Page 52 of Vulnerate

I wrap my arm around her shoulders and hug her to my side before ordering another round so we don’t have to sit with the dickhead.

“I wanted to. Ignore Val, he’s a dumb prick.”

Her smile comes back, and she laughs like I’m brave or stupid for cursing at him. Her lips move but no sound comes out, I think she’s talking to herself and there’s no emotion in her eyes but protectiveness rises in me because she’s not sane and her thin white hair moves away from her neck, revealing a burn behind her ear.

I’m going to fucking kill him.

It requires effort to soften my voice as I ask, “Did he do that?”

I’m staring at the mottled raised skin, but she laughs as though it didn’t cause her any pain. Her answer is confusing as fuck as she strokes behind her ear and says, “It was a present.”

The woman who was sat on Valentin’s thigh catches my attention as she storms through a hallway behind the bar and Ana notices where I’m looking. Her cheek touches her shoulder as she tilts her head, eyes narrowing at the man following the woman.

“That’s Lilah,” she says as her hands ball into fists, “I think she’s my friend and she’s nice.” She relaxes when the woman, Lilah, grabs the man’s arm. “She doesn’t like Valentin though, she just does things like hug people and give them cake because she likes to.”

TWENTY

Valentin

Taking the path that will cause the least amount of headache I hold on to Dani as we leave. I want to kill someone, feel my anger being pushed into something else that’s not me. All fucking night she’s been attached to Tali, her tongue down his fucking throat and their hands all over each other. It’s like I’m not even here, disrespectful fucks.Ana punching me in the ribs didn’t get any of it loose and if she ever becomes anything other than malnourished I’m kicking the shit out of her.

Dani has sobered up, but I still grab her arm, pretending to steady her as I drag her towards my car. There’s no fucking world where she goes home with my brother, and I won’t relive my teenage years of watching them laugh as they get out of bed. Always fucking together. She doesn’t belong in anyone’s bed but mine. Her mouth is mine, her hands, her laughs, her smiles. Everything belongs to me, and it has done since she removed it from my life by being selfish.

Any calmness I could have gained from the walk to the car is demolished as she sits without any argument, pulls the door closed tobreathe against the window and make a heart on the glass for the fuckers parked beside me. A heart. My fucking artist who shows her feelings with her fingertips wastes her air on those cunts while refusing to say a word to me.

I don’t start the engine or move any more than what’s required to keep me alive as I watch the others drive away. If I do, my hand will be wrapped around her throat, and I’ll fuck her with them as an audience so they can all see she’s mine. The other fuckers leave, and Dani comes alive with her anger, her knuckles slapping off my arm as her voice turns high pitched and squeaky, cute as fuck.

“Why did you have to embarrass her? It’s horrible and she’s young.”

I have no idea who she’s talking about I just want her to touch me again.She roughly grabs my jaw to turn my head towards her. So fucking beautiful it nearly distracts me from what she’s done. Speaking over whatever dumb shit she feels the need to question me on, my voice hardens as I spit out, “Do you fuck all yourfriends, or was tonight a one off?”

A bitter scoff leaves her pretty little lips as she rears back, shaking her head. “Why do you care? You had someone sat on top of you before you went to fuck her in the back room.”

Her jealousy is like aloe on a burn, soothing me and promising to stop the hurt. Holding her chin between my thumb and finger I move closer and look for the truth in her eyes.

“Jealous?” I hum. “You could have joined us if you needed me that badly.”

She doesn’t react how I expect, and the twisted smile fills me with awe as she smooths her hand around my neck to my nape and pushes her chest forward, bringing as much of her body into contact with mine as possible. Her husky voice touches my lips and she’s a siren, I can only focus on the melodious sound and not the words.

“I would have taken her from you and made you face the wall. Dirty little sluts don’t get what they want.”

When the brain between my ears comes back online I’m fucked because she’s overwriting all of my fantasies.I thought she was the good girl, the one to stay at home and paint shit, she was my peace when we were kids. But she’s a fucking problem as an adult. She’s the perfectperson, not just physically. Dani, my artist, was crafted by both the devil and angels to make her sinful divinity.

Her breath hitches as I stroke my knuckles down the column of her throat, and I resist the urge to feel it against my palm. My voice is low, conversational, as I watch my hand move.

“Call me a slut again,” I look up to meet her eyes, they’re swallowed with lust as I wait for her lips to part and issue my promise, “and I’ll drag you out of this car by your hair and fuck you on the street.”

I want her to do it, to fucking challenge me and call my bluff.

She straightens her shoulders and my eyes close at the feeling of her lips ghosting over my cheek. Her lips touch my ear with every syllable that leaves her sinful mouth.

“You. Are. A. Filthy. Whore.” Stroking down my chest, she cups my dick, and her sweet reprimand has me wanting to offer her anything for the chance of more. “If only you were a good boy.”

Copying her words, I grip her throat and pull her to me until I’m speaking against her lips. “If only you weren’t a beautiful fucking liar.”

There’s no fire in her eyes due to anger, my artist is fucked over me. Just like I am her. She strokes my length and squeezes, moaning as though she’s getting any relief despite the need to be stubborn.

“Don’t call me beautiful,” she grits.

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