Page 33 of Snow's Charming
“When Dad got sick, both he and I stopped going to the business functions. Naturally, that meant I didn’t have to continue to see the ass that raped me. But? That also meant Jackie was the only one going to the business gala events. Looking back, I wonder if she suggested the boy rape me so she could take hold of my father’s business more quickly.”
I swallowed hard. My throat was bone-dry. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to bare my entire soul tonight. That would take a lifetime of talking because Jackie really sucked. I gazed at him finally, content with what I’d already spilled about myself, and his eyes were on fire. His free hand was clenching in and out of a fist.
“I. HATE. That. Someone. Violated. You, princess. No one, especially my queen, deserves that.”
His eyes looked like they’d burn down the world until finding the rapist whose name I’d long forgotten. Not that I’d forget his face—but his name was as much of a blur as part of that night he drugged me.
“Sylus, don’t.”
It was all I could say at this point. His eyes werefull of fury. They mirrored my own so many years ago when I wanted to fight back. But I couldn’t. And now? It wasn’t worth it.
The ass probably didn’t even remember me. Too busy worrying about getting drunk and satisfying his dick with his next victim. No, Sylus shouldn’t. COULDN’T hurt the fucker.
And neither should my wolf, who was growing in anger as I spoke. I needed him and my wolf to understand me. I wouldn’t let either of them murder a human.
Well, that was debatable. I hated this human more than any other. He was a lowly one—at best. I was certain of that! But I couldn’t kill someone. Not even the person who hurt me, or the one who hurt my family. And I certainly wouldn’t allow Sylus, or my wolf, to do it on my behalf.
“Sylus, NO! You can’t! He’s human!”
The last word was almost a whisper on my lips.
A low growl started in his belly and trailed up his torso, chest, and throat. I felt it through the mesh sponge he was still using on my back. He was angry, but the growl told me he hated the fact he couldn’t kill the guy.
“I know, princess. Out of respect for you, I wouldn’t, but I can’t promise that I’m not thinking of hundreds of ways to maim him.”
I reached up to palm his cheek and drew his lips to mine. The kiss was just as scorching as it was possessive. And before I knew it; he was straddlingme in the bathtub while fully clothed. I let out a giggle.
“Sylus, you’re soaking wet!”
“Good! Now we are both wet,” he said while rubbing the fabric of his jeans over the junction of my thighs.
The friction was white-hot heat, and desire bubbled through me. I bit back a moan, still all too aware that my father was in the house. He palmed my cheeks and drew his forehead to mine. I kissed his neck, wanting desperately to mark him.
I knew in the movies that werewolves bit each other to claim them as their mate and something in me—my wolf, maybe? Wanted to do just that with Sylus. I couldn’t deny the need and my body reacted accordingly.
A pinch in my gums signified my canines elongating. I sucked in a breath, hovering over the sensitive area between his neck and collarbone. The sensation of my breath littered his skin with goosebumps.
We hadn’t talked about this yet. Well, not in length. He’d wanted me to choose to be his Luna. And in this instance, I wanted to be. He clutched my shoulders and put only enough distance between us to meet my gaze.
“I want this too, princess. Are you sure?”
Before I could answer, the door to the bathroom flew open, and Raine burst in with one hand over his eyes.
“Raine, what the fuck?”
Sylus growled as he scrambled to cover my almost naked body with a towel.
“I promise I’m not looking—so not my thing! Because, yeah, I’m not a creep. But, uh, unfortunately, I’ve got to interrupt whatever it is you’re doing. Because you can’t mark each other.”
“What?”
My voice was just a whisper as I clutched the towel. Of all the things racing through my mind as Raine rushed in, this wasn’t one of them.
Sylus and I should have gotten our happy ending. But now? The proverbial rug was swept from under our feet. Again. And my guess was that Jackie was still somehow doing the tugging.
“Look, I get it’s late, but this can’t wait. Get dressed and meet us in the dining room. I’ll whip up a midnight snack.”
“Raine, I’ve got an entire wolfpack willing to do that for us.”
