Page 102 of Ashes of Sin

She shut down and wouldn’t talk, but I knew.

Deep down, I knew.

Finally, she let me take her into my bedroom and take off the remainder of her dress. We stepped into the shower together, where I washed every single inch of her.

Except between her legs.

Goddamn that fucking asshole.

“You need to eat, sweetheart,” I say now, sitting on the bed and placing a hand on her hip.

“I can’t,” Kyra whispers. “I feel sick. I’m sorry.”

My eyes dart around the room helplessly. I thought she might need one or two nights, but she’s not opening up. I, of all people, know you don’t bounce back after...after.

I love this woman, but if she isn’t happy here, then I need to do what is right for her.

So, I ask the one question I don’t want to ask—one of them at least.

“Do you want to go home?”

Silence.

Instead of responding, Kyra rolls onto her back and throws a hand over her eyes. When she glances back, I can barely read the emotion within them. Like she’s completely shutting down. “Do you want me to leave?”

The hell?

“No. Fuck no.” I cry. “I want to help you. I want...damn it. I know you need time, but this is killing me, Kyra.”

Tears pool in her eyes and I rip her from the bed, pulling her again my chest.

I have no idea what to do here. Unless she wants to talk, all I can do is love her and be patient. Something I’m absolutely shit at. But if it takes half a lifetime, I’ll do it.

Whatever she wants.

“I can’t say it, Maddox. You’ll...hate me. Be disgusted. I can’t, Maddox,” she says through her tears.

I freeze.

She thinks I’d be disgusted?

For the first time in my life, I feel sadness rip through me and my eyes fill.

“Oh, fuck baby,” I say, releasing my hold on her and looking directly into her eyes. “Never. I promise.”

That’s when I know it’s time to tell my story.

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

KYRA

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“Nothing in this world could make me not want you,” Maddox says, and I shake my head.

He doesn’t know.

If being abused wasn’t enough, when he learns it was by the person he hates most in this world, he’ll change his mind. He won’t want his father’s seconds even if I wasn’t penetrated by him.

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