Page 10 of Pretty Lies & Ugly Truths

I curl into myself, arms wrapping around my middle in hopes to protect my sore ribs from the blow that never comes. Instead, I hear a series of grunts and thuds and then…nothing.

When I finally gather enough courage to open my eyes, I see my attacker incapacitated on the ground, a second man towering over him.

The newcomer gives him one last swift kick to the gut before turning to face me. The first thing I notice is that this man is tall, like really tall.

From my current position on the ground, I have to crane my neck all the way back to even get a glimpse of his face.

The second is that he is hot as fuck.

Dressed in an all-black suit with slicked back, deep golden blonde hair and captivating smoky gray eyes, he looks like an angel of death here to lay claim to my soul.

There is this super intense energy radiating off him. Yet, for some odd reason, I’m not afraid of him.

If anything, I find myself…enthralled and oddly drawn to him, which makes absolutely no sense.

Here I am, kneeling on the cold, hard ground afterhaving just been violently attacked, and all my irrational brain can come up with is that I would willingly follow this man to Hell if only he asked.

This must be shock because seriously—how fucked up is that?

5

Archer

My chest heaves, body shaking with barely controlled rage as I stare directly into the captivating eyes of the woman who has become the object of my obsession.

This is the first time since that night weeks ago I’ve been this close while she was awake. I take advantage of this opportunity, peering deep into those emerald depths as I try to commit the exact color and shape to memory.

They are a bright shade of green with little flecks of gold and brown surrounding her pupils. I watch as the black dot expands—from fear or arousal, I’m not sure—until there is only the smallest sliver of green left.

Caught up in her spell, my hand reaches out on its own to stroke the apple of her cheek. At her sharp intake of breath, her lips parting slightly, inappropriate images flood my mind, until I am drowning in thoughts of her kneeling, mouth open and willing for me to use in unholy ways.

Desire courses through me. The adrenaline from the fight and her proximity after weeks of watching her from a distance, makes my blood run hot.

The sound of her soft whimper pulls me back to the present, and my eyes look to where her arm wraps protectively around her ribcage. Thoughts of violence fill my head, effectively cooling any lingering desire, and I seriously consider just killing that bastard right here and now.

My fingers twitch, begging me to reach for the gun at my hip, but I curl them into tight fists. The look of fear and pain in her eyes stays my hand.

My Little Rose has been through enough trauma for one night. I need her to trust me, and I’m quite sure watching me blow a hole through a man’s skull will not win me any favors.

I unclench my jaw, bending at the knees so I’m close to her eye level. I know my size can be intimidating and I want to appear as non-threatening as possible.

“He hurt you.” The little lines between her brows scrunch as she looks at me in confusion.

“You’re holding your ribs.” I point to where she still holds herself and she looks down wincing from the movement.

“Oh…yeah. I—I fell and when I didn’t get up fast enough, he kicked me.”

I roll my head on my neck, using every ounce of willpower I have, not to reach for the gun and put a bullet straight through his fat gut.

But no…not yet. That will have to wait. I vow to break every single one of his ribs until he begs for death for daring to touch something that does not belong to him.

Quieting my murderous thoughts for now, I force myself to calm down.

“Here, let me help you.” I stand, reaching my arm out to help her up.

She places her tiny hand in mine, and I swear, I can feel a tiny current of electricity spark between us where our palms touch. Her eyes widen slightly, letting me know she felt it too.

“Thank you,” she says, her sweet voice coming out soft and breathy.

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