Page 104 of Moth to a Flame

“Little lamb.” His large hands are on my jaw, in my hair. His fingers thread through the thick strands, massaging my scalp. “My decision about the stock market is one of the best ones I’ve ever made.”

“Don’t lie to me.” I ball my hands into fists against his chest. “Don’t spare my feelings. Don’t treat me like I’m made of glass. Did your decision have anything to do with me?”

“Everything I told you and Vince was the truth. Before you came along, my main goal was to suffer. To snuff out anything that might spark my obsessive tendencies. I even hated this house.” His laugh is mirthless. “Then there was you. Loving you isn’t a crushing, devastating thing that’d take down everyone and everything I care for. It’s the air I breathe. Clean and pure. You made me choose happiness. You mend the broken, flawed pieces inside me. I’m done being afraid of my own self. I’m done doing things that make me suffer. And it’s all thanks to you.”

His thumbs brush my cheeks. It takes me a moment to realize he’s wiping my tears.

“You’ve shown me that I’ve got this, Regan. I’ve got this as long as I have you.”

“I feel the same.” I sniffle. “I’m strong, but I’m stronger, thanks to you. I’m glad I didn’t mess anything up for you.”

“You could never.”

So much intensity. There’s no way he’s lying.

There’s something else that’s bothering me. “Please, don’t be angry at Vince. He was really nice.”

“Will you eat now?”

The sharp change of subject gives me a whiplash. “I’m sorry, what?”

“Simple question, love.” The corners of his eyes crinkle. Barely. “Will. You. Eat? Because if he’s ruined your appetite, so help me, I’ll finish what I started at the gates.”

“No.” A watery laugh escapes me. “No need to murder Vince. Let’s eat. I’m starving.”

“That’s my girl.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

Landon

Regan is beautiful whenshe’s awake.

When she’s leaning over any electronic device, creases forming on her smooth forehead as she considers how to fix it.

She’s stunning when she gets out of the shower and even more so when she checks her naked body out in the mirror and strokes the new tattoo above her navel.

She’s just as gorgeous when she sleeps.

We finished dinner about two hours ago, showered, fucked, and read the next book for her club,Stalk, Thwack and Everything In Between. It’sabout, you guessed it, stalking and murdering. A group of college seniors torture random freshmen kids as a part of their tradition by either stalking or murdering them. One day, this girl finds out what they’ve been up to and the tables turn.

Interesting stuff. I’ve been taking notes from that girl, Keira. Methods I could use on my future victims for Regan’s eyeball collection.

Or should I say, was taking notes. Ten minutes into our reading time, I heard Regan gasp. She fell asleep and dropped the book on her face. So fucking adorable, and also thank fuck it was only two-hundred-and-fifty pages long, or it would’ve hurt her.

Then I’d have had to kill the book.

The thought, as strange as it is, doesn’t feel like it belongs to an unhinged man. As I run my fingers through her hair, I consider whether it should scare me or not. Me, seriously considering the murder of a book.

No more of that nonsense. Regan. My focus is on her and nothing else. Her warm, naked body draped over mine. Her soft breaths on my chest. Her hair that smells of my shampoo.

I won’t keep reading without her. Won’t wake her to my cock in her mouth. She looks so peaceful. So breathtaking and dark and rested.

There’s no sign of the nightmares. No quickening breaths, screams, or shuddering body.

I want her to have more of that. A good night’s sleep.

Until she wakes up, I have things to take care of.

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