Chapter 6 #2
Wonder if she has any underwear on… probably not.
Tortured, I groan and press my forehead against hers. “I could make it good,” I whisper, breathless. “You don’t even know, little doe. I could make you feel things you didn’t think were left in this world.”
And I want to. Fuck, I want to. No one’s stopping me.
“You’ll come to your senses, little doe. And if you don’t—” a dark, humourless laugh slips out, “well… my patience is gonna run out eventually. Best you don’t push me that far, huh?”
Like peeling myself away from something sacred, I pull my hands back. My palms burn where they touched her. My body’s aching, desperate, furious.
She’s gorgeous. And I’ll make sure she never forgets who she belongs to. But I can’t push her too fast right now.
Standing again, I pace the tiny space in the cell, raking my hands through my hair, trying to bite back the madness.
I shouldn’t be here. I shouldn’t have touched her. I shouldn’t be thinking the things I’m thinking.
But I am. Because she’s already mine. I’ve decided. And nothing’s gonna change that.
Glancing back at her one last time, still curled in that corner like a wounded thing, it makes me smile. “You’ll come around,” I say with a grin. “And I can’t wait to show you how I’ll make you melt.”
I force myself to walk away.
She surprised me today. Something that doesn’t happen often. And that intrigues me.
Slamming the holding room door shut behind me, more forcefully than I need to, I stalk down the hall and shove the door open, stepping into the lounge.
I could feel the tension in the air between us, thick and clinging like smoke after a fire. She'll remember every word. Every touch. Every promise.
Bright sunlight slants in through the blinds, casting a dusty haze over the leather couches. The air reeks of old books, and whatever burnt shit Phoenix has been cooking up while I played with my toy.
Now, I need something to do to shake off the feeling crawling under my skin.
Grabbing one of the broken radios off the side table, a screwdriver and plyers from the drawer, I drop down onto the couch in front of the coffee table.
Phoenix asked me to fix this ages ago, but I’ve had no interest in tinkering for a while now.
It's elaborate work, replacing wires, and fuses all to fix something that hasn't worked in years. But it quiets my mind and gives my hands something to do.
The front door creaks open and the sound of boots come down the hall.
Zane.
I’d recognised his walk anywhere. That slight hesitation in his step like he's always bracing for an ambush.
“Back already?” Phoenix’s voice calls out from the kitchen.
Zane doesn't usually get back until noon at least. What’s got him throwing his routine out of whack? A girl that doesn’t belong to him.
“Yeah,” Zane mutters as he joins Phoenix in the kitchen. “Didn't go far. Couldn't…” His voice drops too low to make out the rest.
I freeze, plyers buried deep in the radio.
Couldn't what, Zane?
Rising to my feet, slow and quiet, the back of my neck prickles as I creep to the edge of the hallway. Just close enough to catch their silhouettes through the doorframe.
Phoenix has his back to me, stirring something in a frying pan. Zane leans against the counter, shirtless as usual, arms crossed over his chest. I can't quite see his face but neither of them speak.
“Couldn't what?” I bark, storming into the kitchen.
Both their heads snap towards me. Zane straightens and Phoenix sighs as if he already sees where this is going.
“You gave her that blanket?” I demand, pointing a finger straight at Zane.
He doesn't answer, just stares at me, face unreadable.
Phoenix sets the spoon down and turns to me. “Myles—”
“No,” I bark, cutting him off. “I locked her up last night with nothing but her conscience. And now she's got a blanket like some goddamn guest in a bed and breakfast!”
Zane's jaw tightens. “She was freezing,” he growls.
I step toward him. “Good. Let her freeze. She needs to be grateful for the shit she’s given.”
He just looks at me like he pities me. His judgement only makes me angrier. That arrogant prick.
“You're playing the hero. Trying to undermine everything I’m doing,” I sneer. “Think you’re gonna win her over with kindness? Maybe you're hoping she'll start batting her eyelashes and drop to her knees for you? To say thank you like a good little pet?”
Zane shoulders tense as he steps into me, his voice low, emphasising every word. “She's. Not. A. Pet.”
“No?” I laugh bitterly. “What is she then, Zane? Since you know her so well.”
“She’s a human being… who needed help,” he snaps.
That pisses me off more than anything else. Acting like he’s the only one who sees her as real. Like I’m just some monster for wanting her to need me.
“Someone I helped!” I shoot back, ready to bite his head off. “And you went behind my back! You had no fucking right—”
“That's enough! Both of you,” Phoenix cuts in, raising a hand between us.
But I'm not finished.
“You think you're better than me? You think she's gonna fall for you? You think she's gonna want you?” I hiss, eyes trailing over his scarred body.
He stares back, jaw clenched. But I see the flash of fire in his eyes as he registers what I’m insinuating.
It pleases me for a moment while he holds my gaze in a standoff. Then he turns away—like I’m not even worth the energy it’d take to punch me.
That stings more than if he had.
Phoenix doesn’t move again but the warning glare he’s giving me says enough.
I’ve seen that look plenty of times before and I know not to push further. But I can’t believe he’s taking Zane’s side. After everything the two of us have been through.
Well, fuck them both.
If they think I’m a monster, then fine… I’ll be the worst one they’ve ever seen.