Page 20 of Destroy (Deadly Hearts 2)

ChapterNine

Ruby

Sitting at the vanity opposite the bed, I don’t want to look at myself just yet. I have my eyes firmly closed while Layton rubs a warm, soothing lavender scented oil onto my back. Daddy didn’t hurt me that much. I know he couldn’t. I could see it on his face that he felt sick doing what I asked, but the important thing is, he did what I asked. I really didn’t think he would.

“Better,” I murmur. My bones and muscles are aching from the trauma, and this is helping my whole being.

“Here,” Layton mutters and steps away from me.

I feel a cool touch and I open my eyes, aiming them where I think Declan’s face will appear in the mirror.

He is pale, grim-faced and pissed off, but he gently takes over the aftercare, and it makes me smile slightly to myself.

“Thank you,” I murmur, closing my eyes again.

“Don’t,” he says shortly. “Do not thank me for this.”

“I needed it…” I start, but he hisses and interrupts me.

“I get that, but you have to respect that it hurt me to do this, and I only did it because you threatened me into it.”

“I know,” I say lightly.

“I meant what I said,” he grouses. “Ask me to do something like this again and I will walk.”

“I don’t believe you, but if something like this ever happens again, you can just go ahead and kill me because I don’t think I can survive a third round.”

“Jesus,” he mutters. “Ruby.” His hands go still on my back and then he moves around to sit on the vanity to look down at me. “Don’t ever joke about that.”

“Who’s joking?” I ask with a shrug.

“You will never give up, do you hear me?” he says as gently as he can with his face contorted in agony.

“I know it hurts you,” I whisper. “I know it hurts all of you, but…”

“No,” he says. “I will never let you get to that point. I will never let you be hurt again.”

“You can’t promise that,” I say reasonably. “You can’t watch me twenty-four seven.”

“Wanna bet?” he growls and then drops to his knees to take my hand lightly, allowing me to pull back if I need to.

I don’t.

I don’t feel threatened or intimidated or scared of him in any way. None of them, in fact. In the short time that we have been involved, they have proven themselves to me in ways that are unfathomable and quite frankly, startling. It took me years to trust anyone with my body after the first time. I’m scared that it will take me as long now and they will leave me.

“Forgive me?” Declan asks, interrupting my thoughts.

“Always,” I murmur. “Besides, there’s nothing to forgive. I asked you to do something for me and despite not wanting to, you did it. For me. Where’s David? I have something to say.”

“I’m here,” he says, entering the room, looking a little sheepish.

I narrow my eyes at his flushed face and then my eyes wander over to Declan with a soft smirk. “You two get up to something outside?”

“We kissed,” Declan says straight away. “I initiated it and when it occurred to me that perhaps you would not be happy about it, I ended it.”

“Why do you think I wouldn’t be happy about it?” I ask, my issue tabled for a moment. I’m intrigued by this development and not in the least bit jealous or angry about it. In fact, the opposite. I think it’s hot and sexy and they are going to need each other in the coming days in ways that maybe just a friendship won’t suffice.

“It was behind your back,” Declan says.

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