Page 185 of Taken By Touch and Torment

“Mmhmm,” he rumbled. “Get used to it now, Little Flame. You’re going to be showered with my obsessive, all-consuming brand of love until you’re sick of me.”

“Never,” I whispered. “I will never be sick of our love.”

We were lost in each other’s eyes until Rune looked over my shoulder, his smile turning mischievous.

“Scarlett?” a man asked.

I stiffened. My whole body flooded with recognition.

72

SCARLETT

“Jaxon?” I squealed, leaving Rune’s arms to run to my childhood best friend. He was dressed in navy and black. His curly brown hair was cut shorter than when I’d last see him, but that familiar silver stud still pierced his right ear.

Jaxon laughed as I nearly tackled him. His arms wrapped around me. He smelled exactly as I remembered, like summer, his favorite bar of soap, and everything wild and untamed.

“Hi, baby girl,” Jaxon said.

He stiffened slightly.

“Tell your man I’m not into women,” he whispered. “That glare was deadly.”

“Noted,” Rune said from behind me, joining us with a hand on my lower back.

Jaxon pulled away, and we both grinned as we stared at each other in disbelief.

“Pleasure to meet you,” Rune said, offering Jaxon a hand.

Jaxon shook it, giving Rune a polite nod. “When I asked Scarlett if she was going to knock on your door and demand you end the slave trade, I should’ve known she’d take me seriously.” He shifted nervously even as he joked, clearly out of his element.

“Yes, you should’ve. I’ll leave you two to talk,” Rune said, amping up the intensity of his power in a silent warning to Jaxon and a comfort to me.

I threw him a pointed look to show him the move was unnecessary.

“About that day,” Jaxon began, blowing out a sigh as he scratched his head. “Scarlett, I can’t apologize enough. I regretted what I did—how I left things—as soon as I was airborne.”

“I think we both felt betrayed in that moment,” I said, remembering our conversation in the kitchen.

Jaxon and I had planned our escape for months. We’d dreamed of it for years. And I’d stubbornly refused to abandon my abusive sister, no matter how little she cared for me. I’d thrown all of our adventures away to come to Aristelle—for what appeared on the surface to be a suicide mission. In return, Jaxon had given me the cold shoulder and left without so much as a goodbye.

“Yes, I did feel betrayed,” he said. “But I should’ve told you I loved you, too. I left you hanging, and it was cruel. I was frustrated that you couldn’t see Isabella for what she was, and I spoke to you in a way I deeply regret. And even if Isabella didn’t deserve your efforts, I shouldn’t have been so quick to underestimate you, either.” He glanced around, a small smile on his lips. “Because I was clearly, fucking humiliatingly, wrong. And I’ve thanked Helia for it every day since Rune reached out, and I learned you were alive.”

Jaxon and I had never been very touchy-feely, so these were uncharted waters for me. I hesitated only a second before hugging him again.

“I forgive you, Jaxon,” I said, pulling back and offering him a smile. It looked like sometimes closure could come from words. But I still had to claim that sense of completion and forgiveness myself, in my own heart. “I’m so happy you’re here.”

“Where’s your bitch sister?”

I laughed, and he finally broke out into that impish grin I adored.

“Heading back to dearest Phillip with her pockets lined with what she loves most,” I said, lifting a brow.

Jaxon rolled his eyes knowingly. He made a cunty remark under his breath that had me giggling like old times.

I had no interest in seeing Isabella again, nor her me. I was learning to accept that no one was entitled to my energy, my time, or my sanity. I didn’t owe anyone my love or devotion. I gave myself only to those who gave the same in return.

“I’m free of her, or at least, I’m getting there,” I continued. “Freedom from Isabella has never been about the physical distance between us. It’s a process of cutting the invisible cords she’d wrapped around me when I wasn’t looking.” I tapped on my temple. “Freedom is in here.”

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