Page 25 of Romancing the Reaper

It’s how I maintain control. But with Ada in my arms, crying like this - I don’t know what to do. I never could have imagined such raw vulnerability from her. I can see the struggle in her eyes.

I know how out of control and helpless she feels and I want to be the one to help her take control of the things that overwhelm her but it’s not going to be an easy process. We both are very well aware of.

Ada’s right. I don’t know what it’s like to have lived her life. I don’t know what kind of pressure she’s been under. That sort of toxic workplace and fast paced life isn’t something that I everhad to worry about. If somebody ever made me feel inferior, I killed them. Simple as that.

It’s tempting to offer her my skills as the Reaper.

She would only need to give me a list of names and I could easily eliminate the problem for her. Nobody would ever have to know that she behind it. I’m very good at my job.

I didn’t think that I would feel this much anger toward the people from her past who have mistreated her. She has such a good soul. I’ve only been with her for a few days and I can see how gentle her soul is.

She’s loving, and loyal and kind, certainly far more than I deserve. She’s so much more than I have given her credit for. I was stupid to think of her only as a pawn in my revenge plot. She’s got so many demons of her own to fight off without having to take on mine.

I shouldn’t have taken her the way I did. That beast that lives inside me came to the surface and I couldn’t stop myself. I didn’twantto stop it. Every reaction and moan that she made only fed it, made me feel that much more possessive. Knowing that I’m the only one to have known her in this way, to have touched and tasted her? I wouldn’t trade that for anything.

I’m already craving her again. I want every part of her.

The beast inside of me is happy, for she is my beauty.

The manipulations and obstacles of my cutthroat world are so different from the subtle, underhanded ways of hers. The world is a cruel place to be in, but I think that perhaps in this case it’s been crueler to her. Understanding the battle she is facing now, it’s hard to believe that she has been able to live her day-to-day life in the public eye without anyone knowing a thing. She possesses the inner strength, whether she believes it or not, she just has to reset it.

The bare walls of the bathroom seem to echo the sounds of her pain to the point that I can’t stand it. My future wife should never want for nothing. Nobody should ever make her feel inferior in any capacity. That's the very least that I can offer her. She might think that I was not being serious with that plan, but I’m as serious as the grave.

When the shuddering of her shoulders and chest seems to slowly start to subside, I loosen the hold that I have on her. I half expect her to shove me away and demand that I pretend to have never seen such an outburst, but she doesn’t move. Her hands are balled up into my t-shirt, holding tightly and keeping me close. Her forehead is still pressed into my chest. I slowly hook my index finger under her chin and gently coax her pretty face to life and look at me.

Even like this, with her eyes red rimmed and her cheeks puffy, she’s still the most stunning woman that I have ever seen.

I wipe the lingering tears from her face with my other hand as she looks up at me with those beautiful, big eyes. My grip on her chin tightens, just a subtle reminder that I am here, and she’snot alone. She doesn’t have to face these things alone anymore. If she needs help being in control, then I will be that control. It’s not going to be an easy path for her to walk, but it’s one that she doesn’t have to walk alone. Not anymore.

“Do you want to get better?” I ask her.

Ada sniffles, still not pulling away from me and she dips her head into a nod.

“Then you’re going to have to trust me.”

Ada bites her bottom lip like there’s something she wants to say but just can’t bring herself to.

“Obedience and discipline are going to be the key to your salvation, princess.”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean, there’s some things that I will require from you. You know that, and I have no reason to hide that from you. We will work on this together … but I will help you, if you will accept what I say.” I offer.

I mean it. But it’s not going to be an easy journey. Not in the slightest.

“You will have to follow the instructions I give you, and in return I promise you that you will never have to walk in that darkness alone, ever again.”

I pull her closer, letting her straddle me as I hold her.

“I will take care of you, princess. I promise.”

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

ADA

If only things were that simple. It’s a sweet notion.

If only it was possible to wave his fingers and pet my hair and magically the disorder that I’ve been suffering from almost my entire life will just magically disappear. The lining of my throat won’t be ruined. The stomach acid in my stomach will no longer revolt against my body and then magically, just because he said so, I’ll be all cured.

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