Page 77 of Malice and Surrender
“Because it’s a long and very complicated story, and if I tell you, then I know what you will want to do, and I can’t go to the police. Not with this, not this time.”
Moving my hands to Raine’s shoulders, I tried to understand what she was saying, but it sounded like a riddle. “Tell me what happened.”
“Avro, I can’t. I want to. I do, but…I should just go home. I’m sorry,” she said and tried to pull away, but I wasn’t letting her take off like that.
“No,” I said and held her in place. “Look at me. You can’t cover or hide whatever this is. Whoever left those marks at the very least wanted to hurt you badly, or worse, they wanted to kill you. What if they come back?”
“They won’t,” she said.
“How are you so certain?” I pushed.
Raine jerked away from my touch, and my heart raced with panic. “I said just leave it alone.”
I turned and went to stand in front of the door, then locked it. “You want to beat the shit out of me to get me to move, then so be it. I’ll take whatever punch or kick you want to dish out, but I’m not moving until you tell me what the hell happened to you.” I held out my hands as I pleaded with her. “I know you’re getting used to the idea of us together, but to me, you’re already part of my life in every way and have been for years. That means if someone hurts you, they hurt me. If they make you smile, they make me smile. You see how that works?”
She resumed pacing but didn’t attack or tell me she never wanted to see me again, so it was a win.
“Tell me, Raine. Tell me, or I’ll call the cops right now and say you were attacked. Even if you say nothing, they will have to drive out here and will want to interview you. Is that what you want?”
“Avro!” she yelled. “Fuck, why can’t you just leave this alone?”
“Because I love you!” I yelled back and then snapped my mouth shut. Shit, this was not how that was supposed to go.
Raine stilled, her eyes finding mine as her arms dropped to her sides. “You love me?”
“Worst way for it to come out, but yes. I love you. I’ve been in love with you for so long, and not saying something has been one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve almost slipped up while dropping you off or saying goodnight.”
She looked shell-shocked, and I was terrified for a whole new reason.
“I’m not looking for you to say it back, but you asked why. That’s why. I love you. That means I’m not letting you leave this room until you come clean. The whole story and why you don’t want me to say anything. Please, Raine.”
Raine walked toward me, and I could tell she was searching my face, but for what, I didn’t know. “All this time, you’ve loved me?”
I reached out and ran my thumbs over her cheeks, then cupped her face.
“Yes. All this time.”
“What about Jace?”
“What about him? He knows how I feel. We don’t hide anything from each other. He loves me, and I love him too, and I hope that with time you two will fall in love as well,” I said, tracing her bottom lip.
“I don’t understand this, but it feels….”
“Right,” we said at the same time and smiled.
My fingers trailed down her shoulders and arms until I could hold her hands. I looked at the marks from her punching something or someone. I wanted to pull her into my arms and protect her forever from whoever this was.
“Please tell me,” I said softly.
“I will, but not yet.”
My brows drew together, and confusion must have shown in my eyes because Raine touched a finger to my lips. Taking the hint, I kept my mouth closed while she stepped back and pulled the hoodie off. The tank top was next, and my mouth dropped as I stared at not only how beautiful she was but the marks and bruises all over her body.
“Don’t stare at the bruises, just tell me…would you make love to me?”
My eyes snapped to hers. “What?” My mouth was suddenly parched.
Reaching behind her back, she undid the clasp for her bra and let it fall to the ground, and all I could do was groan as my cock came alive.
