Page 97 of She will Always be Mine

“Don’t tell me you didn’t love every second of it.” When she blushes, I reply smugly, “Thought so.”

“I would’ve loved it more if you’d let me come.”

“Tell me we’re back together and I’ll worship you on my knees, baby,” I demand.

“We can’t, Riaan,” she whispers back and I shrug.

“Then I’ll punish you a little longer until you do.”

The ride back home is far more peaceful than the one this morning but I know it won’t last. Once we get back to the apartment and the high wears off, she’ll go back to pushing me away. Her walls are only down when I make her lose control and have her at my mercy, but we can’t go on like that.

Eventually, we’ll need to talk because I can’t have secrets between us any longer.

Secrets in a relationship like a poison to the body. If you don’t purge them out, they’ll kill you.

“How was your day?” I casually ask when we stop at a red light. The traffic at this time is always hectic with everyone on their way back from work.

“Boring and exciting at the same time. I missed Monica and her loud mouth,” she replies with a laugh. “Though I should warn you that she plans to seduce one of the Reet brothers at the concert. I’m supposed to be her wingwoman.”

Jealousy flares inside me at the thought of any man near her. “No you’re not.”

“Excuse me?” she says while glaring at me.

“You won’t be leaving my side.”

“Oh my God! You’re jealous,” she replies with a smug grin and quirks her eyebrow. “Are you afraid I’m going to leave you for one of the brothers?”

“If you wanted another man, you would’ve never fallen for me, sweetheart. No one makes your heart race faster than me.” Unleashing the darkness I never let her see, I warn, “But if I see another man look at you with lust in their eyes, I’ll put them two feet into the ground. Unless you want that on your consciousness, I’d suggest you don’t go looking for trouble, even if it’s for a friend.”

Fear renders her mute for a second before she utters, “I was kidding, Riaan.”

“I wasn’t.”

Ever since Zain threatened to touch her, I can’t control the rage that consumes me at anyone touching, let alone looking twice at Nyra. I don’t know what I’d do if somebody made the mistake of doing it. So, it’s best to let her know my intentions now before she unknowingly puts herself in danger.

The pinging of her phone pulls us apart, and I drive again as soon as the light turns green. When I twist to look at her, I’m shocked to see her face pale, white as a ghost.

Her eyes stay glued to the screen while her hand tremors. My body goes on alert because of the stark terror on her face. It’s unlike anything I’ve ever seen before.

“Nyra,” I call out to her, but it’s like she doesn’t hear me. Cautiously grazing her wrist, I whisper softly, “Baby.”

She blinks as she regains her focus. Slowly, the color returns to her cheeks but my worry doesn’t go away. Whoever texted her, has everything to do with the distance, the lies, and the secrets between us. The one I need to find before they wreck our lives any further.

“Who is it?”

She clears her throat and I know she’s about to lie. “It was uh… Mom. She was just checking up on me.”

Every instinct in me roars to confront her but I push down the urge because it’s not something I can force or coerce out of her. The nightmare, lives she’s trying to protect, and now this text... someone is obviously after her and I need to know more before I demand the truth.

“Okay,” I finally reply and relief crosses her features.

“I’ll call her once we get home.”

The rest of the ride passes by in silence as we both become lost in our thoughts. By the time we reach the apartment building, the sun has set and night swarms in. Parking the car in the garage, we get out and take the elevator upstairs to our floor.

As soon as I unlock the door, Nyra runs inside, throws her bag on the couch, and calls out over her shoulder, “I’m going to take a shower.”

Running my fingers through my hair, I eye her purse with the phone inside and even though I know I shouldn’t, I stalk toward it. Morals are the last thing I’ll let stand in my way.

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