Page 20 of Hell's Storm

“Fighting over nonsense. Distracting ourselves.” Tears well in my eyes as I pull my knee under my chin. Without the anger, I’m forced to feel it all: the fighting between my hellhounds, losing my family, and more.

Ledger sighs before wrapping his arm around me and pulling me into him. His warmth is comforting. “Still doesn’t feel real. I’m so…”

“Sad?”

“Pissed. I wasn’t there for you again.” His voice cracks, and I try to look up, but he holds me tight against him. I think he’s crying, but I doubt he wants me to know. “I-I’m so sorry.”

I wrap my arms around him, not caring if he is actually crying or not. My eyes tear up, and I begin sobbing. Although my other men comforted me, I still needed him to comfort me. I don’t know why I need or love all these men, but I can’t imagine surviving this without them by my side. We sit here for a moment until the tears in my eyes finally run out.

“When I lost my brother,” he starts, clearing his throat. “My anger was… intoxicating.”

I take a deep breath, sit straight, and wipe my tears with my palm.

“I didn’t know how to express myself without it. No one could get close to me.”

“That’s not me.”Obviously not. I’m letting all my guys touch me.Their touch is comforting as if it’s the only thing keeping me sane and calm.

“I know. Amazingly, you didn’t let it swallow you.”

“Ryker… He told me about how his mother was murdered, like my family. It helped me feel not alone. Touching me, kissing like it’s his only breath left, being there. I wasn’t alone. That’s how I feel now. Although you haven’t told me much, you opened up more than ever. I’m not alone with my anger now.”

Ledger runs a hand over my hair, drawing my attention to his face. His eyes are a bit red and wet, evident that he’s been crying like I had been. “I’m sorry. I just… I just want you to be okay, and I’m not helping. I don’t—I don’t know how to help you. I don’t—”

I cup his face and place a kiss right against his cheek. I’ve never seen Ledger this soft with me. He looks like he’s never cried before. His face is the typical playboy with a sharp jaw and high cheekbones. He’s over seven feet tall, like most hellhounds, and his body is built like one. His jet-black hair falls against his forehead in a beautiful mess. “It’s going to be okay. We will get through this together, okay?”

He places his forehead right against mine and lets out a sigh. “I’m so sorry you’re going through this, and from now on, I’ll stop trying to fight with everyone. I’ll try to be more helpful.” I don’t expect him to unlearn his anger so quickly, but he will have to work through that himself. I can’t do anything. But for my rage, I lost people who loved me, and although it didn’t replace them, I found my new family.

“Thank you for actually keeping your promise.”

I look up at him, brows pulling together. I’m not sure what he means.

“To show me the gardens of Persephone.”

I smirk, looking around at the endless flowers. “It’s gorgeous, isn’t it?”

I feel his index finger trace a swirl on my arm. “Not as gorgeous as you are.”

Rolling my eyes, I grab his forearm, tracing a vein. “Cheesy. Do you use that line on every female you date?”

He chuckles, wiping dry his eyes. “Of course. I reuse my flirting and dating skills.”

“Perfect. I thought you would be original, especially since I’m the first girl to see you cry and the second you’ve ever loved.” The words come from my mouth before I can even think about them.

His face softens, and he looks down at me. “You know, you remind me of her.”

The girl he dated before me.“She was hot too?” I cock a brow.

“Yes… But she would use humor to cover her emotions. I always thought she was incredibly strong for handling what this world gave to her.”

My eyes move to my fingers, and my voice gets smaller. “Do you think I’m strong?”

“Incredibly,” His fingers dance over my cheeks, and I can’t help but feel a lot at once. My chest tightens as my thighs close tightly on my core. His eyes never move from mine as he leans in and places his lips right against mine.

His lips are soft, making me sigh into them.I missed him. The Ledger that is mine. The one that almost murdered a rapist for me. The one that would give his life for me.He moves his hands to my waist and pulls me closer to him in the grass. Without another thought, I climb into his lap and lose myself in him. Our lips move in sync, his scent intoxicating, and his taste… It makes me moan.

He pulls me closer as if I can get closer to him. My chest presses right against his, and my core is placed right onto his jeans. “Asura,” he says through kissing as if he wants to stop me.

“No. I need you.”

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