Page 92 of Fated to the Hunters
Fuck, that hurt. He wanted to protest, wanted to tell her, she had no right to tell him no. But he knew better. One single word from her, and he had no choice but to fall in line. Fuck, he loved submitting to women, but she was different. She had power over himoutsidethe bedroom and he hated it.
“Talk to me, Ezra.”
“I hate what you do to me.” He thought she’d pull away from him, but her fingertips drew shapes over his skin as if nothing had happened. “You hold command over me so easily and eventhough I want to argue, my mind and body betray me.No onetells me no. You are mine and if I want you, I will take you. Then one word—onelookfrom you is enough to stop me.”
“I’m yours, Ezra.”
“Not fully.”
Scarlett tipped her head back, resting her chin on his sternum. “Please look at me.”
He did as told—how could he not. The grey clouds that formed her eyes ensnared him in their spell in a heartbeat.
“Yes, the bond makes you listen to me because if you wouldn’t, you would hurt me. The stronger the bond, the less you want me hurt, so it forces you to please me. But that goes both ways.”
“Then why won’t you let me come with you.”
“Because you will make me nervous. I can’t have you looking over my shoulder, not yet. I missed you today, but you made the choice to leave so I made plans. I will spend time with you tonight.”
“You’re punishing me for leaving you.”
“I’m not punishing you. I made plans based on what I knew at the time. If I had made plans to go out with you and then changed them when Mateo or Vince asked me to, would you be happy?”
Despite the spike of jealousy in his chest, Ezra knew she was right. “No.”
“No, you wouldn’t. I know you are upset, and I understand. It’s okay to be, your feelings are valid, Ezra.”
Ezra swooped down, capturing her mouth with his. Why was she fucking with his emotions and mind so much? Then the kiss turned salty, and he realisedhewas crying.
Shit.
He pulled away and rushed up the stairs, not wanting to give Mateo another reason to poke fun at him.
He rushed into his bedroom and slammed the door shut. His hand hovered over the lock, but he thought better of it. The last thing he wanted was for Scarlett to feel like he’d shut her out. He fell into his armchair, the leather cool on his neck as he reached for his favourite knife. The blade sliced through his jeans and pierced his skin as if it were nothing more than butter. The pain flooded his mind and drowned out everything else. Over and over, he cut into his thigh. It was the only thing that could calm his thoughts, the only thing to keep him from spiralling further.
Through the pain, he could feel a thought grow larger like an unwanted weed.Shecould do that too. Her mere presence, her touch, her kisses, her words could all calm him. With each minute he spent with her, he knew she would become more important to his sanity than pain ever would.
As promised, Scarlett returned to him that evening. She knocked and pushed the door open without awaiting a response, the light from the hallway casting a long shadow of her body on the floor. Ezra didn’t move, simply watching as her eyes adjusted to his dim room, searching for him. When she found him sitting in the chair, her lips curled into her sweet smile.
“We brought food. Vince said you love those chicken tenders. Maybe we can cuddle up together after dinner?”
He stood but walked past her, to the closet to change his pants. He’d hardly moved all afternoon, waiting like a junkie for his next high. “As you wish, princess.”
“Ezra…” Scarlett’s hand shot out to snatch his wrist, and a similar vice gripped his heart at the tone of her voice. “You’re bleeding.”
“I am.”
Her eyes were glued to his thigh, where the blood had drenched his jeans and had dried hours ago. Her fingers clenched tighteraround his wrist as she forced out a slow breath. “Okay,” she finally said, dropping his wrist and flattening her hand over her stomach as if she needed to force her fingers to relax. “If you take too long to change, your tenders will be gone. They smelled really good.”
Scarlett spun on her heel and walked off, leaving Ezra staring after her. He’d expected a whole ordeal of having to explain himself, so he wasn’t sure how to interpret or begin to handle her reaction.
Downstairs, everyone else already sat with their food, Mateo pouring Scarlett a glass of soda. “Finally, we’re starving.”
“Then fucking eat,” Ezra countered.
Scarlett spent the meal stealing from all their plates, trying their favourite foods. Once everyone had eaten, she took Ezra’s hand in hers, but not without turning back halfway up the stairs.
“If you guys turn on the dishwasher, I’ll empty it tomorrow.”
