“Did you forget my promise, my little liar?”

Chapter Twenty-Six

RIAAN

Starved.

All these months, I was fucking starving for this woman. My hunger for her can never be quenched. Her shy eyes always stared at me like I’m her whole world. Yet tonight, they are guarded, dim and shining with tears. I still can’t get enough of them.

They hold mine captive, ensnaring and tying me to her.

Her soft pants reach my ears, drawing my attention to her wildly beating pulse on her neck, and her supple lips that I ache to kiss and taste.Very soon… I promise myself. But first, she and I need to talk, so there’s no mistaking my intentions for our future.

I pull back slightly while her warmth seeps into mine as I take in every tempting, delicious inch of her lithe body. Satisfaction hums through my veins that I finally have her in my arms, physically touching and holding her and not just imagining her.

The collar of her loose crop top has fallen off one shoulder, making me want to mark her skin with my teeth. She trembles when I trace her toned stomach visible between her top and denim jeans. But it’s the sight of her long silky hair, which touch the top of her hips that brings new fantasies to life, is what makes my cock twitch. I hope she never cuts her hair short.

She must witness the heat in my eyes at my blatant perusal of her body because her hand lowers to pull her top down. She’s forgetting every inch of her naked body is seared into my brain. And when she squirms again, I pinch her waist to make her body go still.

“Riaan!” She sucks in a breath.

I wasn’t surprised when she backed away, scared shitless as soon as she saw me standing at her doorstep, just a minute after her family had left. In fact, I was looking forward to her fight.

Her lies don’t stand a chance against my determination.

It won’t be long until I’ve uncovered the real reason why she pushed me away that night. I won’t rest until I know just how much she’s been through these last two months.

Because while she says nothing’s changed, the truth iseverythinghas. I’m not the same person I was two months ago and neither is she.

Our hearts bear invisible scars.

There’s a darkness and brokenness inside her that wasn’t there before. There are ghosts shadowing her eyes that I want to slay for her.

Suddenly I hate how much Zain’s words ring true. But I will prove him wrong about one thing and that’s making her mine. For forever this time.

She will push and challenge me every step of the way but I’m prepared for her every defense. She has no idea just how much of her world I’m going to turn upside down.

I intend to complete all my vows that I made to her because letting her go just isn’t an option. Before my thoughts can escalate into dangerous territory, I focus my attention back on her.

“Do you need a reminder, Nyra?” I taunt, not easing my grip on her neck.

My question hangs in the air while she stares at me nervously and I know she remembers. There’s no way my dark promises didn’t haunt her. No way she didn’t want it to be true. Still, she remains quiet and I harden my gaze.

“So that’s how you want to play it, huh?” She looks away, as if it’ll protect her. “Eyes. On. Me.”

They connect back with mine and I shift closer until she has to tilt her head back. I can see her building her walls back up to block me out, but it’s a futile attempt.

She could never hide from me.

Her mind and body knows who’s her protector, because whenever she’d been at her lowest, she reached out to me. I still haven’t forgotten that late night-call and the stark fear in her voice.

“Riaan, please… just go. Every time I have to push you away, it hurts my heart twice as much. I can’t handle doing it over and over again.” She finally speaks but it isn’t what I want to hear. I try to bury the pain and the anger that returns with a vengeance but fail. “If I chose you, I lose my parents. My dad still doesn’t know.”

“I told my mom about us.”

“What!?” she says loudly and jerks against my hold. I reluctantly let her go and give her some space.

Shoving my hands inside my pockets, I lean back against the couch and I don’t miss how she stares at my body hungrily and longingly.