Page 84 of Ruin Me, Daddy

“God, I love you,” she said when her laughter faded. “No matter what, you always know exactly what to say to make things better.”

Those words wrapped around his chest, tightening like a band until it hurt to breathe. Some friends tossed those words around like glitter, showering each other with easy affection. But it had never been like that between them. When he’d confessed his love for her at Roulette on Valentine’s night, it was the first time he’d given those words to anyone outside of his adopted family.

“What did you say?”

But instead of looking shocked like he’d half expected, Silver just smirked. “I said I love you. Got a problem with that?”

He was up out of his chair before she finished her question, yanking her to him and capturing her mouth with his own. “Say it again,” he demanded, barely pulling his lips from hers. “Say it again.”

“I love you, Elias Turner. And I really fucking hope you meant what you said back at Black Light, because I’ll never forgive you if I’ve ruined our whole fucking lives and you don’t love me back.”

“Jesus Christ, woman. Of course I love you. I’ve been in love with you since I was sixteen years old. And you haven’t ruined anything, baby. You’ve made it so much better.”

Her breath caught as he took her lips again, devouring her, claiming her like it was the first time.

Behind them, Beckett cleared his throat, and they pulled apart just enough to look over at him as he rose from his chair, amusement and unease stamped across his face in equal measure. “I’m going to take that as my cue to leave. I’ll be at the club tonight if you need me.”

Ice grinned down at the woman in his arms. “Love makes him uncomfortable.”

“I see that,” Silver answered with a happy giggle. “Sorry not sorry, Beckett.”

“It doesn’t make me uncomfortable,” Beckett grumbled. “Just seems like you two could use some privacy.”

“You’re not wrong. Bye, Beckett.”

As soon as the front door shut behind him, Ice had Silver in his arms as he strode for the bedroom. Laying her on the bed, he knelt between her knees, caging her in with his arms as he lowered his head to nip at her bottom lip. “I hope you know that now that I have you, I’m never fucking letting you go. You and me, my beautiful goddess. Even death won’t do us part, because I’ll find you in whatever existence comes after this. I will look for you and I will find you, until the end of time itself.”

“Forever,” she agreed on a whisper, her voice thick with emotion as she slid her hand under his, threading their fingers together. “You and me, Daddy. Forever.”

Silver

Every inch of her body ached. Telling Ice she loved him had unlocked some never-ending well of sexual stamina in him, and she’d lost track of how many positions he’d put her in and how many times they’d both come over the past few hours.

Not that she was complaining. It was a damn good way to keep her attention off the coming storm that was Ace Alvarez.

But now that Ice was in the shower—without her, because she’d finally broken down and told him she might actually die if he fucked her again right now—she had plenty of time to think.

And to worry.

Where was Ace? What was he plotting? Why couldn’t anybody get in touch with him? Had he done something… reckless?

It was that last thought that had her stomach rolling, threatening to rid itself of the pizza she and Ice had shared in bed just an hour ago. More than once during their relationship Ace had threatened to hurt himself if she didn’t take him back. After several years and multiple therapy appointments, she’d come to realize it was nothing more than a manipulation tactic.

But now… now she couldn’t help but wonder if he hadn’t been bluffing after all. If she’d actually pushed him to do what he’d always threatened to do.

How the hell was she supposed to live with herself if that happened? How would Ice ever look her in the eye again, knowing she’d kept such a huge secret from him and it had cost his best friend, his brother his life?

As she lay on the bed, drowning in her panicked thoughts, her phone buzzed, jolting her out of her silent spiral. Relief flooded her, nearly making her dizzy when she saw the message from Ace on her screen.

The Asshole

We need to talk.

Understatement of the year.

Silver

Yeah, we do. I’m at Ice’s house if you want to come talk.

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