Severed by Vengeance (The Severed Signet, #1)

by Elle Maldonado

I wasn’t sure the exact moment she’d reached for my forgotten glass of whiskey, but when I looked up, she had a small ice cube trapped between her teeth. And as if reading each other’s thoughts, I tugged her by the back of the neck, opened up, and let her drop the cube into my mouth.

I’d had Evangelina in every way humanely possible, but I’d never tire of watching her take me into her mouth.

“Show me how pretty those lips look wrapped around my cock.”

As I knocked back a swig of the drink, I took another cube in my mouth and held her chin.

“Open up for me, baby.”

She did as she was told, and I let the melting cube drip from ...

I tipped my head back as she sucked me off, head bobbing back and forth in time with the tight strokes of her hand.

“Fuck, Eva… so damn good.”

“Look at you taking my cock like a good fucking girl.”

“That’s it,”

I groaned, holding her head as I pushed deeper, hitting the back of her throat until her...

“Fuck, baby. You look so goddamn beautiful chok...

Fucking goddess. That’s what she looked like, on her knees for me, worshiping my cock like it was her last meal.

“So… good.”

Fuck. The things I would do for this woman.

“You need to give me a minute, angel.” I laughed, kissing her roughly again.

“Okay, a minute,”

At that moment, I decided I would never give her up. She was mine. Mine to keep. To worship. To love. Only mine. And I’d be damned if I ever let her go. I would find a way to be the man she needed and deserved. No matter the cost.

“Derek.”

“I think… I think I love you.”

“Eva…”

“You don’t have to say it back. That’s not what I expect. I just felt like you needed to know.”

Mine. He was mine.

He hadn’t called or sent a text. He’d left a handwritten note. It was his thing. His writing was shit, like a typical man, but it was the principle.

In love. I was in love.

Fuck, it felt so good. To love and be loved so thoroughly.

“You’re wrong,” she said in a whisper. “No one has ever hurt me more than you. You fucking broke me, Derek.”

“If I ever see you again, if you ever come looking for me, I’ll have you arrested for murder… or kill you myself.”

I loved her. I fucking loved her. And I needed her back.

It hurt to breathe, knowing Derek used me. But it hurt even more, knowing that despite his betrayal, I still loved him.

I love him so fucking much that it physically hurts.”

four days without her. Four fucking days. Might as well have been an eternity. I wasn’t sure what I did with my life, how I lived day to day before I knew her. She’d become such an integral part of who I was that without her, I was lost.

“Hey, I’m not going anywhere… but if I do, you should know I love you. I love you so goddamn much. I didn’t even know I could feel this way about anyone. You have to know that. All of it was real.”

“I didn’t just come here to make sure you’re okay. I came here to let you know, to remind you, Evangelina, who you fucking belong to.”

“I don’t want you to say anything. But I was away for weeks, taking steps and trying to make things right. Trying to be the man you deserve because you deserve the world, angel.”

“But I can’t promise that anything will be different tomorrow, in a month, or even a year. It won’t be an easy road. But I’ll eventually gain my freedom ...

“Things aren’t that simple, Derek. It’s not about whether or not I love you. You ...

“I’m a patient man—most times,” he added with a wink, “and I’m willing to wai...

“Don’t ever scare me like this again. Why aren’t you taking care of yourself? Your nurse said you were severely dehydrated. What have you eaten today?”

“It’s not something I can control all the time.”

“I know,”

“You know, Eva, I can’t change who I’ve been or wash away the sins of my past. I just want an opportunity to love you.”

“Mine,”

Do you love me, Derek? Would you wait for me as long as it takes?”

“I love you so goddamn much. You’re mine. Every part of you is mine, so I’ll wait for you forever.”

“I don’t want you to,”

“Angel, please.”

“I don’t… I don’t want you to wait for me, Derek. I want you to take what’s yours right now.”

“Baby, I’m so sorry.”

“Stop apologizing and fucking kiss me already.”