I couldn’t think of Jay. Not now. Maybe never again.
Some of the tension left his body as he took the image in and what it meant. He pulled the knife back from my leg, but only slightly.
Cain’s eyes met mine and even though there was relief in his expression, there was also something else. Something that sent a quiver down my spine.
“You know I love you, don’t you?” he asked.
I nodded and wrapped my arms around him, bringing my lips close to his. It made the bile in my stomach rise but I pretended it didn’t. I had gotten very good at pretending. “I know. I love you too, baby. I’ve always loved you. I’m so sorry. I never wanted to hurt you.”
My voice was calm and soothing, and it didn’t sound like mine.
Cain’s eyes drilled into me, an edge of manic in them. I pulled back, but his hand caught the back of my neck and held me there. “But you did, little bird. You did hurt me.”
His lips crashed into mine so hard I tasted blood. He tore at me, tearing at my clothes as he dragged me to the floor so violently my ribs almost cracked. Then he was on top of me, smothering me as he mumbled again and again that I was his and would always be his.
I didn’t fight him. I didn’t scream. I let him have me, and I let him ruin me because there was nothing left inside me. I shut down all my thoughts and all my feelings. It was too much.
Too much.