Page 104 of Tangled in Knots

“You actually feel happy,” she grumbles.

“Seeing how adorable you look makes me feel that way,” I tell her. “Sometimes I dream about how different things could have been, but I always wake up wistful afterwards. I haven’t had a dream in years.”

Adira stumbles as she listens to me, swallowing hard. “I’m terrified to dream,” she says. “I work until I fall into bed exhausted, hoping I’ll be greeted by blackness.”

“I’ll chase them away,” I say, my hand still on the base of her back. Her body is warm, and I pretend not to see how many eyes are on us. Nothing else matters.

“Everything my brothers and I are doing is to keep you safe. It sounds lame, but?—”

Growling in discontent because eyes mean people listening, I grab the first door that’ll open, pulling her in with me.

“This is a closet,” she complains as I close the door behind us. It’s dark, and I push her against the wall, my arms caging her in.

“I don’t want anyone to hear what I have to say,” I rasp. “Jed is barking at anyone who even breathes a suicidal or violent thought, because he can hear and feel them all. He’s staging a coup, Adira. Rock will be dead very soon. You’ll be safe from him. Then the ball is in your court.”

“What if I don’t want to play the meek little omega?” she asks, shoving at my chest. Adira is pitching a fit, and I’ll let her.

Dropping my head to rub my cheek against hers, scent marking her like a cat, I purr.

“Then climb on the train of insanity where intrusive thoughts win, and join us,” I tell her. “You can help cut Dad’s heart out, but I should warn you that a little blood may make me want to fuck you in it.”

Whimpering, she perfumes, and I groan, dropping to my knees.

“This is so fucked up,” she whines. “Why is this what turns me on? I thought nothing would ever make me aroused again.”

“Your panties are soaked, aren’t they? God, they have to be,” I growl. My arms lock around her waist and I rub my face against her stomach. “There’s no right or wrong for what you feel. You could be asexual for the rest of your life, and I’d still ask you to cuddle. Your body is yours.”

Her fingers play with my hair, her chest slightly heaving as she rubs her legs together.

“You’d get tired of not fucking me,” Adira says softly.

“Biology would pull us together to fuck,” I correct her. “You’re the fucking boss, though. The guys will figure out how to earn your forgiveness. They’re on their own there. You’re too precious to let slip away, Adira. We all hurt you so much. Punish me, hit me, do whatever you want. I’ll take it.”

“I don’t want to hurt you,” she wails. “Sometimes, I do, but I’m not a bad person!”

“What the fuck does bad or good have to do with anything?” I growl. “I can’t erase the auction, none of us can. I will walk through fire for you to prove myself. While I’m doing that, promise me that you know you’re fucking perfect. The rage, sadness, laughter, none of it is wrong. If you cream your panties thinking about how pretty Dad’s blood will look outside of his body, then I’ll be jealous I can’t watch.”

“Damon,” Adira pants. “I shouldn’t want this.”

“Tell me,” I say instead, dropping my head back even though it’s dark in the room and I can’t see her clearly. “Do you want to carve your revenge in his flesh, baby?”

“Yes,” she gasps, shuddering.

“No repercussions,” I promise her. “I’ll make sure the guys know to make it happen. Take care of yourself.”

My backpack is hanging from my shoulder as I slowly get to my feet. I quietly open it, fisting her hair and kissing her to serve as a distraction. Adira whines into my mouth, making me grunt as I drag open the zipper of her own bag to put my laptop in it.

I can feel her body stiffening against me, she’s going to fucking bolt. I barely have a chance to close her backpack silently before she’s ducking under my arm to break the kiss.

“You can’t walk into my life and promise the world,” she yells angrily, already by the door as I lean my shoulder against the wall. It’ll hide my open bag when she storms out.

“I just did,” I say smugly. “The world, my remorse, my love. All of it is yours, Adira. Break it, stomp on it, the end result is still the same. It may be a bit more bruised, but it doesn’t change anything. Make your life your own, find things that bring you joy, so you can share it with me.”

“Why are you so damn perfect now,” Adira asks. “It’s too little, too late.”

“It’s whatever you want it to be,” I say cryptically. “Telling you I didn’t know is a cop out. An auction is demeaning and immoral all the same. You’re what I give a damn about. Get to know who I am outside of the bullshit. If you want to throw me away then fine.”

“It’s not that easy,” she says, opening the door angrily. “I can’t wave a magic wand to go back in time.”

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