Page 18 of Branches of Betrayal

Before Hadina could formulate an answer, Peyton crashed her lips against hers and Hadina let out a sigh. Never before had a kiss ever felt like coming home.

Chapter 11

Peyton

Sunlight trickledin through the gap of the closed curtains, waking Peyton from her sleep. She stretched, groaning as her bruised skin moved and disturbed the wounds across her body. She was about to roll onto her side before she felt an arm tighten around her waist.

Hadina hummed in her sleep, rubbing her face against Peyton’s arm with a contented sigh. Peyton stared at her, avoiding the urge to reach out and run her fingertips across Hadina’s beautiful features. It had felt like years since she’d been in bed beside the woman she loved, and longer still since she had felt her touch.

When Hadina had come storming back to the room last night, Peyton had been furious. She had told her to leave, but Hadina had chosen to ignore her. But mostly, Peyton was just exhausted. She had been fighting for her life for weeks, and she didn’t want to have to fight Hadina too. The moment Hadina had invaded her personal space, Peyton had caved.

Her heart was already Hadina’s—what was the worst that could happen?

She had already been through the worst, or as close to it as she was willing to imagine. And if she was being really honest with herself, Hadina fighting for her despite her protests was what she wanted. But being honest with herself wasn’t Peyton’s strong suit. Living in denial and delusion was way easier.

“Buenos días, tentadora,” Hadina said softly, loosening her grip on Peyton.

Peyton looked at her and offered a small smile. “Good morning, Hadi.”

Hadina peered around the room, taking in the sunlight. “Did you get any sleep?”

“Some. Sleeping is hard right now,” Peyton admitted quietly. “I see things I don’t want to see when I close my eyes for more than a minute, not to mention, every spot on my body seems to protest every position.”

Lacing their fingers together, Hadina squeezed her hand. “That won’t last forever. But I’m sorry you have to go through it at all. Your body will heal in time. Unfortunately, nightmares have a way of plaguing us in the most terrifying ways. If I could take them from you, I would. If I could suffer them instead of you, I would.”

“I wouldn’t wish it on you.”

Hadina shrugged. “I probably deserve it. I definitely deserve it more than you.”

The sadness and guilt in Hadina’s voice reminded Peyton of why she had fallen in love with the Adis ice queen. While the woman had a hard shell protecting her, she was soft and vulnerable inside—Peyton was the only person ever really allowed to see it.

“I don’t think anyone deserves it. Not really. Although,” Peyton said with a slight smirk, “I wouldn’t mind if Demifaced some nightmares of her own. That woman probably does deserve it.”

Hadina sat up at that, her face transforming into a beautiful mask of vengeance. “I’ll make sure that she experiences a lifetime worth of nightmares, for you and for everyone else she’s ever harmed.”

Peyton brought her hand up to Hadina’s cheek, looking into her eyes and seeing the fire within them. “Only if I’m by your side while you do. We do it together.”

“We do everything together from here on out,” Hadina agreed, propping herself up on her elbows.

Leaning forward slowly, Hadina captured Peyton’s lips in a gentle kiss. Despite the fact that they had spent hours making out last night until Peyton’s lips were swollen and sore, she still craved Hadina’s kisses like they were the air she needed to breathe.

Deepening the kiss and throwing her arms around Hadina’s shoulders, Peyton groaned. She would never get her fill of this woman and the absolutely tantalizing way she kissed her. When Hadina’s tongue teased at her lips, Peyton opened up for her and relished in the taste. She tugged at Hadina to move her hands, get rid of the clothing barrier between them, but Hadina shook her head with a soft chuckle, separating them a little.

“Ay, baby, you’re still healing!” she admonished, glancing worriedly at the bruises across Peyton’s skin.

Peyton smirked, shrugging. “I’d heal better if we were both naked. Something about body heat?”

Hadina swatted at Peyton’s roaming hands. “¡Necia!That’s for fucking frostbite! As far as I can tell, you're plenty hot right now.”

“Spoilsport,” Peyton muttered, groaning as she got out of bed. “Guess I’ll go take a shower.”

“I could join you…”

“You could but since you won’t let me see you naked, you’re not getting to seemenaked.” Peyton laughed at the curses Hadina muttered to her back as she made her way into the ensuite bathroom. “I would really love a coffee for getting out of the shower, if you’re feeling dutiful!”

“Anything you want will be yours,” Hadina replied, sending a fresh set of butterflies free in Peyton’s gut for the first time since she returned home.

Hadina had told her—inher strictest voice—that she had to rest and relax until her body wasn’t in complete agony. While Peyton wanted to rebel against being told what to do, she really was in agony and she knew she needed the rest. So after her shower and coffee, Hadina went off to work while Peyton stayed in bed watching movies. But the thing about getting kidnapped, abused, and almost murdered was that it really put a damper on how entertaining fiction was.

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