Page 22 of Branches of Betrayal

That caused Hadina to still. She tilted her head as she looked at Peyton in confusion. “Youwhat? I need you to tell me exactly what happened because right now I’m extremely confused and I’m ready to set my sister on fire if she even looks at you again.”

Hadina sat silently as Peyton told her what happened while she was at work. The second she mentioned Zellie hitting her back, Hadina had to clutch her hands together in her lap to stop herself from throwing something at the wall. She was furious that her sister had hurt hertentadorabut she was even angrier at herself for not being there with her.

Still, it did give her a little buzz of pride as Peyton detailed just how many blows she’d managed to get in.

“I’m so angry at you,” Hadina said softly, without any true depth to her voice. “You should never have hit her—not because you’re not capable of fighting, or that she doesn’t deserve it, but because she’s hadyearsof training on you and could easily have hurt you. You’re lucky she didn’t kill you just for attempting it.”

“I’m sorry,” Peyton said, clutching Hadina’s hands. “I know it was foolish but I saw red. I needed a release and hitting her did the trick. Besides, I found her weakness.”

Hadina raised a brow, smirking slightly. “I didn’t think my sister cared enough about anything to have a weakness. Do tell.”

Peyton returned her smirk and raised brow, amusement glistening in her eyes. “You.She loves her family—she lovesyou. She won’t hurt me, not intentionally, because it would hurt you.”

It took Hadina off guard, whatever words she had on her tongue dying silently. Her relationship with her sister had long been broken, but she had to admit to herself that she did love Zellie, in a fucked up way. But it still came as a surprise to her that her sister would admit returning that sibling love to anyone else, especially Peyton, knowing she would tell Hadina. Maybe that was exactlywhyshe had chosen to say it to Peyton.

Hadina’s head hurt thinking about it.

“So…” Peyton said, leaning back to rest against her pillows. “What do you think about me getting some training with Zellie?”

Hadina shifted, straddling Peyton’s waist with her legs, her hands placed on her hips as she circled Peyton’s soft, exposedskin. “I think I’d murder my own sister if she made you any more bruised and bloodied than you are right now.”

Peyton chuckled softly, cupping Hadina’s cheek tenderly and running her thumb across her cheekbone. “Surely it’s better for me to be bruised and bloody learning how to defend myself more than it is for me to get the shit beaten out of me again and I’m unable to stop it?”

Her heart almost stopped in her chest as Hadina imagined Peyton going through anything more than what she’d already suffered. She knew hertentadorawas right, even if it hurt her to think about it.

“Are you trying to say my training was subpar?” Hadina questioned, leaning forward to press a kiss against the column of Peyton’s throat. She heard the woman’s short intake of breath and Hadina smiled smugly to herself at the effect she knew she had on Peyton.

“I would never suggest such a thing,” Peyton said quietly, her voice breathy as Hadina’s tongue licked over her jaw. “But I do know that you’d go somewhat easier on me because you don’t want to see me hurt. Zellie wouldn’t care.”

“Hm,” Hadina hummed, her mouth trailing small kisses and licks all across Peyton’s exposed chest. Reaching her collarbone, Hadina kissed softly before biting down on the skin, eliciting a sharp gasp from Peyton. She sat back, a devious smile etched onto her face as she looked at Peyton’s hungry eyes. “You’re wrong—sometimes Ireallylike seeing you a little hurt. But only on my terms.”

Chapter 14

Peyton

Even though herbody hurt and she wasn’t anywhere near healed, Peyton craved Hadina. She wanted to behurtby her, to be bitten and bruised in the most delicious way.

“I think you should show me…” she heard herself say, a sly smirk creeping onto her face.

Hadina’s eyes widened and her nostrils flared, her mouth twitching. But a second later, she shook her head and Peyton felt her heart deflate. “You’re still hurt. You’remorehurt now, after your little stunt today. I don’t want to cause you any more pain. Fooling around can wait.”

“I feel fine,” Peyton countered. It had been so long since she had felt Hadina come undone, since they had shared breathless kisses and needy touches.

“I’m scared, Peyton,” Hadina admitted, her face screwing up as though it hurt her to say it out loud. “You…you were broken when I got you back. I don’t want to be the reason you break again because if I’m the reason, it means I won’t be the one to be able to bring you back.”

Peyton sighed. This damn woman. So tough and angry, yet sensitive and soft and worry-filled, only for her. She both loved and hated it.

“Your dad once told me that fear is natural. That we have to decide whether or not we’ll let it consume us. I won’t let fear dictate my life anymore, Hadi, and I won’t let you live in fear either.” Grabbing her face, Peyton pressed her lips against Hadina’s in a rough, passionate kiss. She felt her relax in her touch, her mouth opening up to allow Peyton better access.

When they pulled apart, Hadina rolled her eyes and let out a chuckle. “For the record, I would greatly appreciate it if you refrained from mentioning my dad in your monologue to seduce me in the future.”

Peyton snorted, nodding her head. “Duly noted. Now, will youpleasefuck me?”

The playful edge to Hadina’s expression turned into something darker and Peyton’s core tightened in response. She was so ready to come undone.

Hadina grinned. She reached out, running her hands through Peyton’s hair before grabbing a few strands between her fingers, tightening her grip and pulling her head back. “Tell me what you want,tentadora. I’ll give you anything you ask for.”

Peyton could feel her heartbeat speed up in her chest as adrenaline pumped through her veins. She knew Hadina meant it; she would give her whatever she wanted, however she wanted it. Luckily for Peyton, she knew exactly what she was craving.

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