Page 92 of Penance

“I love you, Sweetheart,” he chuckles, his hand still holding my head lovingly.

I twist as much as I can, the awkward angle I’m crushed at making it a challenge to see my fearless lover. He cranes his neck over my shoulder, his lips brushing my ear.

“I love you, Hux,” I tell him quietly, always anxious with vulnerability.

Even now it’s sometimes so easy and simple to declare my love for these men that the words fall freely from my lips without any conscious thought. And other times, I have a heavy ball of rejection waiting in my chest, compressing my heart and making my brain ache. But then one of them will reassure me and I’ll be better, feel better.

“I love you, Darlin’,” Huxley whispers into my hair.

And with that I breathe out a soft sigh of relief, letting my eyes slip closed, I fall into a blissful slumber.

Chapter19

Kyla-Rose

“You don’t need a gun in the hospital, Kyla-Rose,” Max tells me for the trillionth time, snatching the SIG Sauer P365 I was trying to hide, out of my palm.

I huff in frustration, trying really fucking hard not to stamp my foot like a bratty toddler.

“Isn’t it enough making me go to the hospital in the first place? Now I can’t even have a teeny, tiny piece of protection for myself either? What is this, pick on Kyla-Rose day or something?”

“Stop pouting. Huxley will be there,” Max calls over his shoulder making my eyes narrow.

If I could pinch him in just the right spot on his neck, he’d be out cold. I could pack the shit I want to pack and maybe, justmaybe, I’d let him live.

“Stop plotting my death,” he scolds as he disappears back inside my en-suite.

I’m going to bury him.

My eyes narrow until they’re nothing more than slits. I follow him with rapt attention from my spot by the dresser as he comes back into my bedroom, thrusting a toothbrush into my duffle bag.

“I can pack my own bag, Maddox,” I snarl, agitation riding me hard.

He cocks a brow, the start of a smirk on his face as he looks across the bed at me.

“You’re going to the hospital, not on a murdering spree. What do you think you’ll need in the hospital, Princess?” the lilt in his tone mocking.

Regardless of whether or not I know what you need for a hospital visit, possible stay, I’m not completely stupid. He’s lucky he snatched that gun away from me when he did, or I might punch a couple bullets in his brain. Well, maybe not his brain, but somewhere shitty at least, like his foot or his shin.

“Earth to Kyla-Rose,” Max clicks his fingers in front of my face, regaining my attention. “Where’d you go?” he asks, his voice steady and even, the sound wrapping around me like the finest silk making me shudder.

“I was thinking about somewhere painful to shoot you. Tell me, Maddox, ever taken a bullet to the shin?”

His hand flies up, his fingers gripping my throat, he clucks his tongue.

“Bad girls get punished,” he rasps in my ear.

Goosebumps breaking out over my skin, my pulse kicks up, thumping against his hand. Stepping into me, his ripped body flush with mine, he chuckles, the sound vibrating through me.

“Behave,” he warns in a threatening tone, the word rattling around inside my skull.

I lick my lips.

“It’s just not in my nature,” I breathe against his mouth, my tongue swiping over his bottom lip.

He lunges forward with a snarl, crushing me against the dresser, he devours me. His tongue assaulting my mouth, like he’ll never get another chance. All too soon he tears himself away. Leaving me panting and breathless and feeling all kinds of empty as he releases my throat and takes a step back. I sag against the dresser, my palm splayed on the wood.

“Pack the gun, Maddox,” I order but all he does is laugh, zipping up the bag without it and tossing it over his shoulder.

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