Page 78 of Taint My Soul

Because something changed between us while we were trapped in that godforsaken place.

My lips still burn hot from meeting mine, and I don’t want that ache to disappear. I want it embedded into me permanently.

A soft chuckle escapes me.

Want. I have never wanted. Not even once.

But tonight’s kiss has kindled a flame that never existed inside of me before.

His words replay in my head. Except it’s not a figment of my imagination. It echoes fiercely, rooting me to the spot.

“Please, little devil, kiss me.”

“You taste so fucking good. Do I taste like yours?”

“I don’t want to let you go.”

This kiss didn’t happen because of a contract. He could have easily asked me to come back to the Red Horn Club, but he didn’t.

He chose this.

He chose to follow me into my apartment. He went on his knees for me. He called out my name. He asked me for a kiss. Not because of a contract. Because he wanted to. Because when I looked into his eyes, all I saw was something raw and real.

And I kissed him.

I could have turned and left him in an empty street. Maybe I should have. This means that I’m acknowledging the connection we made inside that prison. Stretching out my hand to touch him meant something. Basking in his warmness meant something. Wondering whether he’d make it out of that torture room was one of the many worst moments of my life.

That I feel something, even if it’s just a drop of water in a gigantic sea. And I’m not supposed to feel. I’m not supposed to want because this is a job.

Vincent wants me to find something. I did. I shouldn’t have let my body’s desire outweigh my logical thoughts. What I should have focused on was whether I finally had my freedom. Whether the map had helped Vincent get whatever he wanted with the Kings, but a part of me already knows the truth.

Their family would have been behind bars if the photos were any good.

Which means Vincent will be here anytime soon. He’ll be waiting for an explanation.

Fuck! Maybe I should run. Maybe I shouldn’t be here.

But running hasn’t saved me. Even from my uncle. He wasn’t there, but he stole days from my college year, which makes me wonder how I made it through.

I had always waited for the wolf to get me.

The nightmares. The recollection. The uncontrollable, intrusive thoughts.

I might have escaped the physical cage David Layton put me in, but he still had his chains tightly wrapped around my hands in my mind.

My stomach drops as a knock comes against the door.

Before I answer, the door is already open and Neo and Vincent stride in like they own the space.

“Hello, my friend.” He smiles and sits on the leather couch, holding a lit cigar in his hand. His puppy, Neo, stands right behind him, his hands locked firmly behind his back.

“You had that man on his knees for you.”

I whip around at the sound of the familiar voice.

On the other side of the room, by the hall, a tall, menacing shadow lingers, hidden in the darkness.

I don’t need to ruminate on my thoughts to know who it is. It’s my uncle. Has he been here all along? Did he see?