Page 41 of Defy

She turns her back to me, the tension clear in her posture. “Oddly, I’m far more comfortable with the idea of you killing people than I am about the idea of you sleeping with someone else.”

Thatisodd, but also, I get it. This is our life now.

“I thought we talked about this, Dominic. There had to be a different way.” I reach for her but she pulls away. “Donottouch me. I am fuckingfuriouswith you.”

“Let’s go for a walk.” I need to get her out of my room. “It doesn’t matter if we’re seen. We just won’t put on any displays of affection.” I can now play it off as if I’m going over some new security protocol or something.

“Good, because I’m finding it really damn hard to have any affection for you right now.”

“Libby,” I say more harshly than I mean to, her back still to me. “I told you I was going to have to do things you wouldn’t like. Things even I wouldn’t like.”

“Yeah, well, I was unaware that list would include slipping your dick into the mouths of your old flames or letting them ride your face.” She waves a hand in the air. “Or whatever the fuck happened tonight. Perhaps you’re finding it more comfortable being back with mommy and daddy than you thought you would.”

Her words lock me in place because she’s closer than I’d like her to be although it isn’t my parents, it’s the lifestyle in general. Not having to hide. Not having to answer to anyone.

Still in my boxers, I grab her wrist and spin her around. She can’t just say that shit and then walk away. I know I’m playing with fire and I should encourage her to get the hell out of here but I’ve made plenty of bad decisions tonight. What’s one more?

“Who saw you come up here?” I growl, needing to know how much time I have.

“No one. I know what’s at stake,” she says with the fire of defiance dancing in her eyes.

“You don’t knowshit. I was promoted to the team lead for the guards tonight. I have access to the weapons, the deals, the clubs, everything. If Omar and Imelda go back to thinking something’s up between us, it all goes away and they’ll likely kill me themselves.” I’m breathing hard. Too hard, and I’ve moved up so I’m an inch from her face.

Her scent is wrapped around me while my hand is still wrapped around her small wrist. She’s in a silk nightgown that hits her mid-thigh and does absolutely nothing to conceal her nipples which are reaching for me even now.

She takes a step toward me so we’re almost chest to chest… well, her chest would be to my stomach. “I waited until Camila came by to ‘see if I needed anything’,” she uses air quotes around her words, knowing that Camila was making sure she was behaving herself. “When I saw her turn right out of my room, I knew she wasn’t going back to the stairs to come up here, which honestly surprised me since your scent still lingered on her. She seems like a round two kind-of-girl.” Her nostrils flare as she spits the words, emphasizing her anger. Finally, she rips her wrist from my grasp. “And donottouch me with hands that caressed someone else tonight.”

I lunge and grab her waist this time.We’re not done here.I spin her even as I walk her backwards into the door. “What would you have me do?” I quietly bark as I cage her in. “I’m trying to get us out of here! If they don’t believe I’m sincere, we’re both dead. The old me wasn’t a man you would’ve liked but it’s who I have to be now if we’re to have any chance of getting out of here alive.” I’m squeezing her waist, pinning her in place. Taking all of my fear, guilt, and frustration out on her.

She’s breathing hard and her pupils are dilated. I can tell she’s trying to look anywhere except at me but she finally fails, letting her eyes rake over my naked torso.

Seeing her desire calms my anger but only slightly. If she had to sleep with someone else to ensuremysafety, I’m pretty sure I’d rip his heart from his chest as soon as it was done…maybe even before then.

And what if I told you that the only way to save us was for me to fuck your brother?I hear her words and realize she’s stronger than I am. To deal with finding out her life has been a lie on top of me getting out of hand with Camila, and yet Libby still hasn’t broken. Definitely stronger than I am.

I take a chance and reach for her again. She doesn’t stop me, but she doesn’t embrace me back and I drop to my knees, embracing her hips, my forehead on her stomach. Groveling and begging a woman for forgiveness for the second time in my life. It isn’t lost on me that the only other time I’ve been on my knees like this was for her sister. Different capacity, but definitely the same action. I was never awarded that forgiveness though because it was a corpse that I knelt before.

“God, Libby, I’m so sorry. I lost myself tonight. I’ll do anything to keep you safe and the lines are getting blurry,” I admit. The weight of the world is trying to make me bow before it and I refuse.

“I fucking hate this.” She fists my hair and pulls my head back. My eyes find hers immediately. “I’msogoddamned mad at you.” She looks down at the floor before she whispers, “and at myself.” The look of anguish on her face guts me.

I grip her hips tighter. “Why are you mad at yourself?

“Because I jumped straight from one man’s arms right into another’s.”

I bite my cheek as my nostrils flare at the insinuation that Will and I are treating her the same. That he and Iarethe same.

“It’s not like you had a choice in coming here,” I grind out, mostly angry at myself. I knew I’d fuck this up. “Libby, it won’t happen again. I fell back into an old pattern. I had convinced myself it was to help us out of this.”

“Dominic, stand up. The only time I want you on your knees is when you’re feasting on me and that may never happen again.”

I can tell she’s so upset that she’s on the verge of spilling frustrated tears which would only piss her off more. I stand up, towering over her, reveling in our size difference because I will use anything to get her to take that last statement back. I brace my hands on the door behind her, boxing her in with my massive frame.

“Don’t say that. We’ll get through this. Get mad, Princess. Stay mad. Do whatever you have to do to survive because Iwillget us out of here.”

She drops her gaze to the floor and I know I’m going to hate whatever comes out of her mouth next.

“If we get out of here, I’m going to need time. I’m not the fragile butterfly, or whatever the fuck you think I am.”Clearly.“I know this situation sucks, but that doesn’t mean you get to get your dick wet and say you did itfor my benefit.And if you make one more move tohelpme without even consulting me, I’ll slit your damn throat myself because I’m tired of everyone thinking I’m a meek imbecile who’s going to allow herself to be led like a lamb to slaughter.”

---