Page 50 of Vengeance Becomes Her

She shifted back awkwardly, angry with herself for almost putting herself out there. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean… I wasn’t…” she blurted, flustered and trying to find the right words. “I don’t know what I was thinking. I’m sorry.” And like that, her wall was up again.

Tristain dropped his hands from her face, shifting his weight back on his heels to give her more space.

“It’s not that I don’t want to, I just don’t want it to be like this, with you vulnerable and in pain. It wouldn’t be right. I don’t want to take advantage of you.”

Her entire body was tense and hot with humiliation. “That’s what I am now, vulnerable and in pain, sorry to disappoint.”

She returned her feet to their original spot under the covers and started to slide down, effectively shutting down their conversation.

Tristain raked his hands through his hair roughly. “I didn’t mean it like that. I meant I wanted you to kiss me because you wanted to, not because you were desperate to stop feeling pain. I won’t useyou like that.”

He let out a long sigh then walked silently back to his chair. Once he sat, Rhiannon relaxed,sliding fully under the covers.

“I’m sorry I’m like this. Like I said, you deserve someone like my sister—someone whole and happy. Someone who has more to offer than brokenness and pain.” She turned on her side facing the opposite direction of him and snuffed out the candles.

“I don’t want anyone else,” Tristain said so quietly she almost didn’t believeshe’d heard it.

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