Rory
Thirty-Six
“My pretty princess, Aurora.” His hands felt like sandpaper on my skin. Why couldn’t I see his face?
His fingers trailed up my thigh, sending chills down my spine. His touch was just as venomous as Jude. “Stop.”
“No. Daddy said you get to be mine when we’re both older. You’re my pretty princess.” Bile threatened to drown me when his leery fingers lingered on my bare legs. “I’ll be your first, just like you’ll be mine. I can’t wait to have you.”
I gasped, jolting up in the bed as my phone went off.
What the hell was that? It took me a moment to realize where I was until I saw red locs and naked skin.
3:30 a.m. The light blaring from my phone blinded me and as Cinder’s name flashed on the screen.
Shit. I left without telling anyone where I was headed, where they could find me.
The only thing on my mind had been escaping as I frantically sought a distraction, which ultimately led me to Hades.
I still couldn't believe how I had allowed myself to break in front of her.
Or that she hadn't pushed me away, instead holding me together in her arms.
I didn’t realize how much I needed her until last night when she held me. There was intimacy, but it wasn’t in the form of sex.
“Hello?” I whispered as I answered my phone, trying not to wake up the woman beside me.
“Rory, what the fuck are you doing in Devil territory?” she hissed. I forgot she had my fucking location. Guess she’s using that again.
“I’m with a…friend.”
Cinder wasn’t enthused. She never was. This was my life, and I dictated how I handled my fucking trauma.
I thought I wanted sex, but Hades showed me I needed comfort and reassurance.
I needed to cry. It was easy breaking in front of Hades because I knew she wouldn’t judge me.
With the Vipers and my sister, I was put into this box where I had to be okay, so crying in front of them showed weakness.
They already thought I was a child who couldn’t take care of herself; I didn’t need this to prove their point.
“Get the fuck out of Crestview before I break every rule and drag you out of there myself.” She was pissed. “Someone is trying to hurt you. I need you home, please.”
Please.
I heard actual fear in my sister’s voice. That was a first.
“I’m on my way home. I’ll be there soon.” It was better to go now than deal with an argument later, but I knew how she was feeling since they mirrored my own emotions. We were scared for two very different reasons, though.
I scribbled a note, even though I’d send her a text, but a cute ‘thank you’ would be nice to wake up to in the morning. Starting my day next to her for once would be a dream, but as this life had taught me early on, dreams were for sleeping not reality.
When I got back to the clubhouse, I saw Vesper in the kitchen cleaning shot glasses.
I assumed she and some of the other Vipers took them or played a drinking game.
They tried to keep their drinking to a minimum when I was around, but it didn’t bother me as bad as they assumed.
I knew the Vipers and none of them were aggressive drunks.
Besides, if any of them made me uncomfortable, Cinder would sober them up real quick or I could always go to my room and lock the door.
God was punishing me, because why did he make Vesper look this panty-melting?
Her cargo pants were hung low on her hips, showing the defined V of her abs, her white crop top barely covering anything.
I could see her rosy nipples through the light fabric.
Would it be a bad idea to rip her shirt off and tease her breasts with my mouth?
Fuck, I bet her moans sounded intoxicating.
“Mariposa, are you okay?”
Would no be the appropriate answer?
She came closer to me, blocking me in with her body. “Don’t lie to me. I saw you trembling when you left. Talk to me.”
Why did I have to fall in love with people I couldn't have? Falling for my sister’s best friends was God's way of punishing me even more. Maybe I needed to make a deal with the devil to have the women I desired.
“If I talk, I’ll cry. And I don’t do that,” I whispered, looking up at her. “I’ll be okay. I always am.” Vesper’s care was genuine, and I hated that I couldn’t have her. “Vesper, you know what might help me feel a little better?”
“What’s that?
“A kiss.”
The air changed between us, but Vesper didn’t move. “That’s a dangerous request, mariposa.”
I shrugged, looking at her lips. “You asked.”
She sighed, leaning in closer. “You know we shouldn’t.”
There were a lot of things I shouldn’t do, especially this open, but I didn’t care. “We can make it quick.”
Vesper’s hand found my waist, pulling me into her.
Her lips brushed against mine like a butterfly touch before she deepened it.
When I expected her to kiss me, I expected a chaste kiss like the ones we’ve shared before, but this…
Vesper kissed me like she was tired of dancing on the edge.
Her hand slid up my spine, fingers tangling briefly in my hair.
The sound I made was ungodly, but holy hell I was dazed and lost in this magnificent woman.
The kiss was supposed to be quick.
This was the opposite, but I wasn’t complaining.
The world narrowed around us as I wrapped my arms around her neck, deepening the kiss more.
I forget what I was doing, where we were, the fact that my sister was upstairs waiting for me.
This moment could be taken from me at any moment, so I was savoring the few minutes I had with Vesper finally caving in.
Vesper cupped my jaw, her thumb brushing the edge of my cheek. She was gentle with me, holding me like I would shatter in her arms, but the way she kissed me told a different story. How would it be if she didn’t have to hold back? If this was a sneak peek, I wanted the whole damn thing.
When the front door slammed open, we pulled back.
Vesper ran a hand through her hair like she could physically erase what just happened.
I pressed my fingers to my mouth, relishing in the feel of her still dancing on my lips.
Every lie that spilled from her lips about not wanting me was officially obliterated.
That kiss proved how much she was fighting back her feelings because of my sister.
“Go see your sister,” Vesper said, walking back to the bar.
Yep, the universe hated me, but now it was time to face my sister’s wrath.