Page 126 of Ensnared

“Home,”Beaumuses.Hisvoice becomes gentle. “Where’shome, darlin’?”

Iopen my mouth, then shut it, off kilter.Domsteps closer behind me, always moving.I’mnot sure why, butIcan’t make the word leave my lips.Bristlebrook.Oneword andIknow they’ll take me home.They’llstop.

Ishake my head once.

Domscoops me up from behind with surprising tenderness and takes me over to the water.Iturn my face away.

“Idon’t want to,”Imutter thickly.

“Toobad,” he says, but he’s not teasing anymore, or nasty.Hesounds almost... kind.

Helowers me into the water until my feet brush the coarse sand.Thecrisp water laps at the mangled bra beneath my breasts.Withouta word, he reaches around and unhooks it then tosses it to the side.Hishands linger on my back, tracking small circles up and down my spine.Whenhe reaches my panties, he eases them down my legs untilIstep out of them.

I’mcompletely bare, now, andIshiver.Thechill of the water takes me over, seeping in deep.

Killer.

“Whydid you kill him?”Domasks in a low voice.

Ipull back from the question and find my back pressed up against a wall of warm, naked muscle.Beau.Idon’t understand why they’re pushing me like this.I’mstinging with shame and anger and a new, sour kind of self-loathing.

Turningaround,Ilook up atBeau, wanting to believe he’ll make this torture stop, wanting him to take control and make it all go away again.

Please.

“Ah, darlin’.”Hecups my cheek. “You’rebreaking my heart.”

Dom’shands flatten over my back, and his thumbs start moving more firmly, washing the cool water over my sweaty skin.He’sclose enough that his heat warms me.

“Youdid it because you liked it, right?”Dommuses in a low voice. “Becauseyou wanted to see him hurt.Didyou want to watch him die,Eden?”

Ishake my head numbly, and a tear slips down my face.Beauwipes it away with his thumb.Hewets his hand again and grasps my chin, then starts wiping and rubbing at my face in smooth, deliberate motions.

“Thenyou did it because you wanted to be the hero?”Beauasks. “Youwanted to prove to everyone that you could do it?”

Everyaccusation is a bullet, and those awful feelings dig deeper.

Helpme, please.

“No!Willyou just l-leave it alone?It’sdone now.”Ihatethe way my voice trembles.Itry to work up a glare, butI’mempty of rage.

Imight throw up again.

Help.

“Itis done,”Beauagrees, though he sounds pained. “Donefor him.Forever.”

“Stopit!”

“Why?” he demands.

“BecauseIdidn’t want to kill him!”Iyell, and my voice breaks on the shout.

I’msorry,I’msorry,I’msorry,Ibeg the boy in my head.

Thetears spill over like acid, as though all of the painful knots in my chest have liquified into some bitter fluidIneed to eject from my body.

Myknees buckle, butDomcatches me from behind, lifting me from the water.Beauwraps his arms around my waist, and my arms and legs twine around him like that’s their natural place.Isob into the crook of his neck, and one sob turns into dozens of heaving, ugly hiccups.

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