Chapter 33 #4
I gasp. My hips roll forward, legs snapping together, and I bow forward.
I can’t help it. Can’t stop it. I’m cumming.
Right here. At the table. I’m trying to be quiet about it…
but, Christ, it’s hard. My body clenches, throbbing around nothing, and I squeeze my thighs together, trying to put some pressure on my aching cunt.
It’s both so good and so torturous and I moan and fall into a swoon.
When my vision clears, I look across the table and I catch Trinity…
Caught in her own swoon.
She has her palms on the table, doing her best to keep her expression neutral. But she’s panting lightly. Her eyes meet mine, and there’s a flash of embarrassment, and then recognition, and then…she laughs. “Wow,” she says, “I guess that still works.”
My vision goes red. I jump to my feet, my palms slamming down on the table.
“I will fucking end you!” I snarl.
Trinity gasps and quickly moves back.
I am no longer Ophelia. Or Ruby. I’m Artemis. I’m the huntress and Trinity is my prey, and I’m going to rip her limb from limb, and…fuck.
Is this what I’ve become?
Someone so consumed by anger that I lash out at another woman?
I step away from the table. I dig my fingers into my hair, walk a quick circle, and shut my eyes tightly. I try to focus on breathing, but my heart is pounding too fast, and my sigh just sounds like a growl.
I want to get on the floor. I want to put my head in Phantom’s lap. I want him to pet my hair, to anchor me, to tell me it’s going to be okay.
As if summoned—
“Ophelia.” Phantom touches my arm, but I flinch back. I spin around and look at him. He looks startled by my reaction, but he doesn’t test me again, lowering his hand instead.
“You’re not mad at her,” he says. “You’re mad at me.”
“You’re fucking right I’m mad at you!” I seethe. I’m aware the people in the room are looking at us, but rage is boiling my blood and I can barely see straight. “She knows Give.”
“Yes.” Phantom doesn’t budge. Everyone gives us space, but all I can see are his eyes. Those familiar, brown eyes.
“What else does she know?” I ask. “Is there anything that’s just mine?”
The muscle in his jaw flexes, but he doesn’t respond. It’s all the answer I need.
I swallow. The backs of my eyes sting. “Sometimes, you make me feel like I’m everything to you. Other times, I feel like I’m just your Friday bitch. So which is it?”
“Ophelia—”
“Fuck it. Forget it.” I sniff. I address the crowd of Seekers, who have stopped their interviews to stare at us. “Ignore me! I’m just…hysterical, drama-queen Ophelia. Again. Sorry for ruining Valentine’s Day—”
I turn my back to him. I start to leave, when I hear behind me, quiet yet strong:
“Marry me.”
I freeze on the spot.
No. Absolutely not. No way I heard that right.
He didn’t. He wouldn’t.
Would he?
Slowly, I turn around. “What?”
Phantom stands there. “You want one command that’s all yours. Something I’ve never given anyone else.” He gets down on a knee. “Marry me.”
My heart pounds. My throat goes tight, and I can’t speak.
I watch as a flicker of nervousness enters his expression. When he sees me hesitate, he shifts. Not to rise. To lower. He drops from one knee down to two. On both knees now, he begs, “Marry me, Ophelia.”
Everyone has gone quiet now. They’re watching. Waiting for my response.
I don’t give him a yes or a no.
Instead, my safe word leaves my mouth.
“Mercy.”
It’s the one word I know he’ll obey. The only way I know he won’t follow me when I turn and leave in a rush out the door.
A burst of cold, nighttime air smacks me in the face.
I’ve left my coat in the closet, but there’s no going back for it now.
I close the door behind me, click down the steps, and walk at a quick clip down the sidewalk.
I’m trying to make it off the block before I break down, but tears are already burning the backs of my eyelids, blurring my vision.
A car slow down beside me. It honks once. I ignore it.
The window rolls down. “Ophelia!” Dove calls out. “Get in!”
I hesitate. But it’s cold, and it’s Dove…so I take the ride. I climb in the back of the cab and close the door behind me.
“Where’d Dorian go?”
Dove shrugs. “I left him at the club. You need me.”
“Dove…you don’t have to come to my rescue. I’m…” I choke. Now, I can’t stop the hot tears from leaking down my cheeks. “I’m too much. Too emotional. Too much of a mess. I want too much, love too hard, and then make it everyone’s fucking problem.”
I rub my face, trying to push away my tears. Dove catches my hand, pulls it towards her, and gives it a tight squeeze.
“Don’t,” she says. “You’re perfect. That wild, impulsive, big-hearted person brought me out of my darkest times. Don’t you dare bash her.”
My bottom lip trembles and swells with the pressure of trying to keep my tears at bay.
Dove continues, “You and me? This is the stuff of forever. I’m not leaving you when you need me. You do the same for me.”
“Thank you,” I whisper.
She leans her head on my shoulder. I follow suit, resting my head against hers. “It’s okay,” she murmurs. “You’re going to be okay.”