Page 63 of Vengeful Devotion
“Change of plans. We have to go back to the estate.”
“Oh.”
Gemma’s posture changes. Her body stiffening like she’s nervous to even think about going there. The need to protect her clashes with the need to right my wrong with Vivi.Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.
“I’ll go change,” Gemma says, standing from the bed and grabbing some clothes from her bag.
I wrap a hand around her bicep, stopping her as she walks past me. “You don’t have to go. I can call Balor down and he can stay with you while I’m out.”
Her jewel-toned eyes look at me. I see relief, but I also see persistence.
“Is what you have to do scary?”
The quiet sound of her voice is underlined with vulnerability. I don’t think twice before saying the truth on my tongue.
“Yes. In a way, it is.”
“And in another way?”
“It was a long time coming. A failure I have to own up to.”
She reaches up, cradling a hand against my cheek. “I’m going with you.”
“You really don’t have to.”
“You were by my side when I was scared. I’ll be by yours.”
My heart plunges further into a well of emotion. Forget falling for her a little more each day. We’ve spent a significant amount of time together, and every time I see her, I feel the depths of my devotion grow.
Gemma stands on her toes, kissing my lips gently. Her kiss is timid. The confidence she had last night long gone. I circle my arms around her waist. My tongue slips out, deepening our kiss. She moans into my mouth. I pour myself into the kiss, never wanting her to feel shy with me. No matter what happens, she needs to know she never has to hide from me.
She steps back, stopping the kiss before it can get too out of hand.
“I’ll be ready in twenty minutes.”
I smile, pecking her lips once more. “I’ll be right out here.”
Exactly twenty minutes later, Gemma and I are leaving the hotel. It’s strange to me she knew the exact number of minutes her routine takes. She even had time to pull her hair back into two intricate braids. The still dripping ends darkening the fabric of her grey top, distracting me for a moment.
The entire drive is silent. Neither Gemma nor I make any attempt at conversation. I don’t know if it’s my own concerns about facing my sister, or concerns of upsetting Gemma again, but I never let go of her hand. Not even as we walk through the heavy door of the estate.
Vivienne is pacing in the foyer. Her face is furious and pained. She opens her mouth, ready to slice me down. But she pauses when she sees Gemma.
“Can you give us a second?”
“Vivienne,” I growl, in warning.
She can have a shitty attitude with me, but not with Gemma.
She looks at me. “Do you want me to stay or go?”
I squeeze her hand, realizing I’m terrified to share this with her. Out of the secrets she’s managed to get from me, this is one that I’m not sure I can share. What if she sees me as a failure? What if she leaves because she thinks I can’t protect her?
“It’s alright, bláth fiáin. Go see my mother. I’ll come find you when I’m done.”
I kiss her forehead before letting her go. She looks between Vivi and me.
“You’re sure?”
