Page 84 of Watercolor Skulls

Tears rush to free themselves. Yes. I need this. To be exposed, flayed open so the poison can flow from my body.

Another smack and then another. I can feel his fear in the heat of his hand.

I scared him.

And he knows.

Somehow he knows.

My eyes roam to the bedside table. A newspaper is carefully folded to an article.

Senator Ramsey’s Only Daughter Jumps from the Golden Gate Bridge and Survives

His palm continues to lash across my skin. My pain hurts him. His pain hurts me.

An apology is on the tip of my tongue, but he won’t allow it. That’s not what he wants. He doesn’t want an apology he wants a promise.

“I promise,” I cry. “I promise. I promise. I promise.”

His assault stops and his fingers kneed the sting away, dipping lower, stirring my desire to a combustible level.

“Never again,” he rasps, struggling to regain his control.

“Never again,” I repeat.

He releases his grip on my hair and I turn to look at him over my shoulder. His amber eyes reassure me that he is with me. He’s always going to be with me. “I love you, Dan.”

He slides into me in one smooth motion, dipping down to capture my mouth with his.

Dan makes love to me. Fucks me. Ravages me. The entire night. What was supposed to be my wedding night. I’ll never doubt this man. Never.

Dan is a real man.

And he is mine.

All mine.

Chapter Thirty-Four

Dan

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My hands run through her hair mindlessly as she sleeps, draped across my body. I didn’t want to talk last night. I wanted her to feel what I had to say. I think she got the message loud and clear.

Sunlight slips in through the curtains, dancing across us. I let the ray cut through the strand of hair between my fingers. Her natural color. I didn’t mind the blue, but this is the real her and I love it.

I bring the strand to my nose and groan.

She stirs, wiggling her little button nose. Her ass flexes as she stretches. Hot. So. Fucking. Hot.

Her eyes open to mine.

I hold my breath. Last night was…intense and I’m not quite sure how’s she’s going to feel about it today.

She smiles, making my own mouth pull up at the corners. What she feels, I feel. She’s happy. Content. Mine.

“Morning, baby.” I run my foot over the back of her calf.

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