Page 130 of Shadow

She relaxed against me immediately. I assumed she thought I was Church again, but she spoke so softly, meant only for my ears.

“Sinful,” she whispered.

“Siren,” I answered back, my voice shaking.

She placed her hands over mine as I held her from behind. Her head rested against my chest.

I stared out the window with her in silence. The floorboards creaked, and the door opened before clicking shut softly.

I closed my eyes and breathed in the way my siren smelled. Today, it was a mixture of apples and lavender.

“I fucked up,” I whispered to her, my throat tight. I had to do this. Fuck my headspace. Not having her was killing me slowly, and it was the worst kind of death.

She turned in my arms and faced me. I hadn’t even realized I was crying until she reached out and wiped my tears away.

“Come back to me,” I choked out. “I don’t want you to be gone. I didn’t want to break up. My head… it’s so fucked up, siren. I don’t want it to be, but it is. The only thing I know in all this mess is that I love you more than anything else in this world. I-I suck at all this shit. Aside from my brothers here, you’re the only real thing I’ve ever had. It terrifies me to know I may have fucked it all up and with Cady being pregnant…” I couldn't get the words out.

It was good because she didn’t seem to need them anymore. She brushed her fingers against my lips and blinked up at me.

She hadn’t answered me about taking me back.

“Siren?” I ventured softly. “Are-will you come back to me?”

She didn’t say a word. My heart beat uncomfortably in my chest as she simply studied me. Finally, she reached out and slowly began unbuttoning my shirt until my body was exposed to her.

I held my breath as she took in all the wounds. Her name carved repeatedly over my body. The bruises. The ugly lacerations.

“For you,” I whispered. “So the world knows I’m yours.”

She parted her lips, her fingers lightly trailing over each word. Each letter torn deep into my flesh. My breath shook as she touched me. It had been way too damn long.

She backed away. I reached for her, but she went around me. Devastated that I didn’t have my answer, I turned to watch her go to Church’s bedside table. He’d left the room. I didn’t think he would. I figured he’d force me to fuck her while he watched to ensure shit happened the way he deemed fit.

She took a knife from his drawer and placed it on the bed. I watched in confusion as she pulled her fishnet top off before stripping naked.

“What are you doing?” I stepped forward, swallowing hard. She was fucking gorgeous. My dick was hard just looking at her.

When no answer came, I walked toward her and kneeled.

“Sirena?”

She reached out and traced her name scarred on my chest before handing me the knife. She scooted back onto the bed and lay flat.

She wanted me to cut her like I cut myself.

I felt like I was going to throw up. The last thing I wanted to do was hurt her more, and certainly not mar her perfect, creamy skin.

“Sirena… no,” I said, my voice shaking.

She reached for me, and I crawled onto the bed beside her. Carefully, she took my hand, which held the knife, and pressed the flat side of the blade against her skin.

“Your name. I want it,” she said in a throaty whisper. “I want to belong to you. Mark me so the world knows.”

“Fuck, baby,” I rasped. “I-I can’t do that to you.”

She didn’t hesitate. She directed my hand and helped me to press the pointed end into her skin.

“Please,” she continued. “Make me yours.”

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