Break Me (Brayshaw, #5)

by Meagan Brandy

The door’s slammed behind us, and suddenly we’re moving. This is definitely when I should snap out of my shock and scream, kick and fight, and go full Karate Kid on his ass, but all I can think of is oh. My. Shit. A Brayshaw just kidnapped me. And I straight-up let him.

I’m legit child-size compared to him. I mean, the height difference could be super interesting, right? A single, dark brow lifts before me, and I wince.

Maybe that’s twisted, maybe I’m twisted, but I never claimed to be the sane one, that’s Captain. Maddoc is the angry alpha, and me, I’m the fuckin’ wild one. The time bomb. Unpredictable and admittedly, unhinged.

A wolf in a god’s body. A god in his own sense.

Like the North Star in a dark night’s sky, he burns too bright to hide.

I focus forward as Royce plants his foot back on the ground, and when his gaze comes up to lock with mine, I pull in a lungful of air. As black as a winter’s night, his eyes spear mine, cold and dark with no sign of life in sight. A monster in the light. This is the Royce Brayshaw I was told about.

My brother constantly reminds me how I’m to fear all who hold the Brayshaw name, but standing here, staring into the shadowy eyes of one, I feel none. Not even a hint. The opposite in fact, as the throbbing at my temples seems to dwindle.

Don’t underestimate what you don’t know, and once you do, tear it to pieces or tip your fuckin’ hat.

They don’t know Brielle’s off-limits. Fuckin’ Christ. I look to Brielle. Her smile deepens. A weight falls on my chest, right where the center of my chain hangs, my family crest. Off-limits?

I’m prepared to lead her where I want her, but Brielle doesn’t stand there waiting for direction. She doesn’t wait for a sign from me at all. She slips by with a smile, and some-fucking-how it’s me, following her out.

Listen to what the fuck I’m saying now or you’re gone.” His chest heaves and he steps over Jenson’s forgotten body, slithering toward mine. “You will touch no one, and no fucking one will dare to touch you. Do you understand?”

“I want to be the guy a girl closes her eyes at night and sees. The one she wakes thinking about ‘cause she wants to fuck me or fuck with me, fight with me. And not because she wants to gain something or prove something, but because I’m all that she can see and she feels blind without me, even if she wishes she didn’t sometimes. I want to be her light and dark and, yeah, sometimes her fucking nightmare. A fucking king in her eyes and she’d be all those things right back, the queen in mine. Of mine.”

Oh Royce...🥺

Royce kisses me slow, lazy, and long. And somehow, this kiss is more than the ones before. It’s honest. It’s an apology. It’s us. It’s him. It’s more.

“My little Tink,” he rasps. “Help me fly...” An unquenchable tingling stirs low in my stomach as he brings himself closer. “Help me fly, ‘cause this lost boy is on his way down, baby girl...” He quiets, his hold tightening.

All at once, the boys come out of their state of shock, each shouting the same exact thing at the same exact moment. “Holy shit! The fuckin’ baby!” And then Maddoc passes out.

Hhahaha Maddoc passing out lol

Royce’s hand comes up to encase mine, and our eyes meet. He holds my gaze. “Don’t forget the silver.” I swallow. “Silver?” He nods slowly. “It’s in there, too. All over, everywhere.” Everywhere. Jesus. “Thousands and thousands of specs of silver, too many to forget.” His eyes fall to my lips. “Too many to leave out or let go.”

“For the record, as far as I’m concerned you were already mine, and baby girl... know that I’m yours.”

I might be a sinking fucking ship, I can’t deny that, but if I do go down, she doesn’t have to drown with me.

but go ahead, Playboy. Break me if you dare.”

“I love her more than anyone has ever loved a soul. So much so I don’t even own mine anymore. She does. She said she’s inside me, and she was right. Every fucking bone in my body aches for her. I ain’t afraid to admit anymore that I will be nothing, fucking nothing, without her. I worship that girl.”

“You’re not the darkness I can’t escape, you’re the light I’ll forever follow.