Page 34 of Tainted Saints

“I wouldn’t wanna be anywhere else, Little Lady,” he tells me, pulling out and leaving me gasping at the sudden emptiness. “Let’s get cleaned up.”

Curling up, he holds out a hand to help me up, my legs a little wobbly which only makes him laugh softly when I fall into his naked body.

Going into my en-suite bathroom, I try not to worry about him comparing the huge, luxurious space to the small room back at their apartment. We quickly clean up, and then he helps me to change the bed with fresh linen from the closet.

“Not sure how I’ll explain this,” I mumble, balling up the wet sheets into the laundry hamper in the bathroom.

“Just tell them you got a new toy,” he suggests with a deep chuckle as we get under the covers.

“I can’t say that!” I burst out, then cover my mouth at the loud sound. Not that my parents will be able to hear it as they’re on the other side of this enormous mansion, far enough away that I doubt they’d have heard me screaming Forest’s name as he fucked me.

“Sure you can,” he teases while climbing into bed, my bed. My chest tightens at the sight, wishing that he could always be there to hold me in the night. Maybe the nightmares wouldn’t be so bad then. I hate the dark and usually sleep with at least the curtains open, if not a side light. “What’s wrong, sugar?” His face is full of concern, his eyebrows lowered as he sits up.

“N–nothing,” I whisper, my voice thick as I climb in next to him, scooting over. He lies down, pulling me to him until my head rests on his chest, his heartbeat loud in my ear. My entire body relaxes into his, sinking into his hold like we belong here.

“I’ll let that one slide for now,” he tells me, kissing the top of my head. “But I don’t want you to lie to me, okay?”

“Okay, Forest,” I say after a beat, thinking about the reason for my hatred of the dark. I can’t admit that to him, to them. It feels shameful somehow, that my parents hate me so much that they’ve locked me in a dark room ever since I can remember whenever I did something to displease them.

“Sleep now, baby. I’ll keep you safe,” he whispers, pulling me impossibly closer, and it’s as if my body already knows to obey his command because soon my eyes are closing and sleep drags me under.

ChapterSixteen

“Lavender Haze - Acoustic Version” by Taylor Swift

ASPEN

Morning light brushesover my eyes, and I stretch, my body expecting to make contact with another, only my bed is empty. Opening my eyes, I confirm that Forest is no longer next to me. He’s gone, and I have to bite my lip to stop the tears from gathering in the corners of my eyes as my chest aches at the rush of loneliness.

“He doesn’t belong to you, Aspen,” I whisper to myself, sitting up and getting out of bed. The place between my thighs throbs, and I get a flash of Forest pounding into me not once but twice yesterday. I wonder what it would be like for Blaine to take his place? Or Landon?

Maybe all three together…

My entire body feels as though it’s been doused in a hot bath, which doesn’t fucking help as it only reminds me of the bath I took with Forest, Blaine’s expert fingers bringing me such mind-blowing pleasure.

Shaking my head at my own wantonness, I make my way to the bathroom and have a quick shower before getting ready for the day. I’ve always loved the quiet of the early morning, unless it’s winter and then the dark makes me fearful. Unsurprising given my history of being confined in dark spaces, I didn’t need Google to tell me that one.

Opening my wardrobe, I pause, thinking about what to wear today.What would they like to see me dressed in?Forest liked the demure skirt and boots, and I want to look sexy today, given that I embraced that side of myself last night.

Reaching in, I take out a green, wool circle skirt, the same colour as Forest’s eyes, and pair it with a burnt orange blouse and cable knit cardigan in the same colour. I place the clothes on the bed and head to my underwear drawer, where I pull out an emerald-coloured, lace bra and knicker set with matching suspenders and some nude thigh highs. My cheeks flush when I remember how feral Landon looked when he saw me in them, just like Forest predicted he would.

After getting dressed, I take some extra time to style my hair in tumbling waves and apply a light coat of makeup, looking at myself in the mirror and wondering what they’ll think when they see me at school.

Still too thin…I sigh, hating that other girls have gorgeous curves and I’m like a stick, not allowed to put on any weight.

The Saints didn’t seem to mind…

Why does my inner voice keep trying to convince me that they are mine? This thing between us can never go anywhere, not unless I stand up to the Ambassador and I just don’t know if I can.

But if not now, when?

With my mind whirling, I head downstairs, my muscles tensing the closer I get to the formal dining room where I know my parents are. Just as I pass by the Ambassador’s study, his raised voice pulls me up short.

“I don’t give a shit if you have to go out and steal some fucking pets, you promised me you could fulfil our needs and currently you aren’t doing that.” His voice is a menacing growl that has me shrinking back, but curiosity roots me to the spot. I’ve never heard him so angry before.

He waits a beat, like maybe he’s listening to someone on the phone. “And we need something with a bit more of a backbone than the spineless whelps you’ve delivered so far. It’s no fun if they don’t put up a fight.”

Dread pools in my stomach, my senses heightened as I wonder what the fuck he’s talking about. Some part of me knows that it’s not the annual charity gala or the coronation celebration he’s planning.

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