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This is about us, not them.

And in this moment of weakness, I don't care what it costs me, regardless if it’s only for the night, she’s mine. I need to see her face, I want to watch her eyes light with fire when she explodes around me.

Being with her is different. It’s an experience—one that demands all my attention and assaults all my senses.

I withdraw and flip her over. She can have the aggression she needs. I’ll send her to oblivion if that’s what she wants, but I’m going to give it all. Fast and slow, hard and soft…the thought terrifies me, but I want to give it all to her.

She’s sprawled beneath me, eyes hungry with lust, lips swollen from her biting them. I lean forward, take those pouty red lips between my teeth, and tug gently as I drive into her, her eyes are locked on mine.

I keep changing the pace. Back and forth. Back. And. Forth. My lips roam her body, kissing, nipping, and sucking as I fill her, driving in to the hilt. She feels like she was made for me, matching every thrust. Her hands grip my hair, pulling tightly as the first wave starts to hit. Sweat builds on our skin and the scent of sex mingles with coconut and dark spice. I nearly pass out from the intensity when we finally come together.

I open my eyes to find her watching me, violet eyes locked on me as I stay buried inside her. Seeing more than they should, leaving me feeling things I shouldn’t. Things that have nothing to do with revenge.

I feel lost and found all at once.

#####

Scarlett

After bringing me to ecstasy countless times, owning me, and worshipping me, we lie side by side on my cloudlike bed. Lifting my head from his chest, to look at him so relaxed from the beast he just was hours before. His hand caresses down my arm, before moving over my hip and reaching between us to brush his fingers between my legs. Throwing my leg up over his waist, I widen them, giving him access. His finger sweeps my moisture out and rubs it the length of my sex. Back and forth he teases me, as my head falls forward with a thud against his chest.

A light sheen of sweat builds on our skin, where our bodies are touching.

“I need you, Cohen.” The words escape, saying more than I intended to.

“Take me.” He moans into my ear. I feel his hard length brush my arm that lies, pinned between us. Sitting up, I shift to take what I need from him.

He lets me take the lead, rolling to lay on his back on the bed. I can see he him struggle not to take control as I straddle his legs, climbing up onto his lap and sliding myself down on his solid shaft we find our rhythm instantly, like we were made for each other. I know he can feel it to.

Cohen has his hands thrown up carelessly over his head, but I can see the twitch of his fingers, and I know he’s struggling let me stay in control while I grind back and forth, rocking into him.

Slow and torturous, I roll my hips back and forth and lifts up to meet every single thrust.

When the burn is too hot, the promise of pleasure so close, his grips my hips and flips me over and drives into me. My body arches up off the bed as his hold keeps me in place. My arms grip him tightly, keeping him close as our bodies slide, slick with sweat as he brings us both to an orgasm that has me yelling out and clenching my eyes shut so tightly I see white.

As we crash back down, he flips us once more, so that I am falling on top of him once more. Our skin drips with sweat as we lay in the silence.

Every time he’s inside me, something shifts. It’s like he’s pushing the darkness away, with every thrust, every caress and every kiss.

I feel like I should explain. I want him to know what this means, but I can’t tell him. Not yet. I’m afraid he will run away. The silence is becoming unbearable as we lay here breathing, our heart beats crashing together, beneath skin and bone. So I tell him something else. Who I was. He has a right to know who he has crawled into bed with.

“Cohen, you should know a few things about me.” I keep my tone neutral and leave my head pressed against his chest. “I’ve done things that I’m not proud of. Hurt people I loved, some who deserved it and some who didn’t. I started out life as a little blonde girl with big dreams, who quickly learned fairytales weren’t meant for people like me.” I spend the next few minutes telling him about my mum, my sister and how I came to be at Everlend. His heartbeat picks up and his grip tightens around me. But he doesn’t say a word. I say way more than I intended to. But I once I start, I can’t stop.

“I’ve had some pretty dark days. Dark years.” I explain, but the words tangle on my tongue.

“Have you ever thought about ending it,” he asks and I look at him, he has a faraway look in his eyes and lay my head back down on his chest, needing the connection as the conversation takes a heavy turn.

“No.” I reply honestly. “Because in death, what comes after… I’m afraid of being alone, but in life, I can at least fight not to be.”

His arms pull me tighter to him. “I’m glad.” He whispers.

“And you?” I think out loud.

“Hmm. No, but my mom did once. I came home from school and found her in the tub. She was so drunk, she missed the vein.”

“How old were you?” I ask.

“Ten.” He replies and my heart breaks for him. “I was small for my age. So I couldn’t lift her out of the freezing cold water. I called the landlord for help, I remember he was so annoyed about the mess, but he called the medics and she went away for a few weeks and I stayed with a couple next door. The neighbors, I told you about with the computer.” I nod, he keeps talking.