Page 157 of Moth to a Flame

With one hand, I grab the back of her neck possessively, pressing her forehead to mine. I feel for her skin. Her hair. How alive she is. “What was he about to do? I have to know how much more hell I’m going to put him through. Tell me everything.”

“He…” The first tear drops.

My sanity is a thread ready to snap.

If I don’t have my mouth on hers, I’ll lose it altogether. I crash my lips to hers, kissing her like I’ve never kissed her before.

I groan into her mouth. Own her with my tongue. I suck on her bottom lip, swiping my tongue to taste her blood.

This kiss is an apology. It’s a vow.

No one will ever lay a hand on her again.

No one will get close enough to even look at her the wrong way.

Sounds crazy? Well, guess what? I don’t give a fuck. I let her out of my sight, and look what happened.

Look. What. Happened.

“He kissed me.” Her voice is half sob, half snarl. “He bit me. That’s all he had time for. I fought him so he couldn’t shove the pliers inside me. Now he—he—argh! Why can’t I stop crying? I can’t talk, Landon, I can’t—I’m sorry, I—”

I pull her to my side and kick Lester in the ribs. Seven times for every day he’s had her. It means there’s more of my weight on his neck so I can balance. Tough shit.

“Regan.” I turn to her, dragging her to exactly where she was. Where she will be for the rest of her life. In my line of sight. “Don’t you ever apologize to me. Don’t ever be sorry for crying or screaming or being who you are. Tell me you understand.”

“I understand.” She swipes at her tears, staring at me beneath her wet, dark lashes. I lean in to lick the rest of them. “He was about to shove the pliers and more things”—deep, shuddered breath—“into me.”

The sleepless nights. The hours without food. Of living off coffee and my sense of mission and rage.

Everything I’ve done has been worth it.

If I’d have gotten here a second later…

When I take her mouth again, I’m not promising her anything.

I’m being the man she loves. The one who’s here to save her.

The one who’ll ruin the man who touched her.

She’s been waiting for me to show up here. For me to rescue her.

That’s exactly what I’m giving her in this kiss. Myself.

My tongue lashes at hers. Teeth nibbling at her bottom lip. She doesn’t respond right away, but when she does, we’re explosive together. Regan moans into my mouth and clutches on my T-shirt.

“You ready?” I whisper to her mouth.

“I am.” The unhinged glint in her eyes matches what I feel. “So ready.”

Lester groans and screams and mumbles incoherent shit.

“Good girl.” I kiss her because, fuck, how can I not? “Always such a good girl.”

CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

Regan

When they threw Lesterin prison, I knew it was only a matter of time before we met again.

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