Total pages in book: 134
Estimated words: 122242 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 611(@200wpm)___ 489(@250wpm)___ 407(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 122242 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 611(@200wpm)___ 489(@250wpm)___ 407(@300wpm)
"He hurt you," Octavio whispers back, stroking my cheek. His eyes are so warm and soft, so full of emotion… I get lost in them. I couldn't look away even if I tried. "Never apologize for what he did to hurt you or for being human enough to bleed because of it, not to me or anyone. You're allowed to grieve, Faith. You're allowed to feel however you want to feel."
"Can I tell you something?" I ask and then wait for him to nod. "Until the night of the shooting, I hadn't been outside of his territory in five years. I planned on running once I got to the hospital. I didn't know where I'd go or what I'd do, or even how I'd get there, but I wanted…"
"Freedom," he whispers, something flickering in his gaze.
"Yeah. Freedom. I'm not even sure what it means to be free, but it's all I've wanted since the day he found me."
"I want that for you." Octavio's hand in my hair tightens, his eyes locked on mine. "You deserve freedom, little bunny."
A wave of gratitude and peace flows through me, wiping away the sadness that clings to me. With his hands on me, I don't feel sorrow or grief. All I feel is…desire. I reach for it with both hands, greedy for more. I lean forward without conscious thought, pressing my mouth to his.
His lips are soft against mine, his breath warm and sweet.
He growls like a hungry lion, his chest vibrating with the sound. He takes control of the kiss, flicking his tongue against the seam of my lips until I open for him. As soon as I do, his tongue plunges into my mouth, demanding more. I give it to him, moaning as my tongue slides sinuously against his. My entire body hums with energy, everything but him fading away. Heat grows in my chest and belly…and then lower. Until I feel like I'm on fire, grasping for something I don't even understand. Something powerful and bright and terrifyingly beautiful.
"Octavio," I whisper. "Please."
"Fuck," he growls, ripping his mouth from mine. He jumps to his feet.
I cry out, nearly falling forward before I'm able to catch myself. My hand throbs, pulling a pained whimper from my lips. My eyes fly open to see Octavio halfway across the room, his back to me. He's breathing hard, sucking in air in greedy gulps.
"Octavio?" I whisper, confused and unsure why he pulled away. I thought he wanted me too. It was there in his eyes…but maybe I read it wrong?
"You can't kiss me like that, Faith." His voice is hard and angry, his body rigid with tension.
His words are like ice water poured over me…poured directly into my veins. They freeze me from the inside out. Tears spring to my eyes, though I don't know why. I've been rejected most of my life. Why should it hurt more now that it's Octavio doing the rejecting?
I shouldn't have kissed him.
God, I'm so stupid!
"I'm sorry," I mumble, jerking to my feet. My face burns with humiliation.
"Faith, wait," he says, reaching out to grab me as I rush past him.
I jerk away from him and flee down the hall to my room.
"Faith, dammit," he calls from behind me.
I slam the door closed, my hands shaking as I try to get the lock engaged before he gets to me. I barely get it clicked into place before he tries to turn the doorknob. Worried that he might try to break it down, I lean back against it and then slide weakly to the floor.
"Faith, please open the door."
"I'm tired, Detective Hernandez," I lie, hating how small my voice sounds. I swallow hard, forcing back the emotion threatening to choke me. "I'm going to bed."
"Dammit, Faith. Open the fucking door."
"Don't curse at me!" I growl, anger rushing in to join the cacophony of emotion battling for dominance in my head and in my heart. For the first time in my life, I reached for something I want, someone I want, and I got knocked right back down. He said he wanted me to have my freedom, but I'm no freer here with him than I was locked away in Nikolai's territory. That's never been more painfully apparent than it is in this moment…when I can't even walk out the front door despite the urge to flee in humiliation.
Something thumps against the bedroom door, rattling it. I jump, crying out in alarm before I can stop the sound. My heart pounds, though I don't think I'm scared of him, just startled by the display of temper from someone who always seems so controlled. As soon as the sound leaves my lips, the thumping stops.
Octavio stands outside the door for a long time afterward, not speaking. And then he sighs.
"I'm sorry, little bunny," he says before walking away.