Page 32 of His to Keep

“I’m not.” He’s lying.

“Youare.” I step forward.“Tell me.”

He moves back. “Leave it.”

“I won’t leave it. You’re looking at me as if you hate me. Why? Is it because I drank Father Aaron’s blood? I know it disgusted you, but you know I didn’t have a choice. Or is it because I ran?” His eyes darken, and I get my answer. “That’s it, isn’t it?” I go to touch him, but he grabs my arms, forcing a gasp out of my mouth.

“Youleft.”

“I was going to get help.”

“Do you thinkthisis all he’s going to do to you?” He grabs my cut arm and shakes his head. “Youcan’tescape. Did I not tell you that?”

“You…you knew,” I whisper knowingly, tears trickling down my face. “You knew there was a fence.”

“I knew.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

“The truth hurts, and you were sohopeful.” His words sting. I don’t notice that he’s backed me up against the wall until my back hits it. “The fence is only the beginning. Once he has new security installed, you’ll be free to roam the house and outside, but you won’t be able to escape.”

“There has to be a way.”

He breathes a laugh, but he’s not amused by it. “No. Because I’ll make sure that there isn’t. Don’t you get it yet?”

“I don’t understand.”

He glares at me, eyes on my face and fingers tightening on my arms. “I’m meant to break you, Ava. It’s why you’re here with me. That I make you fall in line, make you submit, when all I want...is to—”

He suddenly kisses me. Pressing me up against the wall, my eyes widen that his lips are on mine. As he grabs the sides of my face, I put my hand on his chest and squeeze the material of his shirt, to push him away or pull him closer. I can’t be sure. I can’t move or breathe. Is this happening?

“No—”

He tries to pull away from me, but I tug him back and put my lips back on his, needing him. Needing this. His fist slams against the wall at the side of my head, kissing me harder. I gasp when he bends down and lifts me. Wrapping my arms around his neck and legs around his waist, our bodies are close, and I immediately heat from his touch. How he’s kissing me, gripping my backside.

But then he drops me, and I fall to the floor. Breathing heavily, he stumbles back, knocking over the chair. I let out a deep breath, unable to believe that just happened. That he kissed me.

“We can’t.” His eyes are wide as he takes another step back from me. “I didn’t mean—” He keeps moving further and further away, sounding firm when he says, “That canneverhappen again.”

“Wait—” By the time I get up, he’s gone. Already in the bathroom and shutting me out.

Chapter Nineteen

Getting off the floor, despite my head telling me to leave him alone, my need to confront him spurs me to go over to the bathroom and throw the door open.

“Howdareyou,” I say to him, storming inside, boiling hot anger taking control. He’s leaning over the sink when I enter, hands gripping the rim of the basin. The shadows on his face deepen, and I know it means he doesn’t want me in here, but I don’t care. I don’t care that I’m invading his privacy. After what he did,nothingis private anymore between us. “How could you walk away from me after...after—”

“Afterforcingmyself on you?” he finishes for me, and I go to shake my head. Deny that it’s not what happened at all, but he puts his hand up to stop me. “Just go.” I don’t move, and he grits his teeth. “I. Said.Go,Ava.”

“Not until you tell me why you kissed me.” Didn’t he demand the same from me after I kissed him? Don’t I deserve to know the truth?

He bows his head. “I shouldn’t have. I’m—”

“Stop saying that!” I snap at him, hating that he keeps apologizing. That we both keep saying sorry to each other for things clearly out of our control. “Stop being sorry for doing something you wanted to do.”

He raises his eyes to look at me, their coldness slicing through me. “Not when it can get you killed.” I step forward, and his back straightens like he doesn’t want me to come any closer.

“Do you honestly think he’d do anything to ruin the ceremony?” My voice cracks and I wipe tears brimming to the surface of my eyes. I don’t want to cry anymore. “He won’t find out this happened. We can keep it a secret.”

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