Page 58 of Hunted Temptation
Elodie turns her back to me and walks away from the table toward the window. She stands there for a silent moment. I can’t take my eyes off her, though my gaze does travel down and focus on her ass.
“You want me to marry you out of pity,” she whispers.
That’s when I let out a bark of laughter. Her head whips around, her eyes wide as they find mine. “Vaughn, I’m serious,” she snaps.
“And adorable,” I murmur as I rise to my feet.
I move toward her and stop when I’m just a few inches away. Dipping my chin, I look down at her, taking in her gaze. She’s fucking stunning. I slide my hand along the side of her neck, curling my fingers around the back and tangling them in the strands of her hair at the nape.
“Fucking adorable,” I grind out.
“I don’t want your pity,” she states firmly.
I grin as I lower my chin and touch my mouth to hers. “Nothing I do for you, to you, or with you includes pity,” I murmur against her lips. “I want to marry you, Goldie.”
“Why?” she exhales.
Lifting my head, I breathe in the kiss as I look into her eyes. She consumes me. She fucking owns me. I don’t know if this is love. I’m not sure if I can give her everything she deserves, but selfishly, even though I know I’m likely not capable, I won’t let her go. I thought I could when I first brought her with me, but she’s mine.
“You’re mine,” I state.
“But do you love me?” she asks.
“Are you old enough to know what love even is?”
I shouldn’t have said that. She winces at my words. They hit her hard, and though it was my intention, I know it was wrong. She didn’t deserve them. As much as I want to apologize for them, I’m not that man, so I don’t.
“Vaughn,” she hisses.
“I’m too old for you. I know I am. This isn’t out of pity. It’s out of selfishness. I want you, I need you, and I don’t want another person to even think they can have you. I don’t know what the future looks like, so I can’t promise you shit. But I can give you a safe place, orgasms, and me.”
And that is all I can give her.
I lay it all out on the table, right there for her to take it or leave it. Although she doesn’t have much of a choice, she is fucking taking it… taking me.
Chapter Twenty-Three
ELODIE
I can giveyou a safe space, orgasms, and me.
Could I ever ask for more? A girl like me, I’m not sure I could. As much as I want to demand that he give me more, that he loves me and gives me everything a real couple has.
Devotion and babies, to name a few.
It’s not my place. I know it’s not. I’m not the girl who can demand those things. In fact, I didn’t think I would ever have this much, so how could I ask for more? I should be content with the way things are. And maybe allow myself to hope for something more… one day.
Sucking in a breath, I hold it for a moment as I close my eyes before I let it out smoothly and evenly. When I slowly open my eyes, my reflection greets me. I don’t recognize the eyes that stare back at me.
She’s not terrified. She’s not beaten down, she’s not exhausted. She hasn’t been used and abused. She hasn’t been tortured. She appears almost refreshed, and I don’t understandit. I should look the same. It hasn’t been that long. I haven’t been here that long, and yet… I’m not the same.
Taking a step backward, I turn away from the girl in the mirror and reach for the door handle. Turning it slightly, I stop and look over my shoulder at my reflection again. Turning my lips up into a small smile, I stare at myself for a long moment—taking my face in again.
Instead of dwelling, I face the door again and twist the knob, tugging it open. Vaughn is in bed, the sheets tugged up to his waist, his chest on display. His tattoos on display… deliciously.
His head is dropped, his focus on his phone, that is, until he shifts his gaze up to meet mine. Our eyes connect almost instantly, and a slow smile plays on his lips. He reaches over to his nightstand and sets his phone down.
“You good, Goldie?” he asks.
