Page 30 of Marked By Him

She argued it with a passion that would make Jacob proud. She argued as though she had something to prove. She wanted me to know she hadn’t given up. She needed me to see her strength.

Little did she know that her strength was what made me want to break her. It was her fight that I craved.

Fuck. I needed to get out of here before I had her bent over the couch with my dick buried in her cunt and my bruises on her skin.

“I have some things to take care of. Feel free to pick something else to read. Maybe try something lighter this time.” I downed the rest of my whiskey, then headed to the kitchen.

“When will you be back?”

“Soon.” I set my empty glass in the sink. “And I won’t be far, so don’t even think about trying to run.”

“That’s not why I asked.”

“Then why do you care?”

Because she didn’t want to be alone?

Because she wanted my company?

“Does it matter?” she asked, as if the answer was simple.

Nothing about this was simple.

I walked to the door, ignoring my thoughts. Even if I was right, even if she would rather be with me than be alone, it was worthless. If any good came from the memories that tormented me all night, it was the reminder that I had been chosen. I was the Shepherd and I had a flock to tend. There were things more important than getting my dick wet. I had a ceremony to prepare.

I opened the door, stopping to look at Eve before stepping outside. Her dark hair cascaded over her shoulders, and all I could do was imagine it wrapped around my fist.

There is no good way for this to end.

A muscle ticked my jaw. “No. It doesn’t matter.”

* * *

I moved through the flock of lambs in the pasture. A breeze coming down from the mountains made the tree branches sway. Grass swished around my ankles. The mama sheep around me bleated an anxiousbaa, as if they knew one of their young was about to be chosen.

Sacrifice brought forth blessings. Tonight, one of these tiny creatures would cleanse our bodies and purge our sins. There was a reason animal blood was poison to the cursed and used for redemption of the holy. It was a part of the plan. We only needed to be faithful.

Isaiah walked up to the fence. He bent down and plucked a blade of long grass, then rolled the stem between his teeth.

“You gonna tell me what all that shit with the girl was about?” he asked.

“I wanted her to see who we are and let her know this is a community, not a prison.” I stopped walking when I spotted a little lamb with perfect white fleece.

“I meant the whole growly-possessive-get-her-away-from-Isaiah-before-he-fucks-her thing you did.” He looped his legs over the top rail, then sat on the fence.

I lifted my head and looked over at him. “You’re not fucking her.”

He arched a brow. “Does that mean you are?”

Yes.

Maybe.

Fuck.

No.

“It means no one is.”

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