Page 62 of Stitches

“I love you,” Church murmured against her lips. “But I won’t accept that behavior from you with anyone. Do you understand? No more, specter. You won’t be seeing Bryce again—”

She let out a snarl, and I released her hands.

She pushed against Church hard, dislodging him from her hot center and knocking him back onto his chair.

He was clearly as surprised as the rest of us because he stared in wonder at her as she moved quickly off the table and straddled his lap. There wasn’t a doubt in my mind that he was balls deep inside her again because he let out a soft groan as she shifted and gripped his face.

Within moments, she was rocking on him, her fingers still gripping his face in what appeared to be a tight, painful hold.

He took it all, surprising me. I had to admit, I couldn’t tear my eyes away from the scene. The same seemed to hold true for Ashes because he was hyper-focused on them too.

She came with her head thrown back, Church gripping her hips tightly.

She finally descended from her euphoria and leaned into Church. He stiffened as she pressed her lips to his ear.

It only lasted a moment before she pulled away from him and got to her feet, adjusting her nightgown as she went.

I watched in silence as she grabbed a piece of toast off the table before dropping a kiss on Ashes’s lips, and then coming to me.

I stared up at her, not sure what the fuck to do. I’d just witnessed a whole other creature in her place, and I couldn’t say I was disapproving. In fact, my dick was still painfully hard in my pants, and I knew she saw it because her gaze darted to my lap before she leaned in and kissed my forehead gently. I closed my eyes and breathed out, my heart fluttering at her soft lips on my skin.

I can’t. I can’t. I fucking can’t.

I don’t deserve it.

I don’t deserve her.

Fuck, angel, baby. Please…

She pulled away from me and hooked her pinky with mine, completely shattering me.

Take her hand. Pull her onto your lap. Kiss her back. Fuck. Don’t let her go. I can’t let her go. I have to. I fucking hate to. Someday it’ll be better. I’ll be better.

Her pinky slipped away from mine, and she left the room, going upstairs to Church’s room, presumably to shower.

We sat in silence for a moment before I cleared my throat. “That didn’t go as planned.”

A lopsided grin spilled onto Church’s face as he reached for a piece of toast, his dick back in his pants. All the anger he’d had was gone, replaced by something I’d never seen before.

He was filled with light and happiness. I’d only ever known him as a looming black shadow, ready to kill at the drop of a hat. This Church wasn’t that Church. He looked…heavenly. Content. Genuinely happy.

“What did she say to you?” Ashes asked, resting his elbows on the table.

Church shook his head, smiling. “Winner takes all. I’m inclined to believe that.”

Ashes let out a soft chuckle. “So does she win this round and get to see Bryce again?”

“I think she does. For now. I’ll give her another chance. I’ve always wanted to kick his ass. He’s too fucking perfect for my liking. This may afford me the opportunity to.” Church bit into his toast and chewed, that smile still on his face.

Ashes turned his blue eyes on me. “And you?”

“What about me?” I scoffed, my throat tight.

He studied me for a moment. “Malachi, you need to love her too. You’re only hurting yourself. Look at what happened to Sin—”

“Don’t fucking compare me to him,” I snapped. “I’m not him. I’d never hurt her the way he did. I-I…” my voice faltered.

I did hurt her like he did.

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