Page 97 of The Depraved Prince
Cole told me that our entire small town was on edge because nothing wrong ever happens here, so when I went missing and news of my father’s death spread, rules were put in place, and now Santana was on curfew by seven.
The first night in my house was terrible—rough is an understatement. Every time the house creaked, I screamed. Whenever the trees hit my window from the wind blowing a little too hard, I would jump and look around for unusual, vibrant, glowing eyes and sharp teeth.
I tossed and turned, but Cooper would lick my hand, reassuring me that I was okay. It’s incredible that dogs can sense when something is wrong internally. I know he can feel the emotional battles I’m fighting.
As Hayden promised, he follows me in my dreams. When I close my eyes, I see him. But I don’t picture the depraved side; it’s always the moments that made me feel something good when I lived with him.
Even though I managed to get away, I’m stillhis prisoner.
I dreamt of him holding me when I confessed to my suicidal attempt as a teenager. I dreamt of him caring for me while watching my favorite comedy show and cuddling in bed when I had a fever. I dreamt of us both looking at each other brokenly, searching for solace and love within each other because we never had something so pure and rare growing up. I even dreamt of the times we made love with that beautiful giant red ruby ring on my finger. His touch was euphoric, unique, and distinct and I don’t think any man will ever be able to match the way he made me feel those months. I wake up flustered, but then I cry when I remember that he forced me to fall in love with him. Everything was built on lies.
He’s a monster.
“Doyou want to cry and let me hold you while you do that?” Cole breathes out, with sincerity laced in his deep tone. I tilt myhead upward on his shoulder. Even through the dark night, the moon and lights from the street illuminate his handsome face. I look into his eyes and watch his blonde, shaggy hair move with the wind. He seems different…more masculine, and fit. It’s probably just me, and he’s always looked like this.
I asked my brother to get me out of the house. I wanted to start facing my fears one by one, which was the moon. How embarrassing is that? But it’s because I know that our world is full of creatures that come out to play during the night and are out for blood, but knowing that Hayden is far away and the Southern Vampire King is dead, I feel a layer of immunity.
Unfortunately, Nash said he had much studying to catch up on, so he invited Cole to come over and take me out. It’s the weekend before Thanksgiving, and I need a breather from being isolated in my house.
Being with Hayden was suffocating, yet the most alive I had ever felt. How could those two coexist?
Nash has been grocery shopping and doing house chores. He’s been sleeping downstairs on the couch. We both can’t step inside our father’s bedroom without feeling a never ending sorrow that hits us like a wave that’ll drown us in grief. It’s like we’re both afraid to admit he’s gone and never coming back.
“Millie?” Cole’s concerned tone brings me back to my cruel reality. I blink rapidly, forcing myself to concentrate on my present. Because I’m not in Montana. I’m not with Hayden. I’m with Cole, eating popcorn and drinking soda at a drive-in movie theater, watching The Faculty next to other college students in groups and young couples making out.
My eyes fall to his pink lips, and I can feel his muscles tighten when he catches my gaze. I give him a slight curve of my lips as I turn back to the projector in front of us. “I’m done crying. I just want to smile.”
He holds me tighter, and the memories of when he gave me oral sex a year ago come back. I always thought he would be my first; maybe I should have taken it further that day, but I knew our relationship would be based on unsure feelings if I had.
Because, yes, he’s a good man. He’s been there for me since we started working together at Nostalgia Coffee Shop, but I didn’t crave him like he needs and deserves. I learned what that truly feels like earlier this year from a sinister monster with hypnotizing features.
Right after Cole went down on me that day and made me have my first orgasm with his tongue, I felt bliss, but then the pizza man rang his door, interrupting our moment, and then we spent the rest of the holiday together watching movies, and I even helped him study until he took me home. He’s always respectable, always patient, and a gentleman.
We sit there watching a movie about aliens attacking a school, and I find myself finally forgetting a little about Hayden. Cole’s finger circles the skin of my arm right by my tricep, and I stare at it.
“I missed you.” Cole’s blatant confession warms me.
I clench my jaw, fighting the flutter in my stomach. I don’t want to talk about my absence.
A jump scare plays in the movie, causing everyone to gasp and scream. I look around and try to focus on my breathing.
“I knew something was wrong when you quit, and then you disappeared… I feltguilty. I felt like I should have tried to pry better and protect you because that’s what friends do, right?” Cole explains with a stern tone. “I love you, Millie. I’m telling you this now because I regretted not saying it before you vanished. I love you in many ways. I love you like a coworker, a friend, a lover…”
I stay focused on the movie and purse my lips. “There’s nothing you could have done. Please don’t feel bad about what happened to me.”
“What did happen to you? What happened to your father? Do you have any idea who did that? Is it the same person that took you? Do you know where this criminal asshole is?” He sits more up and leans forward until his cheek is centimeters from colliding with mine.
“Millie? You can talk to me—just like old times. I’ve never betrayed your trust, and I never will. You can tell me anything?—”
I cut him off and snap.
“I can tell you anything,huh? How’s this? The person who took me and killed my father is a monster. A monster that I fell in love with. How’s that?” I fight the lump in my throat as I shift in the passenger seat.
His eyes widen, and he swallows nervously. His teeth grind, and I can only imagine he’s thinking about whatfalling in love with my captorentails, but I will spare him the details of fucking a vampire. By the way his body slumps and his hands tremble with anger, he gets the idea, and it crushes him.
“I’m scared of everything right now. I’m scared that he’s still here, watching me. I can still feel him inside me. I can still feel the way he moves and walks. I’m scared that if he sees you holding me right now or even looking at me the way you are,he’ll kill you. And he’ll take pleasure in hearing you scream just because you care about me the way he does.”
There it is again, a sting pricks my eyes and threatens to break me, but this time, I relax my shoulders and suck in a shaky breath. Cole tenses and his warm fuzzy aura about him diminishes into a cold stare. His forehead is clammy, and I can feel his outrage radiating like a magnet.
