Page 110 of Filthy Royal

Images battered at her: the sweetest of memories.

Him teasing her, playing with her, sharing a secret. On the same team. “You getting those panties filthy wet for me, wild thing?”

Him so cocky and sure and full of hope. “I want Scarlett of the Consortium for my omega, and she wants me. I can’t lose.”

Him between her thighs. “Yes, baby. Say my name, just like that. Over and over. Until you’re screaming it.”

Him gazing at her with tenderness and awe. “I never want to do anything that would cause you harm.”

Him slapping a hand against his chest. “I can feel you here. See you here. All those vibrant colors sinking beneath my skin, staining every cell so I’ll never look at anything the same ever again.”

Him tucking her hair behind her ear and telling her he’d fight for her no matter what. “You should know, Scarlett, I have fought for everything I’ve ever gotten, and I have no problem fighting for you too.”

It had all been so beautiful. So right. So filthy and wild and hot. In his arms, she’d felt as if anything were possible. As if, as long as they had each other, the galaxy was theirs.

His rough demand came once more. “Give me the truth, Scarlett.”

So she used the last shreds of her sanity to give him the only truth that really mattered to her. “I. Never. Stopped. Caring. For. You.”

An enraged howl tore from him. One so intense and dangerous that it reverberated deep in her core, a match to the darkness swirling within.

Then there was only silence, punctuated by her soft sobs.

And the terrifying certainty that her confession was the one truth he hadn’t wanted to hear.

The taming chain shut off.

Rough fingers threaded through her hair and wrenched her head up and back. “Don’t you fucking dare use that bullshit to try to soften me.”

“I…” Scarlett panted through her need. “Wasn’t.”

“Liar.” His expression hardened. “I’ll give you a little time to change your answer before I return for round three.”

His hands vanished. The heat and scent of him, too, her anchor disappearing.

She was so lost it took her a moment to realize she’d gained a momentary respite—and that Damien was stalking from the room.

Arms giving out, the taming chain—now off—resting harmlessly against her skin, she pressed her cheek to the cool ground and did her best to remain perfectly still as the agony of need continued to surge through her.

The break was its own torment, her body an aching ball of unfulfilled yearning, her mind terrified of what was still to come. But worse was the realization that, despite this, she wanted to beg him to come back.

Because missing him was the greatest agony of all.

10

DAMIEN

INever. Stopped. Caring. For. You.

Damien slammed his back against the door to the room where he’d left Scarlett, breath coming too fast as he stared at his damned hands.

Fucking shaking.

Unacceptable.

Clenching them into fists, he thanked the gods that Maddox was still out checking the traps, and Anya was safely tucked away in his shuttle, far from the Golden Dome.

I. Never. Stopped. Caring. For. You.

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