Page 151 of I Will Mend You
I give him an eager nod.
With a low growl, Xero captures my lips once more, deepening the kiss with a passion that leaves me breathless. His hands roam down to where my vest has ridden up to expose my belly, his touch igniting sparks of desire.
“Fuck, Amethyst. You’re driving me crazy.”
His hands move lower, and his fingers trace over the waistband of my pants before slipping beneath them. His touch is electric against my bare skin, sending shivers down my spine. Anticipation coils low in my belly, tightening with every heartbeat. If I don’t have him right now, I might die.
When I reach for his belt buckle, he breaks away, leaving me panting and flushed. His pale eyes survey my features as if checking that I still consent.
“Please,” I whisper, my back arching.
Can’t he see I’m no longer the jumpy woman fresh from the asylum? I’ve evolved into someone stronger, fiercer, in control. Someone who knows exactly what she wants, and that’s Xero. I want to say all of this, but I just don’t have the words.
Instead, I unbuckle his belt, my fingers shaking with anticipation.
A smoky chuckle escapes Xero’s lips. He leans forward to whisper in my ear, “Impatient, little ghost?”
“Like you wouldn’t believe.”
I pull down his pants, revealing his chiseled thighs and the outline of his impossibly thick cock. It strains through his boxers, begging for release.
Xero kicks off his pants, leaving himself only clad in his boxers. The lining of my stomach flutters. I can’t tell if it’s butterflies or nerves. Ignoring the peculiar sensation, I pull him in for another kiss.
Our lips collide with a rush of urgent desire. I squeeze my eyes shut and lose myself in the intensity. Sunlight streams through my eyelids, bathing my inner world in light. For a moment, it feels like we’re the only two people in existence.
As Xero’s erection presses into my belly, a memory from the asylum hits me like a punch to the gut. I’m paralyzed in a tent of light, with Delta’s probing fingers removing the pessary filled with drugs. Seconds later, he pushes into me and groans.
A sob catches in my throat. I flinch, jolting out of the memory, my eyes flying open. It’s like waking up from a nightmare, half-dazed, half-confused, yet still haunted by the lingering memory of Delta’s touch.
Xero pulls back, holding my face in his hands, his gaze searching mine. His eyes, clouded with desire a moment ago, are now filled with worry.
“Talk to me, Amethyst,” he says, his voice soft, his thumb wiping a stray tear.
“I’m sorry.” My throat tightens. “I just kept picturing him.”
Xero’s features harden. “My father.”
“It was a flashback,” I croak.
Xero pulls me into his chest, wrapping his arms around my shoulders in a protective shield. He runs his large hand up and down my spine, his caress a balm on my nerves.
“He will die painfully for touching you,” Xero growls, his deep voice resounding through my chest. “Every one of thosebastards who took from you will pay in blood. I will carve out their hearts and present them to you as offerings.”
My eyes flutter shut, and I relax into his embrace. “I know you will.”
His hold is steady and grounding. The warmth of his palms on my skin anchors me to our connection. The past doesn’t dictate my present. I’m safe. I’m sane. I’m strong.
With a shaky breath, I draw back and focus on his face. The terror ebbs away, and I lose myself in his gaze. Xero’s irises are a pale blue lit up by bolts of lightning, reflecting the depth of his fury.
“Kiss me again,” I murmur.
He leans in, his lips pressing against my forehead. “I’m so proud of you.”
“Not like that,” I say, my voice barely above a whisper. “I want to move forward with our relationship.”
“Don’t push yourself before you’re ready,” he says.
“But I’m tired of being traumatized.”