Page 166 of Surrender

She’s mine now.

She wants to be.

I kiss her to make sure I’m not just seeing what I want to see, but her answering hunger tells me I’m not. My dirty soul dances with her much purer one. She needed to be dirtied up a little. She neededme.

She’s panting when she pulls away.

“I think I’ll wait for you at the main house.”

I nod. “Okay.”

Dylan does not find our bonding experience nearly as precious as I do. When I stand up to let Sophie off the couch, he’s watching us like we’re both monsters.

Fucking normie.

No wonder Sophie didn’t like his boring ass.

I text Dare to let him know Sophie needs a ride back to the house, then put her coat back on her so she doesn’t get cold. She gets on her hands and knees to collect the spilled items from her purse. Something rolled under the couch, so she pops her pretty little ass up and shoves her hand under the couch to reach it. Once she sees what it is, she sits back on her heels with a sigh, looking forlornly at the case of pills I gave her.

“Dammit, I forgot again.”

She takes one out and uncaps her water so she can take it.

As often as she forgets, I wonder if she reallywantsto be taking birth control at all, or if she just feels like it’s what sheshouldwant. I think if she really worried that much about getting pregnant, she might’ve gone with an IUD, something that would take effect immediately since she knew I wouldn’t use a condom.

At some point, I should probably tell her it’s not birth control.

Maybe later.

Right now, I have my hands full killing a pig so I can deliver its heart to my lovely queen.

Besides, she probably already knows. Sophie’s no idiot, and prenatal vitamins don’t look a damn thing like birth control pills.

She knew the risks when she letmefill her birth control prescription.

Headlights appear through the kitchen window, so I know Dare’s here.

I walk Sophie to the front door and kiss her before I open it.

Dare is standing on the other side, waiting.

Sophie slides her hands over my shoulder, then winds her arms around my neck for a hug. “You’ll be okay, right?”

“Baby, don’t insult me. I could take him blindfolded and armed with a fly swatter.”

She laughs and buries her face in my neck.

Christ, I love her.

She pulls back, and I let her go to follow Dare outside.

Before they step off the porch, I hear him say, “Thought there’d be more tears.”

“From me?” Sophie looks back over her shoulder, her eyes glinting with warmth when her gaze meets mine. “What have I got to cry about?”

Chapter Forty-one

Sophie

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