I wasn’t really paying too much attention to the game with all the shit I had going on. “Myriah looked happy with her choice. Hope it works out for her.”
My eyes lock with his, desperate for him to tell me some truths. Anything that proves I’m wrong and everything I found out yesterday was all some terrible misunderstanding. “You got home super late. What happened to Silas?”
His eyes shift away from me. “You don’t have to worry about him anymore,” he mutters, nipping his way down my neck.
I sigh and shake my head. “Yeah, I thought that was the kind of answer you would give me.” I try to shove him off me, but he won’t budge, so I glare at him instead. “So much for including me in what’s going on around here.”
His gaze darkens as he captures my hands in front of us. “Last time you were included, you didn’t talk to me after, and you tried to run away from us. Forgive me for not wanting a repeat of that shitshow.”
“We both know I only ran because you were keeping shit from me,” I snap back angrily. I wanted to keep all this to myself until after the party tonight, but my rage is so close to bubbling over, I’m not sure I can.
“Sometimes shit isn’t black and white, little darlin’. We have been dealing with this world our whole lives. You can’t just show up here and expect to be part of our crew, no matter how pretty you are.”
His words sting, knowing even after all our time together, he still sees me as an outsider, but I also get it. They don’t tell anyone shit, including their sister, so why would they include me in anything business-related? But what I want him to tell me is personal because it clearly involved me and their fucking manipulation, and I want him to come clean. My eyes narrow in on him. “So, it’s all just business, is that what it is? But personal stuff you’ll let me in on?”
His eyes narrow into slits, and he looks me over with a cold distance I don’t like. “We have all been very lenient for you, baby.”
“Yeah, real lenient.” I shove at him, forcing him to loosen his grip on me enough that I can get away. I swim up the pool away from him, anger bubbling through me. Screw him for lying to my face. Before I make it back to the steps, large arms wrap around me and pull me back. “Just leave me the fuck alone, Cruz,” I splutter back at him. He doesn’t get to be close to me when he’s keeping shit from me.
“Not until you tell me what the hell has gotten into you the last few days. You’re moodier than my sister and just as hostile toward us.”
“If you don’t know, I’m not enlightening you. You’re a big boy, Cruz, I’m sure if you think really hard you can work it out,” I spit, way sassier than I should be right now, but screw him.
“What is that supposed to mean?” he snaps back.
