Page 19 of Malicious Wedding

“And I prefer being very close to you.”

“We haven’t spoken in a decade. You don’t know what you want with me.”

There’s a long, charged silence, and my nipples are absolutely erect.

What’s wrong with me right now? Am I fliting with Carson through the door, or at least thinking about him breaking his way in here only to ravish my soaking wet body until I black out from the ecstasy?

Yes, pretty much. I am truly broken.

“I never stopped thinking about you, Ash.” His tone is gentle but intense. “All these years. I kept my distance because that’s what you wanted and I have respect for Iain, but I never forgot you.”

I snort. It’s not ladylike, but I’m past caring. “I doubt that big time. You’re Carson Crowley, one of the richest men in the country. What the hell do you care about some broke, worthless girl from a rough family? I’m nothing to you.”

“No, you’re very wrong about that.” Another long pause. “Come with me. I’ll protect you and I’ll give you space if that’s what you need.”

“Like you gave me space when I came in here to take a bath? How about you practice and get out of my apartment.”

“That isn’t going to happen. I can only go so far before I break.”

“Break?” I laugh, my tone a little panicked and hysterical. “Am I supposed to feel sorry for you?”

“No. But I’m running on a few hours of sleep over the past couple days and I am extremely stubborn. I’m not letting you go.”

“That’s not helping!”

“I’ll sleep on your couch tonight.” A short pause. “That thingisa couch, right?”

“Don’t you dare insult my futon. I found it outside of a Berklee dorm room, so you know it’s really nice.”

He sighs deeply. “A college kid’s trash. You are something else.”

“What do you want from me? I’m broke. I do what I have to.” I grind my jaw and finish my wine. “Can youpleasejust go?”

“No.”

Silence follows. I close my eyes and put the empty wine glass down. The water’s warm and I let it wrap around me as I try to quiet my creaking brain, but my thoughts spin and spin like an old loom, turning itself in circles, tying my emotions into knots.

I left my family. They were already dead to me in a sense—but to lose them like this, so brutally and suddenly, it’s hitting me harder than I ever would’ve guessed. Iain’s still alive, but that feels so tenuous.

Then there’s Carson and his obsessive need to keep mesafe, whatever that entails.

I don’t know why he cares. Carson hasn’t spoken to me in a decade, allegedly because that was my wish, but personally, I think that’s bullshit.

Carson doesn’t care about me because I’m a speck on his windshield. I’m nothing to him, barely a bug. So why he keeps coming back, over and over, only for me to tell him to fuck off, I don’t understand it.

I nearly doze off. But I catch myself before I can slip under.

“Don’t fall asleep.”

I yelp at the sound of Carson’s voice. “You’re still out there?”

“Nearly passed out myself.” He grunts quietly. I realize he must be leaning against the door. “I’ve been thinking about you for years, you know. Maybe you find that strange. I can’t blame you if you do.”

“I do,” I admit.

He doesn’t seem deterred. “You’re the best of them, you know. Beautiful, clever.”

“Oh, now you’re talking.”

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