Page 153 of Aftershock
Fine, I’ll let her rest some more.
A profound sense of longing threatens to choke me anyway. I lean in and press another kiss to her forehead, then I caress her delicate jawline, tracing the little bump on her nose.
“We’ll be okay,” I whisper. “Everything will work out. You’ll see.”
With that, I tear myself from her and text Hope from Lilith’s phone. I let her know that Alaric must’ve caught something at the hospital. I explain that I—Lilith—am going to take care of him and that Hope should tell Delany I asked for a few days off.
I wait for Hope’s reply, reverently running my fingers over Lilith’s neck where I poked the needle in her. That innocuous touch has my cock jerking, but I ignore it.
I’ll never force her to have sex with me. Ever.
My hand rises to caress Lilith’s cheek when Hope’s text lights up the screen.
Hope:Oh, no! I’m so sorry! I hope he gets better soon.
Hope:Also, texting Delany right now.
Lilith:You’re the best :)
Hope:Anything for you. What else can I do? Want me to drop by with groceries tomorrow?
Lilith:We’re good, thanks. Alaric’s ordering in.
Hope:Okay then, go be with your man!! Tell him I sent get-well wishes. If you need me, I’ll be working on my business plan and the new recipe I messed up last night. Talk soon.
Lilith:Love you.
Hope:Me too.
I lock the phone, setting it down a little harder than I should on the nightstand. A bitter taste floods my mouth.
“A-aric?” Lilith mumbles through the gag, her voice a balm to my fucked-up soul.
I pull my hand away from her neck and turn to look at her.
My lungs flatten when I see the pain in her eyes. Fresh tears run down her temples. Her arms and legs tug against the binds.
She doesn’t want me, that much is obvious.
She will soon.
I’ll make sure of it.
“Hey.” Shifting on the bed, I settle myself between her thighs.
She shivers, staring at me, wide-eyed.
“Relax.” My upper body cages her in as I slide my hands into her hair. I massage her scalp in an effort to make her comfortable. “I won’t hurt you. Don’t—no, don’t move, baby. The scarves are made of silk, but they might still burn if you fight too hard.”
Her gaze bounces between her wrists and my face. I hate how wounded she looks, how betrayal bleeds from her every pore.
“What is this?” Her speech is garbled, so it sounds likeWha is iss?“Alaric, what is this?”
“It’s okay.” The kiss I brush onto her cheek does the opposite of what I thought it would. Lilith’s entire body shudders as a sob tears through her, and fuck me, why can’t I fix this? “I’ve got you.”
“You d-drugged me.” The pain in her eyes shifts, slowly giving way to something else. To hope. “But…”
But. That one word sits wrong. I go still as she takes a steady breath, as she blinks away the tears. As she rearranges her expression into a calm one.
