Page 89 of Wicked Spite
It’s in this moment of serenity that I find the courage to share my darkest secret with Penn. “Before I met you, I had a different kind of life,” I begin hesitantly, my voice barely audible even in the stillness of the night. “I think you’ve probablyalready guessed what’s going on with my father and why I’m so protective of Reese. My father—he did something unforgivable to me. I’ve never told anyone the details, not even Reese.”
Penn’s grip on my hand tightens, his concern evident as he urges me gently, “You can tell me anything, baby.”
I take a deep breath, steeling myself for the painful confession. “My father sold my virginity to his business partner when I was younger,” I reveal, feeling the weight of the words crushing my chest. “I never wanted it obviously, but I was forced to make really tough decisions because he always held Reese over my head. Me or her, and I could never let something like that happen to her.”
As the truth of my past tumbles from my lips, I tilt my head back to gage Penn’s reaction. I watch the fury build within Penn’s eyes, transforming them into turbulent pools of molten gold. He clenches his jaw so tightly I’m certain he’ll break a tooth, his rage palpable in the air between us.
“Hellfire...” he growls, the word laced with both anger and heartache. “I swear, I will make your father pay for what he did to you. I promise you, he’ll die a slow, agonizing death, and I’ll savor every second of it.”
His vehemence leaves me breathless, but there’s a fierce comfort in knowing that Penn would go to such lengths for me. Tears prick at the corners of my eyes, and I blink them away rapidly, refusing to let them fall. I don’t want to ruin tonight because I don’t know when I’ll have another one like it. Our arrangement could end any time, and I want to savor this connection I have with the monster I’ve grown to love.
I love him. I didn’t expect to. I tried not to, but I do.
“I know you will,” I whisper, my voice trembling with gratitude. “But more than anything, I want to make sure Reesenever experiences anything like what happened to me. That’s why protecting her is so important. I know firsthand what could have happened if we hadn’t intervened.”
“She will never suffer the way you did,” Penn vows with fierce determination, his arms tightening around me in a protective embrace. “We’ll keep her safe, Reagan. You have my word.”
As we stand on the balcony, I find myself overcome by a wave of emotion so powerful it leaves me breathless.
“Being your wife, Penn,” I whisper, my voice thick with emotion, “is the best thing that has ever happened to me. I know you didn’t have a lot of options and it’s been a fight the entire time, but I needed you to know that.” I pause, searching for the right words to express the depth of my feelings without saying too much and making things awkward.
He pulls me closer, enfolding me in his strong embrace as he murmurs into my ear, “You don’t know how much that means to me, hellfire. I’ll never let you go. You can fight it all you want, but you’re mine. The ring stays on your pretty little finger, and you stay by my side. That’s all there is to it.”
“There’s supposed to be a lot more to tonight, but right now I need to fuck my wife,” he rasps against my lips, his voice hoarse with need. The fact that he still refers to me as his wife sends a shiver of delight down my spine, and I can’t help but feel a sense of belonging.
“God, yes,” I breathe, my body responding to his touch.
Penn scoops me up in his arms and carries me up the stairs and into the primary bedroom.
“My fucking wife,” he murmurs, his voice a low growl that sends shivers down my spine, “you have no idea how much I fucking want you.”
“Show me,” I urge him.
With this monster of a man by my side, I think I finally found my home.
Chapter 33
Penn
The moment Reagan’s back hits the mattress, I can’t help but let my eyes roam over her body. Damn, she’s a sight to behold. Her wild, dark hair frames her face like a halo, and those pebbled nipples of hers practically beg for attention. My attention specifically.
“Ya know, I meant to say something before about this,” I say, trailing a finger down the smooth skin of her arm. “But I thought a badass like you would have tattoos all over.”
Reagan laughs, the sound catching me off guard. It’s genuine, light, and it does something strange to my insides. “You have enough for both of us, Penn Blackwood.”
“Guilty as charged,” I admit with a grin. “But seriously, not even one little tattoo? It would go with your whole grunge queen vibe.”
She arches an eyebrow, challenging me with her intense gaze. “What makes you think I don’t have any hidden ones?”
“Baby, I’ve seen every inch of you. If you had a hidden tattoo, I would have found it a while ago,” I muse. This girl keeps surprising me, and I fuckinglove it.
“I’ll get one when you get one for me,” she teases, biting her lip in a way that makes my heart race and my mind spin with possibilities.
“Careful now,” I reply, my tone laced with mock seriousness. “You might just tempt me to get one.”
I lean to steal a lingering kiss from her lush lips. The taste of her, the feel of her body beneath mine—it’s everything. I want to possess her, control her, make her crave me as much as I crave her.
As our lips part, I realize that Reagan St. Pierre might just be the most dangerous addiction I’ve ever faced.
