Loving the Reaper (Silver Falls University #2)

by Lola King

Her balcony is eleven feet above the ground, and I'm six-five. I put the bar in my home gym at exactly eleven feet so I can train every morning to jump that height and pull my weight.

"Let me guess." Achilles snorts. "Home is Peach." Wren's tongue darts to his lower lip, his beautiful eyes not leaving mine as he makes me melt entirely. "Home is Peach," he confirms. "In that case, I think what you missed is fucking home." I snap around. "Get out of here!" He laughs to himself as he leaves, muttering a last tell me I'm wrong, though. And I'm left all alone with the man who has been obsessively occupying my thoughts.

That's what he makes me feel. Special. Like I'm his favorite, his everything. And who wouldn't want to feel that way? I just wish the man who makes me feel it had at least an ounce of morals or laws he could live by. Something like, Don't force a girl into a relationship with you.

"But…how do you know it's meant to be?" It seems he struggles to put words to it as he pauses. And then it comes with a simplicity I never expected from either of our complicated brains. "You're my home."

I pat his cheek condescendingly. "Good boy." He chuckles but calls out after me as I turn my back to him. "I'm going to make you regret that."

That lack of a memory is dangerous, and that’s why my technique works. I shove three Scrabble tiles down their throat. Always an I, an L, and a U. Because the truth is, people tend to die because of my love for Peach. It’s a sad reality. For them. So, I leave her a message. I love you. Not that she knows. Then, I write their name on a piece of paper and I hold it in my fist, because I know that when I come to, I’ll want to be aware of what I did.

"I'm crazy when it comes to you. But I accepted that a long time ago. Because why wouldn't I be crazy? When you've been through one-sided love for so long, no wonder you start breaking into their fucking room at night and killing for them. You shove Scrabble tiles down people's throat when they hurt your obsession. I.L.U. I love you. Because fuck, I love you."

I put a hand on his cheek, forcing him to look back at me. "You know that's not what I meant. You. I don't want to lose you. I don't want to be with you as your Hera. I want to be with you as the girl who finally opened her eyes to the kind of relationship we've always had. I know I'm stubborn, but if there is one person who's always made me feel safe enough to be vulnerable, it's you. That's the man I don't want to lose."

This is beautiful…because our relationship has always been one of two people in love. He pulls away, a small, smug smile lifting the corner of his mouth. "I really do always get what I want." “Oh, shut up,” I cackle. "One last thing." His serious gaze sears into mine. "No drugs, no alcohol. And if you struggle, I will help you. I will always help you in any way you need, but please, no lying." I nod quickly. "You have my word. I love you." It feels so good to say. The smile on his face makes my belly tingle. "I don't know how to get used to this," he admits. I shrug playfully. "Well, do. Because I love you."

He ruined our friendship, and now he's set on ruining me. It’s only now that I realize I’m enjoying every single second of it.

"It’s so precious to see you in subspace. All for me. Your body and mind become so malleable." He takes a deep breath and exhales. "You are entirely mine, Peach." He sounds like he can hardly believe it. "Forever."

"What if you're the reason I'm alive? Because only you keep me sane, Trouble. That thing inside of me can only be tamed by you. And all the times I've wanted to give up and just let it take over, I thought of you. How I might lose you if I do. I live for one and only one reason, and that's you."

I want his cruelty and his control. And I want his love. His. Fucking. Love.

"Prove it," she sneers. "Crawl to the woman who owns you, Wren." My heart can barely beat anymore. My jaw drops open, and I lick my lips. She thinks this is going to deter me? I would crawl all the way to hell to save her, only to realize she's the one ruling the darkest depths of it. I would kiss the ground of the kingdom she rules. I would kneel beside her throne for the rest of my life if it meant she allowed me to be hers.

"Do you know why I never doubted it was me killing those people?" I murmur, looking up at her. She shakes her head silently as her eyes shine with lust.

"Because you're the love of my life, Trouble," I growl against her mound. "I would kill them all over again for you. And a hundred more. If you want to do it yourself, I’ll hide every single body you leave behind. And if you get caught, I'll take the blame. If your wish is to kill, I'll hand you the knife. If you need to hide from the law, I'll hide you. And if what you desire is to have me at your feet, I’ll kneel."

"I love you." "I will come get you, Trouble," he insists, clearly seeing I don't believe him. "I don't care how long it takes. You're going to hold on for me, do you understand?" Those words pierce through my heart. I want to answer something, anything, but only a sob bursts from my lips. "I promise you. Write-it-on-my-arm-in-a-marker promise you. You survive. You hold on, and I will bring you home. Say yes." I open my mouth as Elijah drags me by the hair, but I can't breathe. "Say yes!" Wren screams. "Say you'll hold on. Say yes!" "Yes," I weep. "Good girl. I love you. I love you…" he repeats. "I love you."