Page 45 of The Vicious Defender

"I'm not agreeing to those terms, angel," he mutters. "Never. I'll talk to your father soon. I have another idea."

I want to ask him what it is, but he finally looks at me, and I'm rendered speechless. Xavier has always looked much younger, but it seems like he's aged five years in the past few hours. His hand reaches out through the bars, touching my hair softly.

"You've always been mine," he murmurs. "No matter how many times you ran. Or how far. I'll always find you."

"I'll never run again," I whisper.

"Yes, you will," he says, a sad smile forming on his lips. "Just like your mother. Always running."

"Master..." I manage, reaching through the bars, desperate to be closer to him.

"Don't call me that, please."

I've never hard Xavier beg before. He sounds so broken, like his spirit's been crushed.

"I love you," I whisper, and tears start flowing down my cheeks.

"I know," he says, leaning his forehead against the bars. "God help me, I know."

"We'll find a way out of this," I assure him, although we both know it's a lie.

"Of course, we will."

I kiss his palm and then his fingers, and he touches my hair, his other hand reaching through the bars and cupping my face. I'm so desperate for his touch I lean into his tentative hands before grabbing him by the shoulders and forcing him closer to the bars.

"Kiss me," I plead.

"Always," he says, leaning forward, his lips claiming mine. He tastes salty and bitter and sweet and sour, all at the same time. He tastes like my everything.

He tastes like love.

His lips are hungry and eager, his tongue probing and deep. I moan, and his hands grip my neck, and then they're pulling me closer and closer and closer, until there's nowhere else for me to go.

"Xavier," I moan into his mouth, and he kisses me harder.

The bars are still separating us, but there's just enough room to push the top half of my body through, and he does, his arms wrapping around my waist. His strong, powerful, possessive hold on me is exactly what I need.

"My wife," he growls. "Mine. Always. Forever. Mine."

I nod fervently, losing myself in his kiss. The bars are clenching me and I struggle to get more comfortable until my husband pulls back, gently wedging me free, his palms lingering on my skin.

"I love you," he whispers, and my heart shatters into a million pieces.

"Xavier, please..."

"I have to protect you."

"By sacrificing yourself?"

"Yes," he says simply.

"I'll never let that happen."

"You won't have a choice."

"Yes, I will. You'll be free," I tell him firmly.

"I'm going to get you back, angel. Even if it kills me."

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