Page 83 of The Prodigal

No matter what I do, it won’t change the past.

Nor will it change the future.

Using Eden would have been blissful revenge against Albrecht—to let his own daughter put him away for the rest of his life.

It would have been an epic ending.

But I can’t do it.

Not now, not when I lo—like her.

Eden is nothing like I expected. She isn’t some spoiled, political brat living off Daddy’s money.

She’s strong.

Brave.

And hopeful.

I can’t take hope away from her, too.

I made the mistake. I ate the forbidden fruit from the Tree of Knowledge.

I doomed us to a life of pain.

But Eden still has a chance to heal.

I can’t let her be part of destroying her biological father. She’s already been through that once with her mother. I can’t let her do it again.

This is not her fight.

It’s mine.

And I need to do it alone.

“You’re awfully quiet this morning,” Eden notices, rolling over, her breasts splaying across my chest. “Did you not like breakfast?”

I flash her a glare, like I’m already bored with her ridiculous questions this morning.

“No,” I admit. “It wasn’t what I ordered.”

She barks out a laugh. “You couldn’t eat my pussy for breakfast.”

I cock a brow. “It would have been more filling than the yogurt and fruit you bought from who-knows-where.” I make a disgusted face at the grape she pinches between her fingers. “I prefer a breakfast that will keep me satisfied throughout the day.”

“Oh my gosh. You’re ridiculous.”

I’m not ridiculous. “No one wants a fucking grape when your pussy is on the menu,” I argue petulantly.

“I told you I was sore,” she protests, pushing the grape past my lips.

“And I listened and allowed you to rest earlier this morning.” What more does she want from me? I hear the best way to get over soreness is to stretch. Makes perfect sense to me.

She laughs. “Poor thing. I’m sorry you’re insatiable,” she teases, kissing my neck and rubbing down my chest.

“And I’m sorry”—I kiss her nose lightly—“you’re tighter than a nun’s ass.”

A satisfied laugh escapes her. “Not after last night. You broke me in well.”

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