Page 41 of Vicious Sentiments

“If hurting her hurts you, then she might want to be a little afraid,” Cape says from somewhere. Gone is the seriousness in his voice, his regular drawl in its place. My ears are still ringing and I don’t want to look up from Julian’s chest, but then he speaks again.

“Maybe it’s your girl that needs toman up,” he chuckles.

All my fear dissolves, nothing but a fiery rage suddenly coursing through me, and I will myself to look up. Finding him, I wait for him to feel my eyes on him, and when he does, I glare. I channel every bit of injustice that’s ever been done to me and I direct it at him.I hate you,it says.I hate you.

A slow smile creeps up on his lips as he gets the hint, a glimmer in his eyes.

Helikesit.

And I hate him even more for it.

Chapter Twenty-Five

Julian kisses my forehead as he lays me in my bed. I’m still in the process of wiping away the tears, embarrassed that I had fallen apart.

“I got you, baby. I got you,” he says as he slips off my heels.

He’s got a hard knot between his brows but his hands are gentle as he holds my ankle. I see a side eye slip between my legs and I redden, trying to seal my thighs.

“Have you ever been around when a gun went off?” He clears his throat and sits next to me.

I shake my head.

“Your ears will be okay.”

I nod.

He sighs and looks up at something on the ceiling, in thought. His fist flexes over and again, making the muscles in his arm perk. I’ve never been around a man that can so easily contain his emotions, resigning them to delightful sneak peeks. I want to say I’m relieved, even a bit shamefully aroused, but more so, I’m confused. Because I don’t know what he’s feeling. Is he angry at me? Cape? The situation in El Cuco? Margo for firing the gun?

The uncertainty, and his restraint, has me leaning up on my knees to get closer to him. I suppose you can’t fear what you don’t know. He sits down beside me and lets out a breath.

His hand absently lands on my bare thigh, the dress hiked in my position. It’s warm and comforting, giving me even more courage to scoot closer.

God, he smells good. Like the heated blood in his veins is amplifying the scent that is distinctly him. I can’t help myself when I rest my chin on his shoulder. I don’t know if it’s the whirlwind of emotions I just went through and I’m seeking comfort, or his magnified pheromones that I’m drawn to. I just hope I’m not mistaken, and that any second he’ll show me his control only goes so far.

“Do you want to run?” his question is etched in sadness as he turns his face, his cheek pressing against mine.

My breath catches. I was hoping he didn’t hear that little bit from Cape about how I should have ran.

“No,” I say, not wanting to shake my head and lose the contact of his cheek.

Despite what just happened, I came out unscathed. Shaken, but without a bruise to add to my collection and the idea of running seems painful when running would mean leaving behind Julian.

“What did Cape mean when he said you should have ran?” His warm breath intoxicates me.

Dizzyingly, I suck in my lips. If I tell him about being on the beach with Cape, will his control dissolve? But if I keep it a secret will it eventually come out and he’ll look at me differently?

“I went to sit on the beach,” I whisper. “The night after family dinner.”

“And Cape?”

“He sat with me.” I don’t say that he forced me to sit because if I had any backbone I would have left. Saying he forced me would be an excuse.

“What else happened?” there’s no suspicion in his voice, just curiosity.

I mull over the truth. I did finally leave, but not without hearing Cape out and entertaining the idea of Julian’s brother’s head between my legs. Even now a sudden throbbing appears between them.

“He offered to go down on me.” I figure the truth is better than lying, and having Cape take the narrative from me and say something else.

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