Hexed (Never After, #6)

by Emily McIntire

In my experience, it’s better when men can’t talk anyway.

“Well, you seem like a woman who demands my full attention.”

That’s the thing about grief, I guess. It steals the air from your lungs just as you’ve finally figured out how to breathe.

“Watch your mouth,” he says slowly, his New York accent coming through strong, dropping the r and elongating the vowels. “You won’t disrespect yourself to me.”

Because fuck her if she thinks I’ll allow her to disappear with another man on her arm when she came here with me.

I’m not sure where we’re headed, but after what just happened, I think I’d follow her anywhere.

That’s what she is to me: a work of art. I wish like hell she weren’t.

“I always see you.”

“In fact, I can’t see anything but you, and it’s fucking infuriating.”

“I already told you,” he utters. “I see you. Even when you look away.”

“Whatever I want,”

“That’s a dangerous thing to say to a man like me, piccola sirena.”

“In a different life, I’d ask you to touch me.”

“And in this life, I’m a lot of things, Enzo. But I’m not a cheat. And I don’t think you are either.”

i don’t condone cheating but fuck i wanted them to kiss

“Well, we’re at the boardwalk.” He looks around. “Let’s make a memory.”

when I’m around Venesa, it’s hard to remember any of that. She makes me forget who I am, who I’m supposed to be, and makes me feel like all I want to be is hers.

the truth is, she could be mad at me for the rest of her life if it meant she’d stick around.

I stare at her instead of taking a bite, because watching her eat is like hearing your favorite symphony for the first time: a transcendent experience you never knew you were missing but somehow know you can’t live without.

“I don’t have to know the details to know you’re a piece of shit, so let me make something crystal-clear: If you ever so much as even breathe in Venesa’s direction, I’ll know about it. And I’ll come back here, and I’ll find you, and I will take my time making sure you never breathe again. Do you get what I’m saying to you?”

“I wasn’t asking, piccola sirena.”

I would do anything to make you mine, and I’d bring you any person who’s wronged you and make them beg for death at your feet. All you’d have to do is say the word.”

I’ve done the one thing I promised myself I never would do. Fall for a man. How…disappointing.

If there’s one thing a man will do, it’s disappoint you.

I’ll never say another word again if it means she’ll keep looking at me the way she is right now.

“I’m not going to fuck you,” I repeat. “Because when I do, I’m going to take my time, cherishing every single inch of you, drinking up your cries and drowning in your moans. Tell me you understand.”

“Such a perfect girl,”

“So when I’m alone, late at night, I can close my eyes and picture it. Knowing you’re lying somewhere, touching yourself and thinking of me.”

“You need me to take care of you,” I correct. “To put you first. I won’t let you turn this into a one-night stand. Not when it’s more, and you know it. Now, take your hand, play with that pretty little pussy, and make yourself come.”

“In a different life,” I start, my voice shaky from the restraint of holding myself back, “I would be on my knees, feasting on you every day for the rest of our lives.”

“In a different life, it would be you on my arm, and you I’d get to marry. And I’d take you home and fuck you in our bed, sinking my cock so deep inside you that you’d never get me out.”

“In a different life…” I pause, emotion suddenly clogging my throat. “I’d love you out loud.”

She’s a vision. She’s everything. But she’s still not fucking mine.

“I’m tired of being someone’s burden and not someone’s choice.”

“I’m all yours, piccola sirena, if you’ll have me.”

Let me take care of you. Can you do that for me, baby?”

“Now we get you cleaned up, I take you back out there, and I show you how good we can be in this life, not a different one.”

Every sense of mine is attuned to Venesa, and she drowns out the rest of the world.

back to my woman.

“Call off your bitch before I put her down.”

“Now be a good girl and let me eat.”

“Hands on the window, baby. Don’t you fucking move.”

“Anything you want, piccola sirena, and it’s yours.” I press another kiss to her hand. “Want me to burn his kingdom to the ground?”

“No,” she whispers, her eyes flicking up to lock on mine. “I want to burn him to the ground and take his kingdom for myself.”

“Then let’s make you queen of the ashes.”

“She’s the only girl.”

“All I care about is that you’re here now, with me. You’re mine, and I am so fucking yours, Venesa Andersen. Tell me you know that.”

“Where are you? What’s up? I miss you, Short Stack.”

I dont trust him smh

You can thank me by spending as much as you can.”

What do i have to do to deserve this

I wonder if she realizes she holds all the power here, that I would crawl on my knees to be wherever she is.

“I’m talking about the fact the woman you’re fucking is the one who killed your brother.”

Screaming