Page 36 of A Hurt So Good

“Oh, I remember, little bird, and when I find the motherfucker who drugged you, he’s going to wish for a quick death, but that’s not what he’s going to get.”

“What? What do you mean?”

“I mean, when I find him, I’m going to kill him.” Her lips part, and a gasp escapes her. I don’t move. I just stare at her. She seems to be thinking this over, and she isn’t sure what to say.

“You aren’t going to kill anyone,” she gives a half-hearted laugh.

“You don’t think so?”

“No. You’re not a killer, War.” Now I laugh. I step closer to her, and she takes a step back until she hits the rail, and there’s nowhere else for her to go. I crowd her space, resting each of my hands on either side of her, caging her in. She looks up at me but isn’t sure what to say.

“What if I told you that I’ve killed before?” Now, her eyes widen.

“No. You haven’t.” I chuckle and lean down closer.

“Oh yes, little bird, I have. And do you know what? I fucking liked it,” I whisper in her ear before nipping the lobe. Arya sucks in a breath and reaches up, trying to push me away, but I don’t move.

“Get away from me.”

“I can’t do that.”

“Yes, you can. Just move, War.”

“Why would I want to do that? I’m quite happy right where I’m at,” I tell her. She looks up at me, fear in her gaze.

“You’re not lying to me, are you?” I give her an evil grin and shake my head. “Are you going to hurt me?”

“Haven’t I already?” I ask, reaching up and running my fingers over the bruises on her chest.

“Are you going to hurt me again?” she asks.

“That’s my plan.”

“I want no part of your plan. Get the hell away from me, War!” She yells this time. I chuckle darkly and shake my head before raising the hand that lingers on her chest and wrapping it around her throat. Her eyes widen as she looks me in the eye.

“Have you thought maybe you’d like what I have to offer? Maybe you’d enjoy it?”

“Being bruised?”

“Not bruised, little bird. Marked. There’s a difference.”

“There’s no difference, War.”

“Yeah, there is. Those marks are mine. That means every time another man, aside from my brothers, looks at you, comes near you, or even thinks about touching you, he is going to see them and know I was there.” Her lips part, but no words form.

“You don’t care about sharing me with your brothers?” she asks, sounding a little confused.

“No. We’re family. And each of us can give you something different, Arya.”

“But you want to hurt me?” she asks, even as I tighten my grip around her neck.

“So fucking bad,” I whisper. Arya isn’t sure what to say. She doesn’t know what she likes because she hasn’t been with a guy like me before. But I can give her pleasure; she just has to get through the pain first.

“What if I say no?”

“Will you say no, little bird?” I ask, eyeing her.

“I … I don’t know.”

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