Page 347 of Once Upon a Fable

I glanced past her to the blood on the wallpaper and down to the carpet.

And I retched.

Right here.

I’d done it right here.

In this very fucking spot, I’d raped the girl I was in love with.

I’d had my cock deep inside her, my body punishing hers, and I hadn’t even been aware of it. I’d been trapped in a nightmare. A hallucination. A goddamn curse.

I’d hurt her past anything redeemable.

I’d raped—

Nausea spilled from my gut, lightning quick.

“Oh, shit.” I scrambled to my hands and knees, giving in to the repulsive abomination inside me.

I wanted to spew it all out.

I wanted every twisted and nauseating memory out of me.

Gemma dropped to her knees beside me, her hand landing on my back and drawing soft circles. “It’s okay. Was it the soup? What can I do?”

Nothing came up.

Acid burned my soul.

I wanted to die.

I wanted to grab a knife and stab it into my worthless heart.

Instead, I laughed.

A cold, empty laugh that cut like a blade. A blade that made me bleed, giving me a thousand cuts of sorrow.

Even now.

Even after I’d raped her, imprisoned her, taken everything she had to give, she still offered more. And because I was a motherfucking bastard, I would continue to take and take until she had nothing left.

No.

It ends.

Right now.

Scrambling to my feet, I yanked my jeans up and fought the wave of headaches and imbalance.

I couldn’t do this.

I wouldn’t.

She had to leave.

Before I did something worse.

Shouldering past her, I snapped, “Pack your bag, Gemma Ashford. We’re done here. I want you gone in the morning.”