Page 67 of Vengeance Becomes Her

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

Something bumped against the door, springing Rhiannon into action. Tristain would have just come in. She grabbed her dagger and crept toward the door, begging the old floorboards to remain silent.

She twisted the knob and peeked through the slight crack, ready to burst through and plunge her blade into whoever awaited. She was relieved to find that it was Tristain.

“Why didn’t you knock?” Her voice was tense with frustration.

“Can you please open it already? My hands are full,” he huffed.

She pulled the door open. “Finally, thank you! I’m wasting away up here. Please tell me you found out where to find her.”

He sat the food down and smiled his most charming smile. “You doubt me?” His hand flew over his heart dramatically.

Rhiannon rolled her eyes. “Of course not, who could resist that smile?” She chewed through a bite of the well-seasoned potatoes, eating where she stood. “What didyou find out?”

His voice hitched up an octave as his eyes lit up, excited to share his victory over the woman Rhiannon had no luck with. “Oh, it was easy, you know. I just approached their table, telling them I knew her and wanted to see her. Enamored by my natural charm, they said of course, and gave me directions to her house.” He clapped his hands together, waitingfor her praise.

“Mhmm. I’m sure they were immediately convinced that you were to be trusted with this information.” She arched a dark brow and pursed her lips as she took a seat on the edge of the bed.

“Well. There was a little back and forth, but they were convinced fairly quickly. And the real takeaway here, is that I know where she lives now. So, thanks to me, we can go see her tomorrow.” He sat down on the bed in triumph, bouncing her slightly on the mattress.

“Did you already eat?” Rhiannon set the nearly empty plate on the table next to her side of the bed and then laid back, ready for the potatoes to lull her to sleep. When she turned back to face him, she was distracted by the slow reveal of alluring skin as he tookhis shirt off.

“Like what you see Rhi?” His grin was widewith smugness.

“I never said you weren’t nice to look at, just that we shouldn’t—”

“Shouldn’t what?” He arched a brow as he strolled toward her, planted his palms on the mattress, and hovered above where she lay, feigned innocence playing in his gaze.

The urge to run her hands up his bare arms and grip the back of his hair spiked through her but she remained frozen, transfixed by that adoring gaze that left her speechless. He lingered another moment before pushing himself back into a sitting position, his thick legs resting on either side of her, but he was careful not to let his weight rest on her.

Every inch of her skin was restless, screaming out for her to touch him, so she did. She pushed herself off the mattress, latching her arms around his neck, gravity pulling themboth back down.

“Kiss me. Please.”

“Rhiannon, you said you didn’t want this. Us.”

“I said I didn’t want this to be serious and complicated right now.”

“Right. And that’s so easy for you?”

“No. But this is enough for me right now.” Her eyes roved over his body.

“I don’t know if it is for me. I need time to think,” he whispered it regretfully against the hollow of her neck. The words shooting straight to her heart.

Her desire for his body went out of her, but it was replaced by the need to comfort him, to be with him. At least in this moment. She let out a heavy sigh, wrapping her arms around him and weaving her fingers through his thick tresses. He relaxed into her, resting his head on her chest.

It should have been simple. She wanted him. He clearly wanted her. But she knew she would break his heart when the time came for her to kill Silas. No matter how angry he was with his brother, no matter how powerful his grief was, Tristain was a good, gentle soul through and through. He would never be able to stand by and watch it happen.

The pain it would cause him to watch his brother die at her hands would break him and it would be her fault. And for all her ferocity, she couldn’t bear it. So, this is how things would have to be. Keeping him at bay. She could offer her body, but he couldn’t have her heart because she couldn’t be trusted with his.

Anguish lanced through her, sharp and hot as she laid there, Tristain long asleep, using her as his personal pillow. It was torture, it was ecstasy, it was the most she’d get, so she’d cherish every painful minute of it until they inevitably parted ways for good.

When she woke, a blissful warmth wrapped around her, shielding her from the unrelenting chill in the air that was unavoidable. She allowed herself to relish in it for a few more minutes before she forced herself to fully wake. She fluttered her lashes several times, chasing the sleep away and bringing the room into view. She was wrapped in Tristain’s wide embrace. One arm was tucked beneath her head, the other across her waist. Her eyes tracked up the contours of his chest, across his strong jaw, and rested on the innocent expression on his face.

His pillowed lips were slightly parted, long lashes tickling his cheeks, and his brow flat in relaxation. One moment her hand was reaching up to caress his sleep-warmed skin, the next she was jerking it back, remembering all the reasons she shouldn’t even be here in this bed with him.

She closed her eyes, blocking out the precious sight of his sleeping face and collected her thoughts. She resolved herself to be on her best behavior from here on out. Despite what she’d believed back in Oakhaven, she realized now that they could never have a future together, not even after this was over.

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