Page 61 of Moth to a Flame

“I want to give it to you. Fuck, it’s hard to hold back as is.” He’s passionate and dark. How can I be embarrassed when it’s something that he likes too? I can’t. “I need your consent. Youruniversalconsent to catch you off guard. Violate you. Own you however and whenever I like.”

Landon’s body reverberates with violent energy. It bleeds from him to me, lending me so much strength that it’s impossible to keep bottled up inside.

Tears roll down my cheeks, cascading down to his fingers.

“Talk to me, Regan.” His expression softens, barely. “Do not try to please me. Don’t tell me yes because I’m asking for it. Tell me what you want, or so help me—”

“Yes. Please, yes. I want it.” Nodding when I’m pinned to a brick wall hurts.

Nothing hurts more than thinking that no one will ever understand you. That no one will know how to see through your trauma. He does. He even cares enough to accept a rejection, damn him.

“So much. More than anything. Because it’s you. It’swithyou. I trust you, Landon.”

“Baby.”

Every kiss with him is a new experience. Every time his lips press to mine, the electricity that jolts up my spine is different. The goosebumps spreading on my skin don’t feel the same.

My nipples are harder than ever before. My panties are ruined.

Then I remember.

“Your parents.”

He groans. Shakes his head.

Relents.

“They used to be sort of famous too. Or should I say,infamous.” He turns his head to the side, unable to look me in the eye. It’s made more obvious when he laces his fingers into mine and demands I follow him out into the street. “My mom was the jealous type. Too jealous. Too obsessed with my father. He loved her. Was willing to ignore a lot of red flags when it came to her.”

I squeeze his hand. Reminding him that I’m here. He’s quiet for a long while until we get to my apartment.

“Spend the night with me?” This is insane. The idea of a man sleeping in my place is absolutely crazy.

But he’s not just any man. And when he says yes, I feel butterflies instead of terror.

“I’m not my mother. Please remember that. Always.” The door clicks shut, and Landon flips the lock without turning away from me. “Her obsession drove her mad, and not in a good way. When the doctor told her that they were expecting a girl—my little sister—she couldn’t take it. The day she miscarried was the best day of her life.The other woman is gone. Her words, not mine.”

I’m speechless. I never heard of this level of obsession. I never thought…

With one arm around my back and a hand in my hair, he glares at me. “I want a million children with you. You could grow an alien in your stomach, and I’d still want it. Badly.”

It takes everything in me not to cry. Not to eclipse his story with my tragedy.

He dreams about a big family, and I…

Sigh.

“My dad was as faithful as they come. Stopped going out with his friends, didn’t talk to other women. No other woman. Even waitresses.”Deep breath. “She killed him anyway. Left a note.She said it hurt to love him that much. That she wasn’t willing to have anyone else take her place once she was gone. I’m not her. I am not her, Regan. I swore I wouldn’t do that to you, and I won’t. You have my word.”

“I know.” I really do. That’s not why I hurt like something’s eating me from the inside.

His lips clamp shut. There’ll be no more talking today.

That’s okay. I don’t have anything to say, either. Don’t have anything to do other than care for him and shoulder this incredibly painful burden of his history with him.

“Let’s go to bed, love.”

“Yes.”

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