Page 278 of Love Me in the Dark

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Only then does he speak.

“I’ll never hurt you,” he says. “Not unless you ask me to.”

A shiver coils down my spine.

I don’t respond. Can’t.

He doesn’t push.

Eventually, he leaves me there. He leaves me alone, but not free.

The door shuts with a soft whisper.

I sip the tea. It’s honeyed and warm. Calming, even though my heart still drums like it doesn’t know who it belongs to anymore.

And then I feel the change.

Not fear. Not anger. Not even shame.

Want.

Want, curling low in my belly. Want for something brutal and gentle and real. Want for him.

For the way he saw me when no one else did.

For the way he touches me like I’m his to worshipanddestroy.

I sink down into the bed and stare at the ceiling.

My fingers tighten around the cup.

God help me.

I want more.

I should be planning my way out.

But all I can think about is how he looked at me when I fell apart in his arms. That’s the most terrifying thing of all. Because wanting him, falling for the promises that he makes in the way he touches me…all of that means that he’s just going to leave.

No one ever loves me enough to stay.

9

IVY

For the first time in my entire life, at least my entire adult life, I wake up after a night of actual rest. Not exhausted passing out, or fearful bouts of sleep that I catch while watching my door and waiting for someone to try and break in.

Until I notice the silence.

Not the comfortable kind. The sterile kind. Like a vacuum sealed off from reality.

The sheets are cool beside me. Too cool.

Roman’s scent still lingers, but he’s gone.

I sit up slowly, heart knocking against my ribs.

Something’s wrong.

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