Page 48 of Sacrifice (Corrupt Empire 2)

“Never had a boyfriend, Avery? That’s fucking bullshit. What the fuck else do you call your relationship with him?”

I heard her get up from the sofa.

“It wasn’t like that.”

“No? You’re deluding yourself if you think that wasn’t a relationship between you. I’ve seen the way you are together. I’m not stupid or blind.”

“It wasn’t about sex. It was just about the need to feel close to someone when all else seemed like it was falling apart. I needed someone. He needed someone.”

I turned on her. Fuck. Her eyes filled with tears. Her body language told me she was sorry and in no small amount of emotional pain.

“And you think it’s okay to fucking tell me this now? Right after I told you something I’ve never said to anyone before.”

This entire day had been fucking shit for both of us and tonight made it so much worse. I strode towards her, taking her by the shoulders and shaking her.

“I love you, Avery. I love you so fucking much. Do you understand that?”

She nodded, tears slipping down her cheeks.

“Why would you keep this from me?”

“I didn’t want you to hate me or hurt him,” she sobbed.

Hurt him?Why the fuck would I do that?

“You thought I’d hurt him for something you did before we even met? What the hell kind of person do you take me for?”

Then I saw it. She was terrified of me. She might love me, but she was scared of how I’d react to things. Scared of me blowing up at her. And I hadn’t given her any reason to think otherwise.

I released her, taking a step back and putting a hand to my mouth. I kept telling her I’d hurt anyone who touched her. I’d made her fear me since the day we’d met. Fuck. How could I ever make her trust me fully? No wonder she hadn’t told me. Fuck. I hated myself so much. I knew having a relationship with someone was going to be almost impossible for me, but this, this was much worse than I ever imagined.

I ruined us before we even started.

I destroyed us the moment I took her parents lives.

The moment we fucking met.

Why had I been stupid enough to think this wouldn’t end badly? I wasn’t capable of being the sort of man she needed. I thought I could make up for what I’d done to her. All I did was bring her more pain and misery.

“You’re scared of me.”

She frowned, tears still falling down her cheeks.

“What?”

“You. You’re scared of how I’ll react to things. That’s why you keep things from me.”

“I’m not.”

“You would’ve told me the truth before, so yes, you are.”

She closed the distance between us, reached up and tugged my face down to her level.

“I’m scared of the side of you which takes lives without a second thought. The cold, calculating side.” She pointed at my chest. “But you, Aiden, I’m not scared of who you are in here. I know you. I trust you. I love you.”

And then she captured my mouth in hers. My body bent to her will. I tugged her into my arms, holding her against me. Fuck, she felt so right. I might never be the man she deserved, but I was the one she chose. I vowed then to try to be worthy of the trust she bestowed on me.

Pulling her down on the sofa with me, she straddled my lap and sunk onto my cock. Despite our fight, I was still rock hard and she was deliciously wet. Our discussion about her revelation was far from over, but sex always brought us back to each other.

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