Page 132 of Relentless Sinner

And I know Eric is right.

I find Gabriella sitting outside on the bedroom balcony waiting for me when I reach home.

It’s night again, and she’s gotWuthering Heightsin her hands.

On seeing me, she stands, sets the book down, and stares back at me with anticipation.

The last piece of news she got was about Damien and Yuri, so sympathy fills her eyes as I walk up to her.

“Jaxon, I?—”

I press a finger to her lips and glide it over the soft plump flesh. Then I just look at her. I’ve never wanted anything more than her.Never.

But I am her monster.The Beast.

Only I can release her from my fortress, because I have the keys.

Maybe that’s when I’ll become her prince. But there is no happy ever after for me if I can’t be with her.

The thought kills me, and as I hold her, I commit her to memory, everything about her. The way she looks. The way she feels. Her scent. Her heart. Her love.

A girl like this has no business being with a loathsome creature like me.

But I want it all one more time. I want her—my wife—one last time.

I lean in to kiss her and we fall into passion.

I make love to her all night, never wanting the sun to come up and take her from me.

The darkness keeps her with me for as long as I can hold on. But then morning comes.

She lies in my arms, rolls over to look at me, and I kiss her again.

“We have to talk,” I whisper, disbelief writhing through me at what I’m about to do.

Chapter Thirty

Gabriella

I knew something more was wrong from the moment Jaxon got back last night. Of course, I assumed he had a lot to deal with after finding out what happened to Damien and Yuri. But I sensed then that the something else that was wrong had to do with us. I could tell from the way he touched me last night. As if he couldn’t stop touching me. Like he was trying to take as much as he could from me to remember what I feel like.

Now I think I’m right. Somethingiswrong with us.

We’re sitting opposite each other in the garden. With the bright morning sun beaming down on us, I can see everything clearly now. Including that solemn look on Jaxon’s face.

It’s also never a good sign when someone starts a conversation with the words ‘we need to talk.’

“What’s going on, Jaxon? You’ve been quiet and acting strange.”

He reaches across and takes the hand with my rings, then he feels over the two bands with the same sort of sentiment he uses every time he touches me.

“I’ve been doing a lot of thinking.” His eyes meet mine, and he gazes into my soul. “A lot of thinking about your safety.”

“I know it’s difficult with my father planning to take me.”

“Yes. But he’s not the only threat I’m worried about.”

“What else is happening?”

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