“No,” I rushed on a pulse of disgust. “He cheated on me.”
It hit the air like a hollow arrow.
Vacant space in the middle.
It’s the way he’d left me feeling.
Abandoned and alone.
“Fucking moron.”
“Yeah.”
“Want me to kill him?” It was all a mischievous gleam, Royce going for light when I could see his muscles twitching in restraint.
“Um . . . I think that would be a very bad idea. I think I like you outside of jail, thank you very much.”
Low laughter rumbled from him, the words filled with an undercurrent that I couldn’t quite sort out. “It’d be worth it. Fighting for what matters is always worth it. No matter the cost or the consequence.”
I let my fingertips play across the horrid face that screamed out from the valley on his abdomen, wondering what it meant, a little terrified to know the answer. Wondering just what lengths this man might go to. “Well, believe me, he’s not worth it. Not in the least.”
“Have half a mind to break him limb by limb just for ever touching you.”
“Jealous?” I teased.
“Very.” He didn’t seem to be joking.
“I’m just . . . I’m just sad that I trusted him. That I’d planned on starting a family with him.”
Grief throbbed from deep within, and I pushed it down, not ready to share all the ugly details with him, not sure I even trusted myself with them right then.
“Sad that he let me down so far when I needed him most,” I continued, the words cracking as they were expelled. “That’s what hurts more than anything else.”
Royce pulled me close and exhaled into my hair, his warmth spreading over me. “I hate him for hurting you. Hate any bastard who would touch something so precious in the wrong way.” He held me close, his arms so strong, the churn of his heart stronger. “Kills me, sweet girl. Kills me.”
He buried his nose in my hair, inhaled deep. “What are you doing to me?”
I wrapped my arms around him and held on tight. “I hope it’s the same thing that you’re doin’ to me.”
He sighed. “It’s never going to work, Emily. We are nothing but a conflict of interest.”
Emotion gripped me by the throat, everything thick and heavy and tremoring, and I just gave him everything I had.
Knowing I didn’t have anything to lose. This moment might be fleeting, but it was ours.
“I’m so lonely, Royce. So lonely, and for the first time in so long you make me feel like maybe I don’t have to be. Like maybe there might be someone who fits me, after all. Like you just said, I want to fight for what matters most. No matter the cost or the consequence.”
There I went.
Cutting myself open wide.
Offering this man things I’d never offered anyone else.
Hoping when all of it came gushing out, he might be strong enough to hold it. He might be the only one who could.
“Damn it, Emily. You’re not alone. You’re not.”
He wrapped me tight, and I pushed out a shuddering sigh.
“Sleep, sweet girl. Sleep.”
And for the first night in months, I did.FourteenEmilyThrough hazy morning light, I stood at the nightstand next to the bed and gazed down at the man who was sleeping facedown, covers tossed aside, the strength of his back on display.
Wide, wide shoulders tapering down to his narrow waist, half of his firm ass peeking out from below the sheets.
My stomach tumbled.
God, he was gorgeous.
Last night had been close to a miracle. I’d slept for hours wrapped up in his warmth.
Safe.
Secure.
Somehow, I’d managed to only let my heart get broken a little bit when I’d heard him whimpering Anna in his sleep just as the day was dawning. I’d peppered a bunch of kisses to that spot on his chest, wishing I could be the one to hold some of his pain the way he was holding mine.
When he’d seemed to settle, I’d slipped out of his bed with the faint strains of a melody playing in my mind. In them had been the intonation of lyrics, and I’d grabbed a piece of scratch paper and scribbled them out.
My life’s a spiral
But I think it’s you who sent me spinnin’
Now we’re reeling out of controlI tucked the ripped sheet under his watch on the nightstand.
I gasped when a hand reached out and snatched me by the wrist, and Royce flipped over onto his back and dragged me on top of him.
Giggles burst free.
All mixed up with the desire that boomed.
His hot body against mine.
Chest bare.
His cock eager and hard where it was pressing at my belly.
Oh my, was this ever the best way to start off the day.
“Mornin’,” he rumbled against my forehead.
“Good mornin’,” I whispered back.
Wrapping those massive arms around me, he heaved out a sound of relief. “Where do you think you’re sneaking off to?”