In Her Shadow

by Lilah Raine

Who am I to take her chance of happiness away from her? Who am I to ruin a life that she’s fought so hard to repair? I’m nobody to her, and she will never know that for so long she’s been the entire world for me.

Eloise Meadows may not be mine, but she’s always been mine to protect, and that’s exactly what I’m doing.

I’m not supposed to be in Eloise's life. I'm just meant to protect it.

She spends every day of her life fighting her way out of the darkness, while I fester in it.

“Come on, pretty girl, let's make a mess of these panties.”

“This pussy is mine now, you’re mine, Eloise. No one will ever fucking hurt you again. Do you understand?” I don’t care if I’m coming on too strong, I’m just letting the girl know how it is, because there's no going back from this now.

“You should have fucking ran when I told you to, because I’m never gonna let you go, not now.”

She’s not just my obsession anymore. She’s the air I breathe, she’s the blood that pulses through my veins. She’s everything. I’ll never let her go.

I’m pregnant by a guy I barely know. I’m broke, and yet I can’t keep the smile off my face.

“I’ve killed every single person that’s ever hurt you, that's how it’s always gonna be. I’m just hoping that having you close, and you being mine, means fewer people have to die.” I have no idea how, but I’m pretty sure he just made murder sound romantic.

“You like knowing that I’m always watching. You like the fact that I’ll get my hands dirty for you, and you love that you have my baby tucked safely in this pretty little tummy.”

“I love you, too, Kitten, and I’m sorry that my love has to be such a curse. I promise I’ll make it worth it.”

“Proposing something means you got a say in it. You're gonna be my wife before our baby gets here,”

“Fuck, your leaking all over my desk.” Gripping her hair tighter, I raise her onto her feet and spin her round, forcing her head down to the surface. “Lick that mess clean. Lick it clean, then beg me to fuck you so you can make it dirty again.”

“Pretty girl, this is just the start.” I wipe her tears away with the pad of my thumb and lick it clean. Because tasting how sweet those happy tears taste makes all those years I spent living in her shadow worth the pain.