Page 12 of Forsaken Devotion: Part 2
“You’re my brother’s mate,” he mumbled. I stopped an inch from his lips, studying his unfocused eyes. “You smell like a mated female.” I would always smell different now that I’d bonded.
“Then hold your breath,” I whispered, and connected with his lips. He softened under my mouth, and I slid my palms along his smooth skin until my fingertips played with the tips of his damp hair. Alex shivered, becoming supple. I pushed my tongue into his mouth.
Lucian was a jealous man. When he found out I’d kissed his brother, he’d rage. I curved my tongue against Alex. My heart throbbed like a vise was wrapped around the organ.
This was wrong of me, but I wanted Lucian to hurt.
It was time he felt the pain I’d lived with for so long.
Alex exhaled against my lips roughly, and his hands settled on my waist, pulling me closer. Our bodies were pressed together; the T-shirt he’d let me borrow between us. His hard cock pressed into my stomach. I couldn’t fight the tensing of my muscles.
It feltsowrong.
How could he have touched someone else? How could he when it felt like my heart was being shredded? How could he?!
Alex pulled away, slowly, detaching from my lips. He cupped my face, and his thumb swiped the dampness on my cheek.
When had I started crying? I sucked in a breath, grappling to get a hold of my emotions.
“You’ve been through a lot, Joey.” His whispered words caused my stomach to constrict. His voice was gentle and kind. My lip warbled. I was grateful he’d stopped our kiss. This pain in me would only worsen if I betrayed myself right now. What I needed to focus on was healing.
“I should get some sleep,” I croaked. He’d stopped me from doing something I would hate myself for. I stepped back until my body was no longer flush to his.
“Take my bed,” he said, but I was already shaking my head. “I’ll take the couch.”
“No, but thank you.” I slipped out of his grip and backed toward the spacious living room. I’d slept in worse conditions; it’d honestly be more comfortable being alone on the couch than on someone’s bed. A someone I just kissed to hurt my mate.
“Goodnight,” I mumbled and shuffled away.
Alex had a cabin-style home, and the living room was just as woodsy as the rest of his place. A long sectional was smack dab in the middle of the room. He’d laid a sheet over the entire piece of furniture, while a pillow and a folded blanket rested at the end of the couch. I plopped down and laid back, staring at the ceiling.
That shifter Alex had told me worked as a police officer was my only lead for answers.
LUCIAN
I spatinto the toilet and slumped against the wall, raggedly breathing. There had been multiple bouts of sickness, leaving my stomach feeling off and sour. Already, my body was affected by my Josephine not being with me.
Exhaustion weighed heavy on my limbs, but I forced myself toward the shower. Upon turning the faucet, water sprayed on my head. Pain assaulted me with each of my movements as I removed my clothes and tossed them to the side. They landed with a wet plop.
I propped my hands on the tile beneath the spurting water and bowed my head. Water sprayed across the top of my hair, and I closed my eyes.
I deserved all of this festering guilt eating my insides; I deserved whatever she wanted to do with me, but she could do it while at my side. I’d hunt her until the end of the earth if it was necessary. Then I would do whatever she wished, as long as she didn’t leave me. If she ordered me to throw myself off a mountain, I’d do it, as long as she remained beside my broken body . . . I would do anything to stop her pain. She hadn’t deserved what I’d done.
My sweet, precious mate.
Her face was ingrained in my memory. After she’d run off, I’d spent hours searching for her. At her duplex, at the hotel, at my house, those were the only places she’d ever frequented.
If I hadn’t rushed into getting her a cell phone, I could have had the IT guy install a tracker in it before I’d given it to her, but I never anticipated losing her like this. It was pure arrogance.
I’d learned my lesson.
The only reason I’d returned to our house was because I’d run out of options. If I kept running myself ragged, looking for her, I risked losing her for good.
I had to think, which was hard with her gone. Every person in my pack knew to keep an eye out. If anyone saw her, they’d contact Bruno, who would contact me, but I had yet to hear anything. I scrubbed my palms down my face, quickly cleaned myself with soap, and made quick work of shampooing.
I wouldn’t rest until I had her back with me. The swell of nausea remained in my stomach, the sensation sour and uncomfortable. I tilted my head back, exhaling slowly. I’d never vomited like that, nor had the pain wracking my body. Agony had been sudden and striking.
I’d never felt such intense pain. Especially the sudden burn through my chest . . . where our bond was.
