Total pages in book: 214
Estimated words: 199879 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 999(@200wpm)___ 800(@250wpm)___ 666(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 199879 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 999(@200wpm)___ 800(@250wpm)___ 666(@300wpm)
When he stands, he tosses it to the side, and I wrap my arms around myself. Goose bumps cover my skin, and I can still feel water run down my back from my hair. I shiver when his eyes meet mine, and it’s not because I’m wet and cold.
He’s changed. I’ve never stopped to think what he would look like now if he had lived. I saw him bleeding, lying there in the hallway, coughing up blood. And it changed me. I’ll never be the same.
But here he is, standing before me looking like the god I remembered him to be. Have you ever seen a Lord go after someone who wronged him? I have, and it’s bloody. Lots of screams and torture. I have no doubt he once loved me, but he doesn’t anymore. I ruined any chance I ever had of a future with him.
We were going to have a family and grow old together, but it was all bullshit. I was kidding myself, making up a world that would never exist for me. Him making me his pet is the closest I’ll ever get to him loving me again. And I’ll take it. I’d rather believe the beautiful lie than a sour truth.
He’s lost the black hoodie and mask. He now wears a black T-shirt that pulls tight across his broad shoulders and muscular chest. It shows off the ink that covers his neck and arms. I can’t help but wonder where the bullet hit him and if you can even tell. Has he covered it up with ink?
I reach out, my hand going to his T-shirt, but his shoots out and grips my wrist, making me jump in surprise.
He steps into me, grabbing my other wrist as well and shoves them behind my back. He pushes my arms behind my back and wraps one large hand around my wrists to hold them in place. The position forces my chest to push into his.
His free hand comes up and cups my chin. My breathing accelerates. “I’m sorry,” I whisper, needing to say the words before he kills me. I need him to understand that I never meant to hurt him. I loved him.
“For what, sweetheart?” he asks, tilting his head to the side.
The sound of his voice…that nickname…my thighs clench. “Saint…” My lips tremble. “I—”
“Shh,” he says softly, running the pad of his fingers over my lips. “It’s okay, Ash.”
Tears prick my eyes at his lie, and my throat closes, making it hard to swallow the sob I don’t want him to hear. I did this. This is because of me. I didn’t trust him, made a choice, and now I have to live with the consequences. Well, until he kills me. Is it bad that I hope he draws out my punishment? A part of me feels like this is my second chance at love. At what I wanted us to have from the moment I decided to be his. But I’m not stupid—love will no longer exist between us. Not on his side anyway.
“I knew I’d find you in here.”
I jump at Kashton’s voice.
“Join us,” Saint offers, his eyes watching the first tear run down my cheek.
Kashton comes to stand behind me, and I sniff when both of his hands grip my wrists to hold me in place as Saint lets go and steps back from me. He reaches into his back pocket and pulls out a pair of handcuffs. My knees buckle.
“Whoa.” Kashton chuckles, holding me up by my arms. It pinches my skin, making me cry out. “No need to get on your knees yet, sweet cheeks.” His laughter grows.
“Here.” Saint holds out the handcuffs. “Make her more comfortable.”
Kashton grips both of my wrists in one of his hands while he takes the cuffs from Saint. I don’t fight. It’s useless. He places the first one on, tightening it, and then the other. It’s the kind with the hinge in the middle so there’s no give. My hands lie across the top of my ass, and I jump when Kashton’s arm wraps around my neck from behind.
I rise up on my tiptoes and swallow as his muscles flex, holding me in place. I can breathe, but barely.
Saint reaches up, rubbing his chin while his eyes look me up and down. “How?” I ask breathlessly.
“How what, sweetheart?” he asks, meeting my stare again.
“How did you know where I was?” I have to know. He could have just taken me at any time. I know Saint. If he knew I was living in Las Vegas, then he would have known for some time. He does his research. He stalks his prey. That was not the first night he had been into Glass to see me. Although that was my first time seeing him.
He ignores my question. “You look…stunning, Ashtyn.”