Page 7 of Gravehouse

I answer every vow, making promises I never intended to keep. Everything moves too fast before I’m signing the dotted line.

His hand locks around mine and my heart stutters when his fingers slide between mine. Because I’m stupid.

He drags me back down the aisle, tossing a dark smirk at Leon as we pass.

Luce widens her eyes at me. She steps forward, mouth open, but I shake my head.Not now. I’m fine. I won’t die.

A black car idles at the curb, and he reaches for the back door, gesturing for me to get inside.

Gathering the train of my dress, I slide into the dark enclosure, eyes never leaving Asher.

He slams the door in my face.

As soon as he’s beside me, the car pulls out onto the cobblestone road.

Every breath hurts more than the last.

What do you say to the man you thought you killed? Nothing. Nothing I say will ever be enough.

He ignores me, watching the town pass. From this angle, I see the new scar on his throat better. My fingers curl in my lap to stop myself from reaching over to touch it, from feeling the bump on my thigh.

Inch by inch, the handle of the blade slides into my hand, and I don’t wait.

I twist, elbow driving into his throat as my other hand flicks the blade open and I aim for his throat. Not to kill him, I won’t go through another year of regret, but to…

He catches my wrist mid-swing and the knife falls to the floor. With that grip, he pulls me in closer, licks his bottom lip, the corner twisting into a smirk. “You miss me that much, Venom?”

All smugness vanishes before he grabs a fistful of my hair, forces me down onto my back.

The weight of his body holds me in place, his knee slipping between my thighs and forcing them apart.

A knot twists behind my sternum, tugging in two directions at once. Having him on top of me doesn’t help. A year ago I traced that jaw with my tongue. Tonight, I just want to break it.

Before I do something real stupid like kiss him, I lift my chin. “Get off me.”

His head tilts, his lips grazing my cheek. “Wanna make me?”

I go to swing one last time, but he whacks me away. He’s fast, too fucking fast for a pretty rich boy that plays in the snow.

“Stop fucking around.” He bares his teeth, and it’s more feral animal than pretty boy with fame. “You killed me once. Twice isn’t necessary.”

Air floods my lungs as he lifts off me, grabs my waist, and shoves me against my chair. My head cracks the window, and his eyes snap to the spot. For a moment, all the anger drains from his face, but it’s gone as fast as it came.

I glare at him. “Speaking of, how are you alive when I didkillyou?”

He turns forward, unbuttoning his cuffs. “Clearly, you didn’t.” His eyes slide to me. “I suggest you find a new line of work. You’re not very good at this one.”

Actually, I’m very fucking good. Just not when it’s you.

Seconds pass with neither of us wanting to break eye contact.

My heart slows.

I missed you.

“Are you going to tell me why I’m here?” I ask the first thing I can think of that won’t end with me in his lap, begging for forgiveness.

“That’ll make things far too easy for you.” His head tilts to the side. “Don’t you remember? I’d much rather you crawl.”