Page 37 of The Sculptor

He’s the only one with an outstretched hand.

And I’m slapping it away.

Not because I want to.

I’d love nothing more than to take that hand full of comfort and compassion and wrap myself in the security that is Duke Potter, but I can’t. He deserves more.

And I can give him more… with time.

“Don’t save me this time.” A tear falls down my cheek. “I need to face the snakes on my own.”

Absolute agony flashes when he opens his eyes and steps off the pedestal. I have to fight through the panic to avoid reaching for him and confessing everything.

But that would be a colossal mistake.

Duke might relent now, but he won’t when he knows everything. There are only two ways he’d handle it. He wouldn’t believe me, or he’d kill Langston.

Neither of those things can happen.

Not out of concern for Langston, of course, but because he still has what belongs to us.

Our real heart.

“All right, Ray. I’ll let you drown, but remember who suffers when you draw your last breath.” He steps forward and kisses my cheek, his heady breaths filling me with something otherworldly. “Don’t let them take what’s left of us.”

Damn him and the bond we share.

Duke steps back, and I grab his arm to… keep him close? Tell him the truth? I don’t know. But neither of those things come out of my mouth. “Langston plans on inviting you to his bachelor party next week. I respectfully request you decline.”

A mischievous smile I’ve seen more times than I can count emerges on his face. “Do you now?”

“I do.”

He pushes in closer. “Tell me how you really got that bruise, and I’ll consider it.”

I grit my teeth. “This isn’t your fight anymore.”

“Wrong answer, Ray.”

His lips purse in this mocking pout. “Tell your beau that I take exception to property damage.”

“I’m not your property.”

He yanks me into his hard chest, his hands cupping my breasts, making sure the only part of me exposed is his heart painted on the underside. “That heart says otherwise.”

His finger swipes over the paint, sending chills along my skin.

“Duke…”

He presses his lips to my neck, his eyes closing as he inhales deeply. “Please tell me why you’re doing this.”

He’s begging.

My heart can’t take it. Placing my hands over his, I offer him the only thing I can. Hope. “Hang on just a little longer. I promise I’ll make the screaming stop.”

With that, Duke’s head snaps up, his eyes flashing with the same fury he had earlier. “Tell your fiancé I’ll bring the cigars. I’m done entertaining you. I’ll make the screaming stop myself.”

Duke

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