Page 76 of I Was Always Yours (RCA: Royal Crown Academy)

The moment I was out of her and chasing those soon to be dead men away, I realized I’d fucked up.

I’d touched someone that didn’t belong to me.

I’d tried to claim her as if she was, a fraudulent act that could never be reality.Letting myself get a taste of her was the single stupidest and most dangerous thing I’d ever done.

Because even now, as I watch her run away from the cruel words I just threw at her in some desperate attempt at putting space between us, all I can think about is that I just had the one person I’ve wanted most in my grasp and the only path forward I had was to push her away.

Seeing that ladybug tattoo on her wrist again was the reminder I needed that she would never be mine.

She’d gotten a permanent symbol that marked her as someone else’s, no matter what I wanted.

And I want her.

Want her in my arms, on my cock, with my lips on hers.

Want her for myself, Astor’s memory and claim over her be damned.

I finally surrendered to my need for her and it’s the only thing that’s felt right in years.

Taking her virginity was an unforeseen bonus, and the animal inside me purrs in ownership as I think back to how snugly she fit around me.

I’m so fucked.

Instead of fucking her out of my system as I’d hoped, I’ve only managed to bury her deeper under my skin somehow.

I want to run after her and drag her back here for round two, this time with her on her knees for me before I come on her tits.

Get yourself together,Iscold myself,this can’t fucking happen again.

I rub my hand over my face in frustration and walk back into the club. I pass by the now empty VIP area and continue straight upstairs.

Two security guys guard the door and move to stop me until they recognize me. They get out of the way and I walk into the general manager’s office without knocking.

He lifts his head from the papers he was signing and looks at me.

“I need all the CCTV footage from the last thirty minutes. Specifically, any aimed at the front door or the alley.”

***

“Are you finally ready to admit you want her?”

He’s trying to destabilize me and throw me off my game so he can beat me.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about, Rhys.” I answer vaguely, as I shoot his player dead in COD.

He makes a disgusted sound and throws his controller on the couch next to him. If I thought losing would get him off the subject, I was wrong.

“I’m talking about you storming into Baroque three nights ago and basically kidnapping Six. Is that guy she was with still breathing unassisted or do you have him hooked to a ventilator somewhere?”

I scowl at him and he laughs.

“And you pretend you don’t want her.” He says, shaking his head disbelievingly.

“I don’t. As long as my brother’s dead, she doesn’t get to be happy, that’s all.”

I don’t vocalize the end of that thought.And as long as she’s going to be my wife, no one else is allowed to touch her.

“Super rational.”

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