We pause there just like that for several seconds. Our gazes lock with the light gleaming in our eyes. The space between us is nonexistent and yet enormous all at the same time. The heavy breaths that fall from my lungs come so rapidly, they’re clearly trying to keep pace with the hammering of my heart.
If this was a competition, I’d be losing.
I try only once more, tilting my head until my lips skim across his. It’s the smallest, barest of touches across his pillow-soft lips. It steals my breath away entirely.
“Please?” The whimpering sound is hardly a whisper.
He exhales. “I love you, Violence.” The warmth of his gaze strikes across mine. I’ve never seen him more serious than he is right now. Whatever he sees in my features might terrify him, or maybe it’s my silence that’s owning him in this moment.
I smile with sweet victory. Those four simple words pour warmth all through my body, and it settles right in my heart. A perfect distraction for what we’re going to have to do.
“I–I love you too.” I guess we can both win.
I can’t manage to look at him. I guess I’m afraid. The few people I’ve ever loved in this world havealwaysbeen taken from me. It’s a terrifying and consuming sort of fear that threatens to smother out the excited feeling of love.
When he kisses me, that fear disappears.
It’s a gentle press of his lips against mine. He pulls back just slightly, and when he kisses me once more, his tongue flicks against my mouth before my lips part and I open the kiss deeper. The feel of his tongue slipping over mine has my legs spreading wider until his hips are firmly against my core.
Somewhere, during the euphoric feeling of love and the consuming feeling of lust, logic sneaks into my mind.
I pull back from him, a heavy gasp falling between us. His hooded attention holds on me, beckoning me while I try to grab a little starving piece of rational thought.
“You’re not a shit bag,” I whisper quietly, “Mostly.” My attention drifting toward Carver, whose back is literally touching my arm. I’m grinding on Nollix while poor fucking Carver is just trying to sleep. Could I be the shitty person here?
“I wouldn’t blame you if you left me for him.” I blink, and he continues, face sallow. “He’s the better man.”
“Carver is great, but he isn’tmyperson.”
“And I’m your person?”
“I fucking hope so.”
Nollix smirks before laughing quietly. His teeth rake slowly across my skin, sending a shiver down my body. “I love your dirty little mouth.”
A sigh of contentment vibrates through me. Nollix slowly lowers back to where he’d been seated before, lets his head fall back against me, and there we stay until the night ends.
The following morning, I close my door on the two men I’m harboring in my room. My boots echo with determination. The plan circles my mind, twirling faster with every quick beat of my pounding heart. There’s one more thing I have to do.
I’d had free rein in The Compound for a while before I took that syringe to my father’s throat. There are several places I’m familiar with, but where I’m headed is in a part of this building I’ve never encountered. The stretches between doors become farther and farther. My ears strain to hear, but I’m greeted only by persistent silence the more I travel from my room.I can’t gauge how much distance has been created between me and the men of the Hunt as the lights slowly turn off behind me.
The aching feeling within my heart reminds me of my tie to the Witch. I can physically feel her. I take another step and then another. Something inside of me perks with curiosity. She’s here. I can tell she’s nearby. My chest aches with a hinting pressure. Cameron is... somewhere. Where would Daddy Dearest be keeping her?
I come to a stop at the top of a set of stairs. The feeling in my chest pulses
I take one step down, and everything inside of me turns to goo. A voice whispers in the back of my head,turn around.A sheen of sweat breaks out on the back of my neck as I take another daring step. Whatever is drawing me here... thrums again. Could it be Cameron?
Please be Cameron... I really hope I’m not being lured to my death right now...
Goosebumps prickle across my skin. I reach for the knob anyway. This could be stupid... this could be very, very dumb of me.
I turn the knob, push the door open, and find nothing but pitch black beyond. Silence waits, and I take a tentative step inside.
“Cameron?” I ask the darkness, wondering if it will speak back.
Dim light glints across the floor. The crunching of steps over broken glass warns me of something headed my way.
Please don’t be a fucking monster,I silently pray.
