A Twisted Arrangement (Twisted Vows, #2)

by Jessa Wilder

You might say my obsession has become a compulsion in the way I need to know everything about Scarlet Laurent.

Ten years ago, when I was sixteen, Scarlet’s family attempted a coup, killing my father and abducting me and my two younger brothers, Bash and Xander.

I’d never told Damon the way Scarlet took care of my wounds, kept me fed, or how she held me together, fierce arms wrapped around me when the sound of my brothers’ screams pierced my ears.

He dips his head to my ear so only I can hear him, and I can’t stop my shiver when he says, “I’ve caught you, Little Sparrow.”

Dressing her has been one of the small indulgences I’ve allowed myself. Spoiling my girl even before she’s mine.

The way she reacted to my touch sent a thrill down my spine. She may not understand why I’ve stayed away, but her body wants me.

“She told you she didn’t want to hear about it until she was at least twenty-five. That if someone was truly interested in her, they’d be willing to wait.”

I want to live in an eggshell-blue house with a wraparound porch and a tire swing hanging from a tree. I want to be chased around my backyard by jelly-covered faces. Is that too much to ask?

“So, what are you saying? You’ve been waiting for her?” “Ten fucking years, Damon. Her time’s almost up.” “What’s that supposed to mean?” “That my Little Sparrow is about to be mine.”

My fingers flex at my sides as I prevent myself from closing the door in the lawyer’s face and taking my future wife on her desk like my cock’s demanding I do.

She stiffens, and I run my thumb back and forth until her body relaxes beneath my touch. That’s my girl.

“We can’t do this,” I breathe, leaving it up to him to stop. His fingers press against my entrance. “Tell me to stop.” I try to push the words out but can’t. Matthias chuckles as he sinks two fingers into me, and I curl against him, burying my moan into his chest. “You can lie to yourself all you want, but your body is so honest.”

When I fuck my girl, I want every single second imprinted in her mind until the only thing she can think about is how my cock fills her up.

I deserve better than some guy who only cares about me when he wants to. I want to be someone’s everything.

“I love you, Scarlet. I’ve always loved you. I loved you enough to let you go.”

“You were a virgin. This pussy belongs to me now.”

“You don’t need to do everything on your own. You are not alone. You’ve never been alone because even if you didn’t know it, you have always had me. I have belonged to you for so long I can’t remember what it feels like to belong to myself. Loving you has been the reason I wake up in the morning. There is nothing about you I would change. Not your past. Not your dreams. Not your family. Nothing. You are and you have always been it for me. I was a stupid fifteen-year-old kid, but even then, I would give you anything you wanted. I would wait for however long you needed me too. I was happy to sit by and watch you because it’s what you needed. But now you…” Matthias rubs my stomach, and tears pool in my eyes. “Now you both need me. There’s no end to how much I care about you. There’s no bottom to the well of my love. I want to be here for you. You don’t have to do any of this alone. So pull everything you need from me. I won’t break.” He cups my face, holding all of my attention and promises. “You’re mine now. I’m never letting you go.”

want her attention back on me. I want to know everything about her, so I ask, “If you could choose, what would your future look like?” Tears pool at the corner of her eyes. “If I got out, I wouldn’t even think about settling down until I’m twenty-five. No men, no expectations, no commitment. Complete freedom.” My chest clenches because I want to give that to her. Rage boils in my stomach, knowing I won’t be able to see it happen. Knowing that even if I find a way to get her and my brothers out of here, there’s no escaping for me. If Damon does show up and all of us die, I swear I’ll get her out first. I’ll grant her wish before those bastards get to kill me. I’ve come to terms with dying. It’s enough to know she’ll be free. “Oh yeah? Then what?” I want her to tell me everything so I can survive on the thoughts of her when she’s out of here. She turns to me with a genuine smile. “Then I’ll find a guy, get married, and have a half dozen kids. Live in an eggshell-blue house with white trim and a wood shake roof. With a wraparound porch and a tire swing hanging from a tree. I want to be chased around my backyard by jelly-covered faces. Is that too much to ask?”

All I see is blue when she says, “I want it to be you.” I twist so that I’m kneeling in front of her and lean forward until my forehead presses against hers. I inhale each of her breaths as I build up the nerve to speak. “I’ll be the one to marry you when you turn twenty-five.”

Damon glances over my shoulder, then back to me. “What do you want me to do if someone asks me to set you up with them?” My answer’s quick on my lips, no hesitation. “Don’t tell me. If someone’s interested, I don’t want to hear about it until I’m at least twenty-five. If they are really serious about me and not just the title, they’ll be willing to wait.”