Page 53 of Vow of Hate

He snorts. “You want to talk? Fucking is much more fun.”

I sit up and grab my dress and pull it over my head.

“What are you doing?” he asks.

“I don’t want to be treated like a sex doll. I want to be treated like a human being. And if I’m going to give you my body again, I want us to talk. I want to know you better.”

Dante is quiet for a long moment as I keep my back to him. It takes everything inside of me to not look at him. “You really want to know me?” The question is asked in a subdue, quiet voice. I’m not sure it’s a voice Dante uses that often.

“Yes. Like when you opened up to me about your parents. I want to know you better. Why are you the way you are?”

“Are you hoping this will make me care for you? Make me let you go?”

I close my eyes at the thought of no longer being Dante’s prisoner. It’s both a comforting one and a terrifying one. If I’m not his prisoner, then I’m free. But if I’m not his prisoner, then who will touch me like this? My mom would think less of me knowing I’ve enjoyed this. She thinks I’m doing what I must to survive.

But what Dante and I just did wasn’t surviving. I wanted it with the deep ache inside of me. I want it again right now if I’m being honest.

“Please,” I whisper as a soft sob escapes me. “Just open up to me, Dante. Show me some kindness. Please.”

I can hear him suck in a breath but other than that, he doesn’t comment.

After a long beat, I feel him place his hand on my back. I hold still. He rests his hand there before removing it. A sense of coldness goes through me the moment he stands up and walks out of the room.

I hate him so much in this moment but at the same time, I’ve never wanted him more.

Will this pain ever end? Dante can’t make me happy and yet, I’m not sure I can ever leave him, even if I get the chance to escape again.

Chapter Thirteen

Dante

What did I just do?

I stumble out of the library, having just fucked Sienna for the first time. It’s what I wanted to do since the first time I laid eyes on her but now, things are different. More complicated.

She’s becoming my weakness. Someone I… care about. I never care about people. I’ve never hesitated to kill people before but with Sienna, I did. I chose not to kill her when I had the chance. I chose to kill Edward for her. I chose to take her to my doctor to save her life. I chose these things because she’s getting under my skin.

The girl I was supposed to hate because of what Gabriel wanted for me and now I’m starting to like her. Truly like her. And that’s a problem.

I fucked her. It should have been a dream. It had felt amazing but afterward, the stark realization that I had let my guard down around her hit me. It’s not something I should have done. Sienna can’t see my vulnerabilities. Anyone could use her against me.

I need to forget about her. Hell, I could let her go but then I’d always know she was out there. Maybe I should kill her. Then no one could use her against me; not even Sienna herself.

Anna is still waiting for me in my sex room. She’s perched on the bench, fully naked. Normally, the sight of a naked woman in my sex room would turn my cock rock hard. But now…

Now I feel nothing.

“What took you so long?” she asks. “I’ve been waiting.” She parts her legs wider for me. A pretty pussy, I’ll give her that, but it’s not the one I want. The one I want is lying in the library, just having had her virginity taken. By me. The cruel, cold monster who shouldn’t feel any remorse and yet… I do. Why the fuck do I do? I shouldn’t care one fucking bit.

“Go home,” I say.

She blinks and slowly closes her legs. “Did I do something wrong?”

“Just go,” I snap.

With a frown, she slips her clothes back on and walks past me. “Asshole,” she mutters.

I have killed people for less but I don’t hurt Anna. There’s no need to.