Page 47 of The Dove
“Shh,” he crooned, gently moving her so her head lay in his lap. “I’ve got you, butterfly. It’s all right.”
She jerked violently against him, but he went on wiping her face, smoothing her hair back from her forehead. Her eyes swiveled until she gazed up at him, and despite her dilated pupils, they were clearer than he’d seen them in some time. He forced a smile and held on to her, doing his best to help her lie still. She’d been unable to rest with the shudders wracking her so badly.
“T-talk t-to me,” she managed between clatters of her teeth.
He scowled, never having been one for frivolous conversation. “About what?”
She laughed, the sound weak and shaky from how hard she trembled. “A-anything … d-distract m-me.”
Nodding, he gazed off across the room, still absently stroking her hair. “Very well. Serena seems to like it here. She has been having a wonderful time exploring the house with Daphne. So, you do not need to worry about her lingering outside your door.”
She gave a jerky nod. “D-Daphne? B-Bertram’s sister?”
His brow furrowed when he gazed down at her, wondering when she’d puzzled that out. She hadn’t been in her right frame of mind the few times she’d encountered Daphne at Dunnottar, and he and Niall had done their best to keep them separated.
She snorted sarcastically and nudged him with a trembling elbow. “Sh-she looks j-just like S-Serena … it w-wasn’t h-hard to w-work out.”
Adam sighed. “Forgive me, butterfly. I did not think you’d understand. Daphne … she came to Dunnottar seeking answers, and I exploited her to retaliate against Bertram. To repay him for what he did to you.”
Olivia closed her eyes for a moment, her breath hitching when a particularly violent tremor rocked her. She calmed a bit and stared back up at him.
“And now?” she prodded, searching his gaze in that way she had done before all this had happened. The way that made him think she could read his innermost thoughts.
“Now, I want to keep her,” he admitted, looking off across the room to avoid her scrutiny.
Frustration curled his fist as he thought of his little dove, of the way she continued to challenge him, to try to force him to make a choice he’d rather not consider. He wanted what he wanted, and her response to his touch, to his nearness, told him she wanted it, too. Why, then, did she insist on pretending she wanted to be free, fighting to be away from him when he was one of few people who truly understood her? As of now, he had done everything he could think of to convince her to stay, and still, she’d spurned him.
Really, she’d left him no choice in the matter. She’d forced his hand, and now, he would act the monster and keep her caged. He did not care if she claimed to hate him for it … not when he could breathe a little easier knowing she was not out there alone, being preyed on by men who thought her an easy mark because of the rumors swirling about her. Better for her to remain with him than him being forced to follow her about, slitting the throat of any man who so much as glanced in her direction.
“Y-you always were p-possessive of the people you l-love,” Olivia said, drawing him out of his reverie.
He gazed back down at her with a sharp intake of breath. Despite the misery brought on by withdrawal, she gave him a rare smirk. It was too knowing.
“Love has naught to do with it,” he insisted. “I like having her in my bed, so she will be. That is the end of it.”
“Only, y-you c-came all the way to L-London for her,” she pointed out.
“I came to London for Bertram,” he snapped, annoyed at her for working him into a state when his mood had been so good. “She is the best way to strike out at him.”
Olivia shook her head, the motion jerky as she fought to control her own body. “L-let it go, H-Hart. Or y-you’ll d-die alone.”
Clenching his teeth, he choked down a snarl. The second person to say something to this effect to him, and that did not make it any easier to stomach … especially coming from his sister.
“I will die knowing I delivered justice for you and Serena,” he replied through clenched.
She closed her eyes and turned her head so she no longer looked at him. “N-not enough.”
Goddamn it, what did a man have to do to get some peace in a house with his name on the deed? He did not need Daphne begging him to put an end to things, and he certainly did not need his sister agreeing with her, trying to use guilt to cause him to bend.
He would stop when he was good and ready to stop.
The sound of a soft knock on the door drew his attention, and he bid the person to enter. The panel swung open to reveal Daphne, who balanced a heavy-looking tray in one hand. Stepping into the room, she pushed the door closed with her foot, then took hold of the tray with both hands and approached the bed.
“Niall is ensuring that Serena has her dinner, so I volunteered to bring this for you and Olivia,” she said, her voice soft as she drew near, resting the tray on the bedside table next to the bowl of water.
The tantalizing aroma of food made his stomach howl, reminding him that he hadn’t eaten since that morning, too busy playing with Serena and then spending most of his day in this chamber.
“Thank you, little dove,” he murmured, letting his gaze travel over her.
