“We can’t be doing this,” Ember whispers, lipsbrushing mine with each word. I refuse to pull away farther. I need her close.
“We should definitely be doing this, baby. Never should have given up when I did and let you get away from me in the first damn place,” I tell her. If I hadn’t, then none of this would have happened. She only went to that school to get away from here.
“But . . .”
“No buts, baby, we’re doing this.” I release her hair and bring my hand to her cheek and stroke. “We’ll take things at your pace on some things, but as of tonight, you aren’t alone anymore. You’re in my bed where I can not only keep you safe from the living, but from the demons that haunt your dreams.”
“I don’t think I can do this,” she says, shaking her head, breathing heavily.
“That’s the point, Em, I’m here to help with that ‘cause you don’t think you can. I do, though. I know you can, and we are. If you think those scars that mark your skin are going to drive me away, think again. You went through hell, and you’re allowing yourself to keep giving that power to a monster that I won’t let you keep giving.”
“I was doing fine, Jase. I’m over what happened to me.”
“No, you’re not. If you were, you wouldn’t havethat panic look in your eyes or hide the scars as you do,” I state and step back. “Now, let’s get your shit and go to my room. We’ll chill out for a bit before going to bed. You got work tomorrow, and then you’re off for two days. We’ve got plans during those days, baby, so don’t think about getting out of them.”
CHAPTER 10
EMBER
“Time to wake up, baby,” Cerberus says in my ear just before pressing a kiss to my temple.
Just as he did yesterday morning, a morning after he moved me into his room, he woke me with a whisper in my ear and a kiss to my temple. I couldn’t believe all that happened.
It all seems so surreal. Between him popping the lock on my door to him kissing me, telling me to call him Jase, not Cerberus . . . I don’t know what I should be thinking right now.
Cerberus didn’t mind my scars. Claimed that he shouldn’t have let me get away from him back then.
He wants me.
I don’t know how I should handle that thought.Other than the first time with him, the only person I’ve had sex with is Dex and . . . that wasn’t sex, that was me being defiled . . . violated.
“I want to sleep,” I mumble and snuggle deeper into the pillow. It’s my day off. Today and tomorrow. I just want to sleep and be left alone. If I were at my apartment, I would be. I could even binge my shows if I wanted. That’s not happening, though it seems.
“Gotta get up, we’ve got plans today,” Cerberus remarks gently, sliding a hand up my bare arm.
“I don’t have any plans but to sleep today,” I grumble, squeezing my eyes tighter.
“Then I guess you don’t mind me staying right here and sleeping next to you, do you?” Cerberus’s lips brush the shell of my ear, downward ‘til he’s at the crease of my neck, meeting my shoulder. “I could just keep doing this all morning instead of taking you to do something fun, though I’ll admit this would be a whole lot more fun.”
“We’re on lockdown, there’s nothing that would be fun to do in the clubhouse.” At least for me, that is. For Cerberus, I’m sure there’s something for him.
“Trust me, what I’ve got planned will be fun.” Cerberus chuckles.
“What do you have planned?” I ask, cracking one of my eyes open, somewhat curious about what he’s planned.
“You’ll just have to get up to find out,” he answers, curling his fingers along the side of my face. “But first.” He dips his head down until his lips are on mine.
Just like the other night and yesterday, his kiss makes my toes curl. It’s hot. Sexy. Causes something warm in my belly.
My lips open on their own, allowing Cerberus to slide his tongue in to duel with mine. I wouldn’t even say it was a duel. More like him claiming. Dominating. I love him kissing me. No matter how nervous it makes me.
All of this has me feeling a certain way, which I don’t understand.
Cerberus keeps the kiss from heating up further and pulls away, his eyes meet mine, and they are smoldering. Dark brown, nearly black, heated with lust. The look in his gaze tells me that he hadn’t wanted to pull away. I don’t know if I wanted him to pull away either.
“Time to get up now, baby,” he states, pulling away and climbing out of the bed. He bends and tags my arm. “We’re spending the day together and I’m not tellin’ you what we’re doing, so get ready.”
“Fine,” I huff.
