Page 76 of Fragile Sanctuary

Her phone had gone off no fewer than half a dozen times during dinner, all with different siblings checking in. Her brother, Cope, had offered to send a full security detail to patrol the premises. I knew she wouldn’t truly be alone, but she was clearly feeling that way. That was all that mattered. Because, for some damn reason, the idea of Rho in any sort of discomfort was more than I could bear.

“You won’t get a good night’s sleep on my couch,” she mumbled.

Just the fact that she didn’t blow me off outright told me she didn’t want to be alone. That was enough for me.

“Your couch is just as comfortable as my lumpy-ass mattress back at the cabin.”

Those teeth tugged on her bottom lip. “I could go stay with Shep or Trace.”

“Or you can give me a blanket, and I can crash on your couch. I’ll be out before your head hits the pillow.”

Hazel eyes tangled with mine, those witch eyes pulling me in and putting me under their spell. “Might be nice to have someone here for one more night.”

I didn’t look away, couldn’t have even if I tried. “Then here’s where I’ll be.”

I lay on my back,staring at the ceiling as the early morning sun peeked through the curtains. I’d strung together maybe three hours. Every sound had me kicking off the blanket to walk the tiny house, rechecking locks and latches.

Except when I heard Rho. Her mattress creaked every time she tossed and turned. She hummed as she cared for the kittens in the middle of the night. And I swore she whispered as she dreamed.

Images of her tangled in sheets just feet from this damn couch haunted my every waking thought and taunted the little sleep I’d managed to get. Dreams of Rho. All curves and glowing skin, damp with sweat as I?—

The sound of a door opening jerked me out of my thoughts. I sat up, pushing to my feet as I heard the shower turn on. She haunted me even now with images of water running down her neck as she washed her face, of that tangle of hair I wanted so desperately to get my hands on.

I stalked down the hallway, pissed as all hell. At her. At me. At the fact that my fucked-up brokenness meant that Rho was someone I should never touch with my tainted fingers.

She slipped out of the bathroom and came up short, lips parting. “You’re awake.”

I didn’t answer. Simply stared.

Rho’s hair was in a tangle she hadn’t tried to tame yet. That tank top still taunted me, her nipples pressing against the fabric, beckoning me closer.

My back teeth ground together so hard I’d probably need a root canal. “Go back to your room,” I gritted out.

A little furrow appeared on her brow. “Why?—?”

“Because I’m holding on to my last shred of humanity, and if you stand here in those goddamn shorts for another ten seconds, it’s going to snap.”

Rho’s breaths came quicker, her chest rising and falling witheach one. Every inhale brought those curves closer—to my hands, my tongue. “What happens if you snap?” she whispered.

“I fuck you so hard you’ll feel me for weeks. I’ll ruin you, Reckless. You think I can’t taint you with my pain and the darkness that lives inside me, but you’re wrong.”

Defiance swept into those witch eyes. “One.” She licked her lips. “Two.”

“What the hell are you doing?” I snarled.

“Counting down to the snap,” Rho challenged. “Three.”

Everything about her set my blood on fire, from her strength to her beauty to her fearlessness.

“Four…” she goaded, slipping one strap of her tank top down. “Five.” The other fell free.

“Fuck it.”

I was on her in two long strides. One hand sank into her hair, hauling her mouth to mine. The other dropped to her ass, pulling her flush against me.

Rho gasped into my mouth as my dick pressed against her. I swallowed that gasp, taking it all, every ounce of shock and need. My mouth tore from hers, tracing her jaw until I reached her ear.

“Is this what you wanted? To know that you’ve been torturing me in those fucking shorts?” I squeezed her ass, and Rho’s thighs clenched in response. “In that damned tank top that shows me these pretty little nipples standing at attention?”

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