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“I don’t know what you’re talking about—” “No. Don’t play dumb. It insults both of our intelligence.”
“I’m curious if you’ll last and how far you’ll go, my fake fan.” His smile drops as he pats my cheek one final time. “Don’t disappoint me.”
She looks up. “Dear God, in the next life, I want to be reborn as a rich man. Amen. Hold on. With a huge dick also. Big amen to that. No pun intended.”
I need therapy. If only I could afford it.
“You really should’ve run away while you had the chance. Welcome to hell, Dahlia.”
I go back to our conversations. Me Better test for that STD I gave you tonight What? That should get his attention.
“How about we poison him?” “No.” “Only temporarily.” “No.” “Hear me out. You know that new drug his family is developing? He’d make the perfect testing subject.” “No.” “Fine. Then let’s kidnap him and ditch him on an island.” “No.” “Lock him up?” “He’ll just smash the place and escape.”
There was a time when I liked beautiful things. Now, I want them all ruined.
But even with the clues Vi’s journal gave me, my revenge isn’t going well. After Kane terrified the hell out of me in that forest three days ago, I’ve stayed away. For some reason, I thought he would fuck me and then kill me, and no one would be the wiser.
Now and again, I open a door or peek through an ajar one to see what’s going on. Sex. Making out. Screams of “Fuck off!” Yikes. The things I traumatize myself with for justice.
“You can’t be serious!” She points a finger in my direction. “She’s an outsider. This bitch is a fucking outsider!” “Call her a bitch again and I’ll cut out your tongue.”
“I’m your winter, Dahlia. No flower can survive winter. Not even wildflowers.”
Is he…licking my tears? What the…? He stands up, shoving his hands in his pockets. “Don’t cry. It makes me hard.”
“Over here, lovely.” Preston points at himself like a gigolo. “I’m the one who saved you the seat.” “Thanks.” “My pleasure. Anything for a beautiful lady.” I calmly turn the page, even though I didn’t read a single word. Preston can’t die.
“And this is…?” She looks at me with curiosity, her eyes much softer and kinder than her son’s. So it’s not about the color. “Dahlia,” he says without looking at me. “Your girlfriend?” “N—” “Yes,” he cuts me off with a glare. Jeez.
Once we’re at the door, I awkwardly say, “I’m sorry about Kane. I don’t know what’s gotten into him.” “Don’t be.” She smiles softly and pats my hand. “I think you’re a good person, Dahlia. So let me offer you a piece of advice.” “Yes?” “Run away while you can. Once you’re in, you’ll never be able to leave.”
Better yet, I just want to play hockey and hook up with beautiful women. Is that too much to ask?”
I turn my face away. “I hate you, asshole.” His hand wraps around my throat and he angles my head up so that he speaks against my lips. “I fucking hate you, too, Dahlia.” And then he kisses me senseless. He kisses me until I think I’ll pass out. He kisses me until I think he’ll never stop kissing me.
She left me on Read. Again. At that point, I was frowning so hard, Jude, who was changing beside me after practice, kicked my shin. “Something the matter?” “What does it mean if you’re constantly left on Read?” He paused, then slowly slipped his hoodie on. “Lack of interest?” “She used to text me first.” “Then loss of interest.” “It’s not that.” I slammed the locker shut and left.
“Dahlia, be reasonable. That’s not a place you want to be in.” I keep chewing and stare ahead. The sky is a soft gradient, pale blue bleeding into shades of pink and gold, and the first rays of sunlight cut across the horizon, igniting the edges of the town. Kane raises a brow. “Is this the equivalent of leaving me on Read?”
“Kane?” Her low whisper is heightened by the brutal silence. “I’ll count to three and then I’ll chase you,” I speak in a deep voice. “What happened to hello?” she asks in a bravado tone, but she’s already shuffling backward. “Can’t you do normal for once, asshole?” “You don’t like normal, wildflower. It bores you to tears. One.”
“You can scream all you want. No one will hear you and it’ll only turn me on.” “Fuck you!’ “Patience. I’ll get to that in a bit.”
“Dahlia…” He wraps a hand around my throat, his voice echoing in a low, dark timbre. “You need to learn how to stay the fuck out of my business.” I sink my fingers into his hair and pull, then get on my tiptoes and whisper against his mouth, “How about no?”
I exit the chat with Ryder and open a new one with the contact titled, “Two Week Mistake.” Me Are you in the mood for some drama? Two Week Mistake Always.
“You had the fucking audacity to come to my territory, wearing the dress I fucking bought you, while wrapped all over another man.”
“You don’t know what the fuck you’re asking for, Dahlia.” “I don’t care.” “You’ll regret this.” “I won’t.” “If this happens, you can never back off.” “That’s okay.” I stroke his face, mirroring his ruthlessness with my gentle touch. “Kiss m—” The last word isn’t even out of my mouth before he slams his lips to mine, kissing me with so much fervor, my head spins.
“You need to shut that fucking mouth, Dahlia. This cunt is mine. You are fucking mine.” He slaps my ass cheek. “Do you understand?” Tears gush from my eyes, but they’re pleasure tears. The tears only this man can provoke. My nails dig into his neck, and I bite on the lobe of his ear, then moan. “I’m not sure I do.” “Watch it.” He sinks his teeth into my bottom lip and pulls. “You’re provoking me.” “Is it working?” I moan as he hits that spot again. “Jesus fucking Christ.”
Something is wrong with the fucker—my chest—because it’s moving. I probably need to consult with my doctor and have him check what the fuck is wrong with my head while he’s at it.
“Come to bed with me.” I raise a brow. “Is that an invitation?” “We can have sex later. Now, I just want to hug you.” Fucking hell. What can I even say to shit like that?
“I have it under control.” She makes a face. “I hate that word. I also hate that you’re so closed off sometimes.” “You hate so many things about me and yet you still want a relationship with me?” “I know, right? I’m thinking about changing my mind.”
Preston whistles. “Deborah. The Wolves’ spy.” “It’s Dahlia, and I’m not a spy.” “Looked like it when you were rubbing yourself all over their captain a few hours ago.” I bite my lower lip. “I did that to make Kane jealous. There was no spying whatsoever.” “I vote a spy.” Preston raises his hand. “A la guillotine.” Kane knocks his hand down. “Behave yourself, asshole.” “Pfft, you just don’t want guillotine action. Jude, let’s all boo him again.”
Kane never blames the others for a loss, even during practice, even when Preston had that awful game against the Wolves. When I asked him why he didn’t make it clear to Preston that he fucked up, he simply said, “Our bond is stronger than a mere game.” So I’ve tried not to talk a lot of shit about Preston online. What? He’s still an antagonistic bastard and I’m part of his hate club.
“You were amazing!” I say. “Does that mean you’ll sing my praises online, ColdAsKane?” “Oh my God. How do you know about my alter ego?” “Coincidence?” “Now, I have to kill you.”
brought someone. You would’ve loved him, too. Probably!” “Probably?” “Shh, it’s a fifty-fifty chance,” she whispers, then yells at the ocean again, “He’s filthy rich, buys me ridiculously expensive clothes, and even cooks for me. He’s not that bad sometimes.” “Sometimes?” “Just stay silent. This isn’t about you.”
Julian sighs, then tells me, “If I see a manifestation of your plan, I might consider backing off. But that’s all I can offer. Now, if you’ll excuse me, Jude is going to punch me and I need to break his arm.”
“You’re right.” I smile as tears gather in my eyes. “No one but you can own me.” Because I’ve never loved anyone but him. And I don’t think I ever will.
Grabbing the bowl full of fish food, I crouch by the pond and toss some in. Sora doesn’t come over or fight the others, mostly swimming by himself at the edge. “Hey, are you also mad at me?” My eyes burn and I throw a few nibbles his way. “I’m sorry I called you fat and an asshole. I take it back, okay? Come over.”
“Kane…” The lump in my throat is so big, I can’t properly form any words. “It’s okay if you can’t forgive me now. I’ll wait for months or years if that’s what it’ll take. Just let me be close by. Let me see you. Let me protect you. Let me breathe you in.”
She’s able to embrace both my tame and unhinged sides. She’s always along for the ride. Even demanding the ride when I think she could use some rest. This woman was fucking made for me. I don’t care if we’re worlds apart. If we weren’t born in the same world or taught the same manners. She’s mine. Always.
“Be my wife. My Mrs. Davenport who’ll join me in giving the world the middle finger.”
