Page 29 of Hearts Of Darkness

A strange peace settles over me afterward as we stay locked together until our pulses steady and slow. She’s limp in my arms, but she’s so slim I can support her weight easily.

The quietude transforms into a deep, satisfying ache. Sliding out of her, I lower her feet to the ground. Her wrists are still bound around my neck. I remove her arms and set about untying her, running my thumbs over the red weals where my rope has chafed her skin. They’re a symbol of our lust. A brand that I want to leave on her body every time we fuck.

Once freed, she turns away and tries to cover herself with what’s left of her dress.

“Don’t,” I tell her, unfurling her fingers and sliding the ruined dress off her shoulders until she’s naked except for her white panties. She doesn’t stop me; she just stares at me, an unreadable expression on her face.

I take a step back and remove my T-shirt in one fluid movement. I watch her gaze lingering on my stomach, at the tight web of muscles there. My angel likes what she sees, but doesn’t she know? She’s staked a claim over me already—from the dark soul lurking beneath these muscles to this God-given face.

I place my T-shirt over her head and tug it down into position. It’s so large on her that it falls to her knees. It’s ashame to cover up those breasts, but I’ll kill any man who lays his eyes on them. Fuck doubt. Fuck all the reasons we shouldn’t be together. This pull between us is stronger than all of that.

“I preferred the dress,” she says, offering up a small smile.

I find myself wanting to make her smile like that more often.

“I believe that’s the first thing we’ve agreed on.” Bending down, I scoop her up into my arms. She squeals in shock and tries to squirm away. “Settle in for the ride, my angel,” I say with a growl, tightening my grip as I walk us down to the water’s edge to wash the sin from our bodies.

I’m never letting you go.

She fallsasleep in my arms as I carry her back to the house, clean and replete, her head resting lightly against my shoulder.

Kicking the front door shut, I hear the laughter coming from the kitchen as the girls prepare dinner. I imagine we caused quite a scene earlier. Eve and her delicate, ethereal beauty have been the subject of much gossip in my household over the past few days. They won’t open their mouths to anyone else, though. I surround myself with loyalty. If I suspect the alternative, that person is dealt with swiftly and decisively. There’s too much at stake, and even more so now.

It’s been this way ever since I was forced back into the family fold, and the day my own flesh and blood betrayed me. Joseph runs detailed checks on every single person that sets foot in my compound—from the maids in the house to the commanders and captains in my army.

I pause when I reach my bedroom door, and then I walk straight past it, choosing to enter the next room instead. There are too many bad memories for Eve in there; too many knives to slice at these fragile strands that bind us. Something shifted between us this afternoon, and I find myself wanting to protect it at all costs.

She stirs as I lay her down on the bed. I watch her eyelids flit open. When she realizes she’s back inside the house, she sits up with a cry.

“Shhh,” I croon, brushing away a strand of dark silk from her face. “I will never lock you away again… You have my word.”

I’m encouraged when she doesn’t flinch away, though her eyes are wide and wary. She wants to trust me, but she can’t. Not yet. It’s no more than I deserve after the way I’ve treated her.

“What is this room?” she says, glancing around.

“One of my spares. I’ll have your things brought here.” I move to stand, but she grabs my arm to stop me. A second later, she’s flat on her back, her hands pinned above her head. “No sudden movements, remember?” I chide, seeing the terror on her face and releasing her right away.

She rubs her wrists and winces.

“Did I hurt you?”

She shakes her head and bites her lower lip. She’s a bad liar.

Fuck.

We stare at each other for a beat—me, full of something perilously close to regret, and her, just thoughtful. I watch her formulating questions in her mind, drinking everything in withthose dangerous blue sapphires.

“You mentioned my things? I didn’t think—”

“I had clothes flown over from the main island this morning,” I say brusquely, rising to my feet again. “Plus, some toiletries and make-up.”

“Thank you, I guess.”

No, thank you.This woman has no idea she’s just given me the fuck of my life. “The bathroom’s through there,” I say, gesturing to an archway in the corner. “I need to make a few calls, and then I’ll be back.”

I walk over to the balcony doors and take a key from my pocket. They open easily, the incoming breeze catching at the white muslin drapes. All my bedrooms have balconies that face the ocean. I like to prettify the true immorality of this place with minor details such as these.

“Can I go out there?”

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