“I’m not a knight in shining armor. I’m not here to give you a castle and a white horse, little bird.”
“No, you’re not the good guy; you’ve made that abundantly clear. But you’re not the bad guy either. You’re somewhere in between, and perhaps that’s why you can’t come to terms with this.” She gestures between us with her finger, and I’m tempted to grab it between my teeth and bite on it just to hear her yelp.
“I’ve spent my life not knowing who or what I am. Another few years won’t make a difference.”
She stills, and I take a step back. Her eyes shimmer with emotion. “I’m sorry,” she says timidly, and my chest tightens. This is exactly why I’ve stayed away from connections. Even the one I have with River shouldn’t happen, but the asshole is stubborn, and he doesn’t want to admit I’m bad news.
“Never apologize again. You’re . . .” Mine. “Safe.” I don’t tell her what I think. The word that sprang up in my thoughts in those few seconds, I shove into the recesses of my mind, because as much as I’d love to claim her, I can’t.
She’s perfect.
Wrong in every way. Because when I’m near her, all I want to do is fuck her. Seeing her kill Thanos was enough to have my cock throbbing behind my zipper. I’ve seen assassins trained to do this shit, but when this beauty’s hand shoved the knife into the throat of the man who hurt her, it was utter perfection.
I turn and lead her into the building that will be our home for the next three weeks. It’s situated close to three of the names on our list. And that’s the reason I chose it, because while Caia can heal, I can kill.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
CAIA
It’s the second day in the house he’s brought me to. It’s a comfortable log cabin in the middle of nowhere. I haven’t left the room in all the time I’ve been here, still unsure as to what he wants from me. Even though they haven’t hurt me, I find that being wary is the only way I will survive this.
Seeing him again has brought back memories of what I went through when I was locked up in the Savage dungeon, but it’s also brought back the memory of what I begged him to do. What he took from me, violently and without remorse.
I meet those blue eyes, the plea clear in my hazel ones as I watch him. There’s a war raging through him, the good and bad of Drake Savage.
“I’m going to fuck you. I’m going to take your virginity and own it. And when I do, you’ll be mine.” His voice is gravelly as he promises me what I’ve just asked him for. It’s a vow. And I know if he makes good on this, if he really steals my virginity, I’ll belong to him. No matter what those men do to me, I’ll always be his.
“Then do it,” I challenge him, praying he’ll take the bait and do the one thing he’s not supposed to do. “I don’t want them to have it. Please?”
The corner of his mouth tilts up when he leans in closer. His lips shimmer with the saliva his tongue paints them with, and I follow the action.
“Hearing you beg me to do it makes me even harder for you. It makes me want to rip into you and make you cry,” he growls, and as he utters the words, he’s already pushing his slacks down those long, muscled thighs. His hand grips the hard, angry erection jutting from his hips. Seconds later, I’m lifted against the wall and he’s driving into my wet, tight heat.
I cry out as agonizing pain burns through me, and I know there’s no going back now. I belong to him. He owns me. And there’s nothing I can do about it.
It’s silent in the house, but I know he’s still here. It’s as if I can feel him. He ordered me to come up here and shower, to change into some fresh clothes, and sleep. My body is still aching from the hard mattress I was allowed when I was in Thanos’s house, and the bed I’m now lying on is a stark contrast. Staring up at the ceiling, I wonder what Drake’s plan for me is. Will he keep me? Or will he let me loose on the world?
When I laid eyes on him again, my heart stuttered wildly in my chest, reminding me of the night he took my virginity in that office after I’d begged him to. But when he looked at me, there was no affection in his gaze. Perhaps my stupid, young heart wanted more, wanted him to care.
I never thought I’d see him again, yet here he is. He promised to save me, and he did. It took him four years, but he made good on a promise. Sighing, I roll over onto my side and close my eyes, wishing for sleep to steal me away.