Page 49 of We're Not Strangers Anymore

I lean down, pressing a gentle kiss to her forehead, careful to avoid her injuries. “Always.” As I pull back, I look into her eyes, feeling all of the raw, unspoken emotions I’ve tried so hard to ignore. “Let me stitch you up so you can rest, baby.”

Rowan nods and grips the pillow as I inject the local anesthetic into her forehead. With each suture, I feel the tension leave her body until she finally falls asleep. For the first time in a while I feel something close to hope. We’ll find a way through this together, but I have a lot of making up to do.AfterI kill off the rest of Conejo’s men. The whole city is going to feel it when I take them out. I’ll be dropping their heads off at their mothers’ door steps for what they did to Rowan.

Rowan

I wake up to Grayson changing the bandages on my neck. “Again?” I groan.

“They need to be changed every four hours. I need to put a new ice pack on your head too.”

“Grayson, it’s three in the morning. Just get some sleep.” He’s been getting up every few hours to change my bandages and replace my ice pack. He’s so tired, I can tell. But he’s been overly worried about me. Admittedly, it’s really sweet– which isn’t a word I’d normally use to describe Grayson.

“No, you go ahead and go back to sleep, baby. It’ll only take a minute.” He whispers gently.

I shut my eyes and feel him wrap the new ice pack around my head. He settles into bed behind me and brushes his fingers through my hair, his thumb trailing over the scar on the nape of my neck. He takes a deep breath before pressing his lips to the scar. Something about the small act feels so intimate, likehe knows every corner of my soul. I let sleep pull me under as he rakes his fingers through my hair.

I start to wake again, but this time, Grayson isn’t changing my bandages. My heavy eyelids flutter open and suddenly, I become aware of the warm, solid presence leaning over me.

Grayson is there, settled between my legs with his cock buried inside me. His hand is beneath the blanket, his strong fingers wrapped around my thigh, holding me in place as he thrusts into me, slow and deep. His face is close, so close that I can feel his breath against my neck, warm and slightly ragged.

“Grayson–” My voice is barely above a whisper, thick with the remnants of sleep. His name on my lips feels like a plea, though I’m not sure if it’s for him to stop or continue. “What are you doing?”

“Reminding you who you belong to.” He presses a soft kiss to the corner of my mouth, then trails his lips down my neck, avoiding the burn marks.

“You can’t just–” I begin, but he cuts me off, capturing my lips in a deep, demanding kiss. I slightly push away from him but he thrusts deeper inside me, bringing his arms up to trap mine.

“You’re mine, and I’m going to make sure you never forget it again,” he thrusts harder. “No more running. Every inch of you is mine. I’ve taken you, claimed you,” he pulls out and thrusts into me harder, causing the headboard to slam into the wall. “And now I’m going to make sure youneverfucking forget.”

His words send heat to my core. I want to push away from him, to tell him I’m leaving. But the words are stuck in my throat.

He moves his hand up, brushing his fingers over my ribs and then cupping my breast. His thumb circles my nipple causing me to arch involuntarily toward him. “You feel that?” Grayson’s voice is a husky whisper in my ear. “That’s your body responding to me. No matter what you say, you know who you belong to.”

I shake my head, trying to deny it, but he silences me with another deep, forceful kiss. His hand tightens on my breast, his fingers teasing and pinching until I can’t help the small moan that escapes me.

He pulls back slightly, his eyes dark with satisfaction. “Say it, Row,” he demands softly. “Say you belong to me.”

“Grayson–” I gasp.

He grips my chin, forcing me to look at him. “I don’t want to hear you argue with me, Row. I want to hear you fuckin’ say it. Tell me who you belong to.”

“You,” I moan softly. “I belong to you.”

A satisfied groan escapes his chest. “Good girl,” his hands roam over my body as if he’s mapping every inch of my skin. “No one else gets to touch you like this,” he growls against my lips. “No one else gets to hear these sounds you make, feel the way you tremble.” He pushes deeper and harder inside of me and I feel the tension in my core about to snap. “Tell me you want this,” his voice is dark and coaxing. “Tell me you fucking want me, Row.”

His speed picks up and waves of pleasure crash over me. “I want you, Grayson.” I let out a scream, louder than intended. I try to push from underneath him but he pins my hips down with both hands.

“I’m not done with you yet.” He leans in closer, his lips brushing against my ear. “You have no idea what it means to be mine, that’s why you tried to run. But don’t worry, Row,” his hand slips down from my hip and wraps around my thigh. “I’m going to show you, over and over again until you can’t think of anyone else. Until the thought of leaving me makes yousick.”

His words send a shiver down my spine, and I feel myself arching against him, wanting more. “Please–”

“Please what? Please keep going?”

“No I–”

“You want to drip on my cock again?” He growls, his thrusts growing faster and harder.

“No, I can’t.” I moan, trying to find my words.

“You can and you will,” he demands, grabbing a fistful of my hair. “Come for me, Row.”

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