Page 44 of Shattered Sinner
His thrusts became more erratic, and I loved it. With every stroke he made, I grew closer to the end, and when it finally hit, it felt as if I’d exploded.
I heard syllables leave Easton’s lips, but I couldn’t decipher the words he’d said as he followed me over the edge. He tried his best to keep from crushing me as he fell forward, but I patted his back, letting him know it was okay.
When he finally collapsed on top of me, I swear I could feel his heart pounding as fast as my own. Or maybe it was just mine.
Neither one of us moved, instead choosing to lay there for several minutes while we caught our breath.
“That was earth shattering,” I heard him say.
All I could do was nod my head, unsure if I trusted myself to speak just yet.
The haze of desire that we’d both fell into began to lift, and it felt as if I could finally think again.
Tonight, I was willing to give to him, to give to us, but who knew what tomorrow would bring?
Easton turned us around so that I was lying beside him on my couch. Eventually we’d have to move and get cleaned up, but for now, I was content with laying right here in his arms. He reached over and grabbed the throw blanket that I usually kept on the couch and tossed it over our bodies.
“You’re not getting engaged to Tristan Whitmore.”
I moved my head slowly so that I could look him in the eyes. This was the last thing I wanted to argue with him about, but he wasn’t about to tell me what I could and couldn’t do. “That’s not for you to decide.”
“You know for damn sure that your body belongs to me.”
His words were doing nothing but pissing me off. “Is that all you care about? Me being engaged means that you won’t be able to fuck me anymore?”
“That’s not what I meant.”
“Then you better explain quickly.”
Easton sighed. “I meant that the way your body reacts to mine, the way we feel when we come together… you know that can’t be replicated with Tristan.”
I did know that he was right, but this was all more complicated than I was willing to admit. While I did have the deal I’d struck with Tristan in my back pocket, what would I do if it failed?
“There’s not much I can do about this.”
“Marry me. Then there is no way your parents could force you to get engaged to Tristan.”
I jerked up as if I’d been hit by something and stared down at him with wide eyes. I was pretty sure I’d stopped breathing by the time he’d finished talking. There was no way he could be serious.
But as I scanned his face, there was no trace of laughter or humor about what he’d just said.
A wave of emotion slammed into me, hitting me right in the chest. A small amount of hope that had blossomed within me quickly died. With a shaky breath, I thought of a response, but almost couldn’t get the words out. “I can’t marry you, because you don’t love me, and I don’t want to marry someone who doesn’t love me. You don’t love me.”
A bitter taste grew in my mouth after the last syllable left my lips. This was it. I didn’t want a fake relationship with Tristan or Easton. I wanted something real when the time was right.
The silence around us was almost suffocating until Easton spoke once again. “But you’re willing to go through with this engagement to Tristan?”
I’d been hoping that the next words out of his mouth would be along the lines of him telling me how much he loved and cared about me, but it wasn’t. I swallowed my hurt feelings and said, “Let’s not ruin tonight. I’ll keep your suggestion in my back pocket. Okay?”
Easton nodded slowly and I was grateful for that. This could have blown up into something horrific, but I was able to keep it at bay for now.
I laid my head back down on Easton’s chest and focused on the beating of his heart. It was a sound that somehow made me feel safe and secure. Despite this newfound peace, Tristan’s new deal still lingered at the edge of my mind because I needed to complete my end of the bargain.
24
BIANCA
The next evening, my childhood home loomed before me as I pulled into the driveway. The sun was setting, giving the brick home an even larger than life presence as I drove up to it. I couldn’t help but wonder what might greet me when I walked inside.
