For her heart.
For her fire.
For her love.
Chapter Twenty
Ihangmykutteon the peg behind the living room door and kick off my boots before heading upstairs.
Grim determination carries me straight to the bedroom Birdie has been staying in.
Birdie is at the window, staring out of it with her arms wrapped around her.“You sent the kids away.”
There’s an accusation in her voice.
“I did.Didn’t want you worrying about them tonight.”
She turns to face me, her hand lifting straight to those goddamn pearls.I run my eyes over her, curling my lip in a snarl as I take her in.She’s wearing one of the old blouses she rarely wore in the past, along with a pair of tight jeans that hug her juicy ass.It’s the mostpropershe’s looked since threw the matches on the clothes she brought with her.She has her hair pulled up in such a tight bun that her head must be fucking aching.Makeup covers her face, hiding her natural beauty underneath it.As beautiful as she is with it on, I want to seeher.Bright red lipstick paints her lips, and I bite my cheek to keep from smiling at her small act of defiance.She’s told me before how red lipstick signifies resistance for women.There’s a part of her that’s resisting Frankie’s fucked-up indoctrination.
“Bring them back.”
“No,” I say, prowling toward her.
Her eyes widen as she moves to the side, but I just smile and change direction.My steps are slow and calculated as I stalk her around the room.She aims for the door, but I growl, freezing her in place.
Her chest rises and falls rapidly as she watches me warily.
“If you run, I will chase you.”
“What are you doing?”she asks, her voice trembling slightly.
“Let her out,” I demand.
She moves again when I get close, and this time, I lead her in the direction I want—to the stand-up mirror next to the vanity with her makeup shit scattered on it.
There’s a sexual charge in the air around us as we dance around the room.It makes my cock ache in the most delicious fucking way possible.Her nipples pebble behind the silky white blouse she’s wearing, and my mouth waters.
Fuck, I want to suck them between my teeth and bite down.
When she’s finally caged against the vanity, I bring our bodies flush together.My cock rests heavily behind my jeans, but I know she can feel it against her thigh.Her head tilts back to look at me while her fingers toy with that fucking necklace.
I watch her eyes for any hint of fear, but the only thing I see in them is heat.It’s not the fire I’m trying to bring out of her, but it’s just as fucking appetizing.
“Let her out,” I repeat.
“Who?”she whispers.
My movements are slow as I lift my hand to the bun on the top of her head.Birdie sucks in a breath and drops the necklace to grab hold of the vanity behind her when I pull out the hair band.Her locks tumbles around her shoulders in luscious red curls.
“Put Eleanora away, little mama,” I murmur, setting my thumb against her bottom lip.
I rub it across the silky lipstick, smearing it across the side of her lip as I try to rub it away.“Bring my Birdie back to me.She’s got some shit to say.”
“I’m right here.”
“No, you’re not.Eleanora is.Thatisnotwho the fuck you are.”
Her body quivers as emotions build inside her.She keeps her hands locked tightly around the edge of the vanity, terrified to touch me.That’s good.Really good because her touch is liable to drop me to my fucking knees right now.
