Who… was in a notorious MC. I didn’t know the extent of what the club did, but I knew enough to know it was bad.
If I had thought my parents wouldn’t like Xavier, they would hate Roman.
As they should.
AsIshould.
I should not crave his touch the way I craved air.
Just moments before, I had come at him with a small knife he had carelessly left out on the kitchen counter, with every intention of hurting him badly enough so that I could escape, and now—
Now, I wished he would hold on to me a little tighter.
I had never felt so conflicted in my life.
And so damn confused, I could cry over that.
Tears stung my eyes, and I tried to look down, to look away so he wouldn’t see me anymore—or perhaps, so I wouldn’t have to look into his devastating, dark brown eyes—but he wouldn’t let me.
He cupped my cheeks with both hands and tipped my face up until I stared right into his eyes.
Roman had always been gentle with me. Sure, he liked to play rough in the bedroom, but outside of it, this big man had treated me like I was made of the most precious glass. Had made me feel safe, and now I realized it was nothing more than a fucking illusion.
If there was anyone I wasn’t safe with, it was him.
The tears I had tried so hard not to show, fell and touched his fingers.
He frowned.
I was crying, not because he had kissed me, or even because I was scared of him.
No, this was much worse.
I was crying because I wished he would kiss me again.
I wished he would kiss me despite my weak protests.
Wished he would let me deny my own participation in this sick twisted game he played.
Let me be the innocent one, while he took on the role of a bad man, who took whatever he wanted, no matter what.
“Ryleigh.” His voice came out soft. Almost as if he was breathing out my name.
I blinked.
More tears fell.
“Do you want me to kiss you again?”
“No,” I protested weakly.Yes.
And fuck, but I hated my own weakness in that moment.
He didn’t say anything for a moment, his inquisitive gaze taking me in.
I felt naked. He seemed to know what I was thinking… feeling, without me ever saying anything to him.
It had always been the case.
