Page 10 of The Vixen's Vice

He growls menacingly, snapping his hand to the back of my neck and pulling me close. “I willnevergive you up, Carlotta. Of that, you have my word. I may be a bad man, Carlotta—a dangerous man—but I promise that I will be good for you. Will always and only be good foryou.” He releases me, a devioussmirk on his face as he takes the washcloth back to my skin. “I’m merely warning you. There are many things you do not know about me. Things that may cause you to want to run away.”

“Hmm. And those things are?” I murmur, my lids closing in bliss as Zay works shampoo into my scalp.

“The organization I work for—The Sanctum. They will not be happy if they find out about you.”

“And will they?” I ask, my heart clenching for one terrible, fear-filled moment. “Will they hurtyouif they find out?”

Zay shakes his head, a small smile tugging at his lips. “I’ll protect you, my rose. I will protect you with my dying breath. The world will burn before I let anything take you from me.”

My heart swells as he leans in, the electricity crackling between us something from out of this world. I let him kiss me for the first time, and the rest of the world falls away as Zay expertly works his mouth with mine.

He pulls me from the tub, water falling from my body and pooling to the floor with every step Zay takes toward the bedroom. He lays me on the bedspread and makes love to me, whispering loving, filthy words into my ear until we both find our oblivion.

His cock throbs gently inside me as he holds my face, peppering kisses across my cheeks and whispering over and over again how beautiful I am. Hours later, when sleep finally claims Zay, his cock is still firmly nestled inside me, my body clutched possessively to his chest. Just before I follow him into the dark, it occurs to me howrightthis feels.

I’ve never truly felt safe falling asleep with a man—not even Landon—and it’s a special kind of comfort I don’t want to lose.

Of course, if Zay has his way, I never have to worry about losing him.

CHAPTER SEVEN

It’s beenseveral weeks since the incident with Landon, though I feel entirely different about it now. It sounds utterly fucked, but I never realized how unhappy I had been before Zay took me. Had never known how many pieces had been chipped away by staying with a man who didn’t respect me. Now that I know what it’s like to truly be cared for, to be loved, I can’t believe I stayed with Landon for so long.

It’s been three whole weeks, and Landon never made good on his promise to come back for me—a fact I am all too fine with accepting. In truth, I don’twantto leave. Being with Zay is like nothing I’ve ever experienced. He’s so good to me, so caring, so wonderful in every way. I never expected it, but I can’t say I regret anything that happened for us to get here.

With a big stretch, I roll over in bed and come face to face with Zay’s big green eyes, glinting lovingly in the morning light seeping through the curtains.

“Have you been watching me while I sleep?” I giggle, nuzzling my head into the crook of his arm as he pulls me closer.

“Hmm. Always,” he murmurs, running his calloused hands tenderly through my hair. “You look so beautiful when you sleep.Face at peace, nose twitching, lips slightly parted. It makes me want to stick my cock in you.”

My face flushes. “You always want to do that.”

“Hmm. True,” he grumbles, rolling on top of me and pinning me between two strong arms. He dips low, nipping the tip of my nose before crashing his mouth to mine. I let out a moan as Zay reaches up and flicks my nipple, my back arching into him on its own accord as pleasure thrums between my thighs. “Do you want my cock inside you, little rose?”

I nod, a breathy whimper falling from my lips as he slides his hand low over my sex. Taunting. Promising.

“Well, too bad. I need to feed you first.” He smirks, pushing off me and standing from the bed. My lips work into a pout a half second before Zay pulls me into my arms, pressing a gentle kiss to my forehead as he walks us into the kitchen.

Positioning me so he can hold me with one arm, he pulls ingredients from the fridge. I watch his profile as he works, unable to keep the cheesy smile from my face as he refuses to put me down.

“Sorry. I can’t seem to keep my hands from you for even a moment,” he murmurs, cracking an egg into the pan with one hand and squeezing my ass with the other. When breakfast is ready, he places me gently onto a stool before scooping a heaping portion of cheesy eggs in front of me.

Like always, anxiety bubbles in my chest as I look at the portion in front of me. I’ve gotten so used to restricting my food over the years—so determined to keep my figure the way my ex liked it even though I was starving. I know there’s no reason for it anymore, but it’s hard to shake the habit.

Zay places a fork into my hand, placing his hand on my back and rubbing soothing circles there. “Food fuels the machine, rose. It’s not your body I’m infatuated with—though, you make me salivate just from looking at you—it’s your mind. Yoursouliswhat I want. What I want to possess for as long as possible. So you will eat what you want, and you will eat well. Because I plan to have you for a long,longfucking time.” He places a kiss on top of my head before taking a seat next to me, digging into his own heaping plate.

My mouth sings as I take the first bite, and before I know it, I’ve eaten half the plate.

“Good girl,” Zay coos, getting up to wash the dishes when he realizes I’ve eaten my fill. “I’ll clean up. You go get ready for your run.”

A smile spreads across my face, and I quickly run over to give Zay a hug before skipping off to the bedroom to pull on my running gear. My morning run through the woods is still one of my favorite pleasures in life, and Zay is more than happy to encourage it. Especially considering the recent perks that come with the daily exercise.

By the time I’m changed, Zay has already cleared the kitchen, though the man in question is nowhere to be found. A devious smile works across my mouth as I plug my headphones in and make for the exit, my pulse thrumming with anticipation.

I squint against the morning light as I take off down the worn path, the sharp zest of cypress filling me with energy as legs take me deep into the heart of the forest.

I’ve been running for several minutes when I finally hear it—a crack, like someone stepped on a fallen branch. My heart picks up pace with my legs, and I take a sharp right into the brush as a laugh bubbles from my lips. Stray branches whip at my face and arms, but I barely feel the pain as I race through the thick underbrush. All I can think about is what will happen whenheinevitably catches me.

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