Page 175 of Only for Him
The only marks she should carry are mine.
I should’ve lit that bastard on fire and strapped his corpse to the hood of my car, driven it through Manhattan like a goddamn parade float. A warning to the whole city: this is what happens when you touch what’s mine.
This week without her was hell enough, I don’t have it in me to imagine a lifetime knowing she died because she chose me. I wanted her devotion, but now that I have it, the weight of what it almost cost is a splinter I’ll never dig out.
The world wouldn’t survive her death.
She stalks the room, crossing in and out of the shadows. Sometimes she stops, and I see her reflection in the window: dark hair wild, jaw locked, hands curling and uncurling like claws.
I want those nails flaying the skin off my back as I drown in her. I want her ripping into me, screaming my name, pouring out all that pain and rage and needing straight into my fucking mouth.
I force my gaze away from her silhouette—and land on the glint of cheap metal hanging from her ears.
Serena’s earrings. Always those earrings.
She’s as loyal to me as she is to those earrings, and the girl they memorialize.
I don’tlikethat. Iloveit.
More than her sharp jaw, her sweet cunt, or that vicious hunger for revenge—the only person I’ve ever met whose desire matches mine—I love knowing she’ll give herself to me above anything else.
My beautiful, ruthless little viper.
She’s been pacing for five minutes, saying nothing. I break the tension before it strangles us both.
“Planning to wear a hole in the floor?” I ask.
She halts mid-stride and shoots me a look that could peel paint.
“Why? Worried about getting your deposit back?” Giselle snarks, but she still drops into the chair opposite mine, legs splayed, hands gripping the armrests like she’ll launch herself at me any second.
She doesn’t.
Part of me—fuck it,mostof me—wishes she would.
I never thought I’d get on my knees for anyone, but right now it’s exactly where I want to be—fingers digging into her thighs while I wrap my tongue around her clit and make her come for me.
But now’s not the time. My dick disagrees. It keeps twitching to life, aching for her, but I ignore it. I’m pretty sure if she saw how hard I am, she’d ride me raw. And I need her sharp and awake enough to stay alive through all this.
Her phone buzzes. A pedestrian, earthly sound that reminds us we’re not alone in the universe. She glances down.
“They’ll be here soon,” she says. “I still don’t understand why you want me. Here, I mean. Involved.”
I lean in, elbows on the desk, letting the ache in my shoulder fuel me.
“Obeying me has never been your strong suit, little viper. At least not outside the bedroom.”
Her jaw clenches.
“But I need you to hear this: I’m past it. I’m not spending the rest of our lives arguing over whether you deserve forgiveness. It’s mine to give.”
Her eyes narrow, a slight twitch on her lips.
“The rest of our lives, huh?” she asks.
Fuck. I didn’t mean to say that part out loud.
“Not that those are destined to be very long,” I say quickly.
