Page 83 of Ink Deep Devotion

“Whose was it?”

He’s been silent for so long that I have to check and see that he didn’t hang up.“I can’t tell you that. I told you too much already.”

“Figures.”

“Son,” he calls out in desperation,“I lo—”

On no, we’re not saying those four letters after all these years.

Fuck that.

I interrupt him,“Why did you marry Mom? Did my grandfather arrange it?”

A disappointed sound echoes through the line.“No,” Dad replies,“Your grandfather didn’t arrange it. I married your mother because I loved her.”

“But you’re forcing me to marry someone I don’t love.”

Dad snorts,“The contract always had a clause. If you and Mila didn’t get along, it would have been called off when you were in high school.”

I grab the edge of the desk, knuckles white.“We didn’t get along.”

She could have been free of me…

“Dash, I had people watching you. I know you and Mila got alongtoowell.”

“Stay away from her!”

Dad laughs,“I know the feeling, son, that sickness in your belly. Needing to know where she is at all times. It never gets better, not even now, after your mom passed. I still wake up searching for her. I find my feet numb after having run to her grave. I’m sorry. It’s genetically engraved in us. Kings take all. We don’t know subtle love, only all-consuming.”

“I hate you!”

“I know.” He sighs,“Do you tell her that too?”

“Stay the fuck out of my life!”

“So you do...” he conveys disappointment through another sound.

“You want my advice?”

“No,” I grumble.

“You called me,” Dad responds.“Love every moment you have with her. Cherish the good and bad because one day, that’s all we have. Memories, nothing more, and a chasm less. Good night, my son.”

Chapter 29

Mila

What have I done?

I feel blissfully unaware of all the repercussions that are headed my way.

I did it.

I pushed Dash until he broke, shattered into my arms, deep inside my body.

I loved every dirty second of it, of having him inside of me again, of feeling filled by him and no longer empty.

I’ve felt depleted for so long that even being filled with his disdain for his feelings for me felt euphoric.

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