Page 55 of Destroy (Deadly Hearts 2)

ChapterTwenty-Five

Ruby

It has taken every ounce of courage that I have to do this. I’m scared, but I’m powering through. There is no option but to keep moving forward. I know I made the right choice when Declan’s face lit up. He needs this and I want to give it to him.

“What secrets have you kept, Princess?” he murmurs, curling my hair behind my ear.

I reach up and tug on his belt, undoing it and slowly pulling it out of the loops.

He watches me with hooded eyes, desire filling them even though I can see he is trying to squash it for me. It makes me love him.

I fall hard and fast and it makes this easier.

Deep down, I know it’s not just for him. It’s for me as well. The first time I was raped it took me years to get over it. I’m not willing to accept that this time. I have men in my life who I know will wait, but that’s not fair. I don’t want them to hang around wondering if today will be the day I let them touch me. Or tomorrow, or never. It scares me that I may lose them, but that’s not the driving force behind this bold move that has made my stomach twist into a knot.

It's a small step, and it’s for me to take back control and not let this keep me down. I know how to deal with it. The first time was bad, the memories nearly killed me. But this time was different. I barely remember it. It was over with so quickly and I felt nothing. I believe I’m more traumatized by the injections that Boomer used to torture me and the stabbing and being left to bleed out.

I give the belt a tug. It falls free from the last loop, and I hold it up. Declan’s hand clamps around my wrist.

I don’t flinch.

“Tell Daddy what you did,” he whispers, taking the belt from me and wrapping it around his fist.

I shiver.

I’m both equal parts afraid and aroused.

It’s a feeling that I have never experienced before and it’s intoxicating.

“I kept a secret,” I pout.

“What kind of secret?”

“I should’ve told you all, but I didn’t.”

“You can tell me now, Princess. I want to hear what you’ve been keeping from me.”

His tone is darkly delicious, and I just fall into it. I don’t think. I don’t feel. I just act. I play the role of his Princess and he eats it up.

“I was a bad girl, Daddy. Can you forgive me?”

“Perhaps,” he says.

The lack of confirmation sends a tremor through my body. I drop to my knees and bow my head.

“Princess,” he rasps. “Stand up.”

“No, Daddy. I must confess.”

“What is there to confess?”

“I thought I was pregnant,” I whisper, forcing the words through my lips. I need him to know. I need all of them to know.

Silence.

I know what he’s thinking. It’s obvious without even looking up.

“Oh?” he croaks.

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