“Our perfect girl.” He says as he slides his hands up her arms to her shoulders and stares at her with the same need I feel for her.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
THE HEATHEN
Carter moves his hands to my neck and rubs his thumbs over my skin with a slow gentle motion. This simple gesture of tenderness is what I need most right now. A whimper escapes from my throat when Knox moves my hair and presses soft kisses to the back of my neck.
“Did anything happen while you were gone that we should know about?” Knox asks, his voice pained from even speaking the words.
When I don’t respond immediately, Carter says, “Anything sexual?”
“No. I was beaten, but nothing sexual happened.”
Carter’s eyes darken as he stares at me, his killer instinct bubbling just below the surface, reminding me of the night they killed Snake.
“Who hurt you, Little Heathen? Tell us the name of the person that dared to strike, what's ours?”
I shrug my shoulders, being careful to keep my hands still.
“Sister Agatha and a priest. I don’t remember his name.”
Carter growls, “Then we will kill them all.”
Knox hums in agreement as he runs his tongue over my flesh. He lifts my shirt and stops. I can feel his eyes on the bruises.
“Tesoro,” he says, his voice aching and raw.
“It’s okay. Please don’t stop.”
Knox turns me so Carter can see too, and I hate being on display like a victim.
“Tesoro.” Knox growls angrily.
“This is worse than what you let on. It has to be painful.”
I hang my head down in shame because that’s exactly what I feel.
“I’m sorry.”
Carter pulls me into his arms, and I place my arms behind my back.
“You have nothing to be sorry about. Nothing. Do you understand me?”
“Yes,” I whisper.
“I just-“
I take a shaky breath and release it slowly.
“I don’t want you to see me as weak. I don’t want you to look at me and see a victim.”
“Impossible,” Carter says as he presses a soft kiss to my cheek.
“You are the strongest woman I’ve ever met. The things you’ve endured didn’t destroy you. They tried to burn you until there was nothing left. It didn’t work because you’re a fucking goddess, and you can withstand anything. Like a phoenix, you rose from the ashes they left you in. This is who you are. You’re not a victim, Little Heathen. You’re a survivor.”
“Carter,” I breathe, and he slams his lips to mine in a devouring kiss. His tongue frantically strokes mine with hungry lashes, as if this is the moment he has been aching for, like I have. Tangling his fingers in my hair, he groans into my mouth, moving my head to the side, deepening our kiss. When he pullsaway, he stares into my eyes, not speaking a word but telling me everything he feels.
Knox places his hand on my chin and turns my head toward him.
