Chapter One Hundred and Fifty Six
I could feel Thane’s gaze burning against my skin. Then, he placed a gentle kiss on the bruise at the upper part of my back. We were both in bed together. Moments like these I would forever treasure.
Some time late into the night, he edged back to the end of the bed, as if afraid he would hurt me if he came too close. I also didn’t miss how tense he was; I doubt he let himself get a glimpse of sleep all through the night. I had wanted to say something to him, but nothing I said would make him less cautious when around me.
I worried for him; perhaps if I were stronger, if I could fight him off, he wouldn’t have to be so worried about hurting me.
“How was your night?” Thane asks, and it hit me that he didn’t realize that I knew he hadn’t been sleeping. I was finally getting to know him better, better than he thought I did, and that was… something.
“It was refreshing because I had you by my side, but it would have been more refreshing if your were closer to me rather than laying on the very edge of the bed, but you know what would be even better?” I asked with a dainty smile, “If you’d actually slept.”
He smiled, amused. Damn, it felt like forever since I saw him smile, and it warmed my heart.” You are getting better at reading me,” he said, but the smile disappeared from his face too soon. Did he see the fact that I was getting better at reading him a bad thing?
Thane walked into the dressing room while I took a seat on the couch. I also didn’t miss the fact that he had ‘touched‘ me since his return. Thane loved the foreplays; he could hardly keep his hands to himself when we were in bed, but tonight, except for the light kiss on the little bruise on my back, there had been nothing more. That was intentional; I was sure of it.
“Riley” Thane called, exiting the dress room; he was all dressed up; I could never get tired of staring at him, and those eyes… damn, they could bring any girl to her knees. How could he look so sexy despite the fact that he got no sleep? I knew I would look like a mess if I did.
“Ia
“Uhmm?” I answered, distracted, but again, who wouldn’t be?
“I want you to have this,” he says, passing me a gun. Now he had my full attention.
“What?”
“It is a gun, and you know what it is used for.”
“I know that, but why are you giving me this?” I asked, even if I already knew why.
“Because I think you need it.”
“I don’t need this,” I say, refusing to accept it.
Chapter One Hundred and Fifty Six
on’t be stubborn, Riley; this is for your own good.”
“And I said I don’t want it.”
His hands dropped to his side. “I am worried abdit you, and you know that, by taking this, you make this easier for me, for the both of us.”
“You can’t expect me to…”
“Yes, I expect you to do just that.”
“I would never use it on you, monster or not, I would never shoot you.”
“What if I killed you?”
“Even then, I wouldn’t.”
“Then you don’t have to kill me,” he said, his eyes pleading with me to understand. I knew he wouldn’t let this go.
“What if I lose aim and put a bullet in your heart instead? How would I live through that?
“I won’t blame you; you should know that. Axel told me you are quite good at aiming, this is no different from the bow and arrow; all you need to do is aim, pull this trigger, and fire,” he explains. “I would make sure the gun is always loaded, but you would have to ensure that you take this every fucking place you go because you are not safe, not with me, not any longer.”
“I can’t…I can’t…” I cried out.
“Riley, I would never want to put you in this situation, but this way, you would be safer.”
“Does that contain ‘silver‘ bullets?” I asked, and his silence gave me an answer, albeit one I didn’t like. I already knew it would contain silver bullets, yet I hoped it didn’t. “I can’t kill you, Thane; please don’t make me.”
“You won’t; I trust you,” he says assuringly.
“I don’t want to fail you.”
“I would never blame you; just take it, Riley,” he pleaded, and I took the weapon with shaky hands. That was all I would do. I would take the damned gun; I would carry it along
everywhere I go – just as he wanted me to, but I would never shoot at him, but he didn’t have to know that.“Thank you,” he says, and I could see the relief in his eyes.
