Page 46 of Pose for Me
Jacob is quiet for a few beats. I allow him to mull over what I said because I know it’s not to be taken lightly.
When Jacob told me he was in love with Alayna, I was sure it wouldn’t last. I thought he’d get tired of her and get rid of her within a year. Fifteen years later and she’s still around and their marriage is strong.
I told him I didn’t think I was built for anything like what they had. Now, here I am, asking for advice on how to make someone…happy.
Finally, Jacob says, “Yeah, that’s what it means. To people like us, a promise means fuck-all. It’s words, fucking hot air. We don’t care if people keep them or not. But to normal people, they’d rather have your word than any physical gift.”
“I know that,” I say quickly, feeling scolded.
“Do you?” he asks, using that fucking older brother voice he knows I hate. “If you did, you wouldn’t have disregarded it so easily. Don’t make promises to them you can’t keep. A promise is a promise, and nothing short of death should stop you from fulfilling it.”
“Okay.”
“What do you want to know?”
I shrug, though he can’t see me. “How do I do this relationship thing?” I really am thinking about fully making Lane mine.
“No clue,” my brother says nonchalantly. “I’m surprised Alayna is still around. I do what I can to make her happy and hope that I don’t fuck it up.”
“But you love her,” I say unnecessarily.
“Very much. She’s my entire world. I would fucking kill anyone that tried to hurt her, even if unintentionally. Our love isobsession, little brother. Hold on tight to him, and that should be enough.”
Probably not best to take advice from another psychopath, but who else do I have to turn to?
“Okay. I can do that. I already feel something…differentwith him. I have since the first moment I saw him. No one has challenged me on fucking television before. I wanted to break him and build him up to make him mine. That should be easy enough.”
“Good luck,” Jacob says around a yawn. “I look forward to meeting my brother-in-law soon.” I growl, and his chuckle rings in my ear when I hang up.
After I toss my phone onto my nightstand, I remove my clothes down to my underwear, and I climb into bed beside Lane. The chain around his ankle is annoying and will take some getting used to, but I ignore it as I pull him against my chest and push his hair back from his face.
Why did his latest breakdown tug something inside me? Could it be the emotion I heard in his voice, how deep that pain he’s carrying is?
Remembering how pitiful and agitated he sounded makes something burn in my belly. As soon as he wakes, I plan to ask what happened. Whoever hurt him will fucking die.
Lane smells terrible and needs to be scrubbed down from head to toe, but that doesn’t stop me from pulling him closer, wrapping both arms around him when he starts to tremble.
“Don’t worry,” I whisper into his hair. “No one will hurt you ever again. Unless it’s me.”
“Ryell,”I hear whispered in my ear. It’s startling because I sleep alone.
Then the heavy weight on my chest registers, and I sit up quickly, hearing a crash beside me. I whip my head to the right and see Lane on the floor, rubbing his backside.
“Shit, Lane,” I say and reach for him. Lane flinches away, throwing his hands up.
I stop and look at him. Since I’ve had him captive, I haven’t struck Lane. Drugged him, yes. Locked him in a cell, also yes. Made sure I broke him well enough so he wouldn’t try to escape, definitely. But I have never hit him.
“Lane,” I whisper, throwing my legs over the side of the bed. “Look at me.”
He slowly lowers his hands, trembling. “You’re going to hit me.”
Confused, I ask, “Why would I do that?”
“Because I tried to kill you with that chain.” His voice is so incredibly small, nothing like the hard-ass from the news or the seductive man I had in my bed.
My lips tilting up in a small smile, I ask, “Is that what you tried to do?”
He nods. “You left me.” Lane wraps his arms around his legs, peering at me with sad eyes. “You promised, but then you did it, anyway. I mean…” He stops talking, looking extremely confused. “I don’t know what I expected from a serial killer that kidnapped me, but I…I thought you would honor your promise.”
