Page 56 of Vow of Revenge
Volts rocketed through me, knocking the breath from my lungs. My instincts kicked in, and I pushed her back on the bed, arching over her. The soft dark lengths of her hair mapped the pillow, framing her pale skin. Struggling with restraint, I panted hard. I knew exactly what I needed to do, but I also knew what I had to do – my lips seared hers with a deep rough kiss that nearly broke me. Soft moans and stroking hands returned my hunger. Arms snaked around my neck, holding me too close for reality. Her breasts lifted into my chest when I hesitated. She felt so good - warm and wet, tender and forceful.
I wanted her.
I needed her.
I was losing control of the game.
Who was I kidding? I’d already lost the battle when I got into the car and ended up at her place. I’d waited outside for over two hours, like I did most nights. The coffee from the next street tasted like shit, so Gavin would stop off at Starbucks before we parked outside her apartment block where I would consider my next move.
Tonight, I’d debated, faltered and punched the upholstery. Gavin drove around the city when I barked at him to drive off and take me away from her apartment. We ended up back at her place, and now, I was in her bedroom, giving in to the one thing I craved more than my memories.
Freya Beautmont.
“Kaleb, stay with me. Sleep beside me tonight. It’s late,” she murmured into my open mouth.
Abruptly breaking the intensity, I pulled back and jumped off the bed. My palms flew to my temples, and I sucked in a gasp of air. “I didn’t come here for this, Freya,” I barked at her like she had instigated the kiss, when we both knew it was me. “I just wanted to let you know that the sex wouldn’t happen again. It was a mistake, like coming here tonight.”
My mind was spinning. The power she had over me was drowning my heart, and I couldn’t fucking breathe. Fresh memories were resurfacing, and the pieces didn’t fit together. I was suffocating under my vow of revenge and the agonising emotions colliding in my chest. The look of confusion in her eyes stung like a venomous snake bite. Freya clutched the sheets to her neck and the lust evaporated from the room.
“You really are an asshole, Kaleb,” she choked out.
“I know,” I agreed, adjusting my tee over my rapidly rising chest.
Her nostrils flared. “Get the hell out of here.” Her small voice shook as the words gritted out. “And my life.”
This was the devastation that I invoked.
Retribution was mine for the taking only right now, this was fucking hell. Her pain was my pain to live with. Denying myself the very thing I craved the most was my reckoning for all the women I’d fucked over through the years.
“No worries, little mouse.” I asserted her stupid name, forcing myself back into the game. Without looking back, I left her alone on the bed, knowing in my dead heart that Freya was the only woman who could break my vow of revenge and make me whole again.
16 years ago
Mr. B came instead of Mr. C. I was ever so thankful and even relieved to see his gentle eyes crease with concern. He told me he couldn’t sit back in the knowledge of my obvious torture. He wants to help me. Maybe he is my hero after all.
Mr. B made a promise. He’s working on a plan to free me from Damien. When the plan is carried out, Mr. B will set me up with enough money to get by and put us up in a flat in the city.
He really wants to help me. I will be with my baby girl again. We’ll have a life together and a future. I have hope. A will to survive the beatings.
As much as I’m happy, I’m also sad because I don’t want to leave the boy here alone. I love him for being my happiness in this hell hole of a home. Maybe I can bring him with me. That bastard wouldn’t even notice if his son didn’t come home from school.
Present day
The following weeks dragged. I traipsed to work, focused on my writing and then hid away in my room at night. Syrah brought Brett back most evenings, it was her way of staying close and not deserting me. Her thoughtfulness crowded my misery. Watching Brett gaze at Syrah and interact with her on a level far greater than she had ever experienced, was a kick to my gut.
Don’t get me wrong, I was really thankful for their happiness, but Kaleb had opened the door to Pandora’s box, revealing a haunting desire that I knew nothing of until we met.
I craved his lips, his cock and even his silly emails, but there had been zero contact since I chucked him out of my room.
Kaleb had moved on, his mission to destroy me complete.
Feeling sorry for my broken heart, Syrah took me to our favourite coffee shop that sold the best strawberry milkshakes ever. Brett had business to take care of, so I finally had her all to myself. It was only when we plonked down at our usual table that I realised how much I’d missed her.
“So, things are getting pretty serious with you two then?” I supped up the icy shake through a candy stripe straw. “He’s been at our place every night this week, not that I’m complaining.”
A goofy grin spread her happiness right across her face. “It’s just so different with him. He respects me, but most of all, we talk, you know, like really talk about stuff.”
“Like who’d be putting out the trash when your married?” I joked.
