Page 98 of Prodigal Son

“Cain, wait.”

“I haven’t had a chance to show you the kittens.” He pulled her into the barn and couldn’t catch his breath. “They’re usually hiding by the wood pile where the mother chases mice.”

She spotted the woodpile and only caught a glimpse of the kittens when he pulled her to a halt and pressed her body into the wall. Rather than find the right words to explain his frustration, he kissed her. Once again, God had tormented him with a woman he could not keep. He bit back his anger and tugged at her clothes.

“But the kittens—”

His greedy mouth bit at her full lips. “There isn’t time. I need to be inside of you.”

“Oh!” She gasped as he pulled at her clothing, doing his best not to tear the cotton. “Anyone could see us—”

“Let them see.” With hurried hands, he shoved her clothing out of the way and took her against the wall.

It wasn’t like last night when they made love or the moments she gave him control. This was pure desperation. His displeasure at letting her go threw his agility and he fumbled to get closer. It felt like she was already out the door and out of his life.

“Hold onto me, Destiny. I need to feel you holding me.”

She dug her nails into his back and something snapped inside of him. She was so damn beautiful, so unlike any woman he had ever known. He needed her one last time.

She looked at him with such adoration and trust, and he hated knowing that he deserved neither. The bishop was likely already on his way, coming to take her memories of him and their time together. He never wanted her to stop looking at him the way she did now, but come tonight, she’d only ever see him as a stranger if their paths ever crossed again.

Why had God damned him with such lonesome misfortune? He forcefully shoved his length into her, punishing her for his own ill luck and she cried out but voiced no complaint. Damn her for enjoying his pain!

He wanted to hate her, believing it was easier to forget her when he didn’t like her. If she yelled at him, cursed him, he would feel better about letting her go.

He pulled her hair and pushed her roughly into the wall. He was too crude, too aggressive. Females craved gentleness. None of them could truly accept what he wanted.

He unleashed his baser instincts and fucked her like an animal, giving no quarter and demanding too much. But she took every part of him and gave only a smile in return. And when her eyes glistened with tears, he sensed they weren’t tears of pain, but tears of frustration, because she, too, did not want to say goodbye.

She matched his passion with her own. She clenched her thighs around him and held his shoulders in a white-knuckled grip as he took her in an absolute fury.

His body clenched and he fervently pushed deeper, wanting her to take all of him, including his seed. She was his. The thought of another male—some meek, powerless mortal man—putting his hands on her enraged him. If she must forget him, he hoped she would at least remember this.

“You’re my Destiny,” he hissed, filling her and groaning through the jagged release. His spent body slowly retracted and he withdrew from her welcoming heat.

Dark curls fell around her face and she sank limply against the wall, his seed seeping down her thighs. He cupped her there, rubbing his palm over her until she gasped in pleasure.

“Never forget how good my hands felt on you, Destiny. How much you enjoyed this.”

“Never,” she promised, but the truth she spoke was only another lie.

Her body tightened as he worked her release. She trembled in his arms, as delicate and powerful as a flame. He needed to let her go, needed to say goodbye.

The sound of an approaching horse and buggy told him his sister and the bishop had arrived. Once they left this barn, Destiny’s memories of this place and him would be taken from her. She and Vito would leave and everything he shared with her would be gone.

“I love you.” The words whispered past his lips without thought. He only knew there would be a void in his heart when she was gone. He was acting impetuous and not thinking, but what did it matter? Cupping her face, he looked into her eyes. “No matter what happens, I’ll never forget you.”

She blinked up at him through glistening eyes. “I’ll come back. I can be here tonight and the next day. It doesn’t have to end like this.”

That couldn’t happen. The Elders would not allow it. “I would love that.” His heart broke. Come tonight, she wouldn’t remember the farm existed and she would have absolutely no recollection of him. “I’ll wait for you.”

She smiled and kissed him.

There was a sharp gasp, and he stilled. Destiny tensed, having heard the sound as well. Together, they looked at the barn door.

“Cybil—”

The child’s mouth thinned to a tight line as she breathed hard, her eyes narrowing on Destiny. Her blonde curls trembled, denying what she saw, and then she bolted.

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