Page 86 of The Predator

She mirrors me, her hands under her cheek, her knees curled up in front of her, all her bare pale skin gleaming in the soft light coming from the partially open bathroom door.

"Are you okay?"

I nod and then shake my head. "No, I don't think so, but eventually yes… yes I will be." No more secrets means I tell her when I'm not okay, too.

She skims her fingers down my cheek.

"I understand. I feel the same way. It's like you're scared you're going to turn into this monster, to give into the darkness, and let it eat you from the inside out."

I nod. "Yes, and it feels easier to let it."

Her fingers tighten, hooking around my jaw. "At first, yes, but you won't, right? You're stronger than that. I'm stronger than that. We are strong together."

I swallow the lump in my throat and merely nod. It does feel so much easier to give into this pain threatening to eat me up. In the end, Tanya wouldn't even try to make amends, even offer a real apology. She was my stepmother for so many years, until she changed into something ugly and shameful. Now she's a corpse, and some part of that little boy wants to feel bad for it, to feel guilty, but the man won't let him. Won't allow me to feel guilt for destroying her for everything she did to us. Shedeserved it…worse, even. I just wish she'd apologized or shown some tiny shred of understanding or remorse for what she put me through.

I tug myself from my wandering thoughts and reach to pull Ely closer. "Come here. I need you."

With the memories of the past threatening to spill over into nightmares, I need the scent of her body in my lungs, the feel of her skin against mine. "Be my anchor, keep me here with you," I whisper.

She shifts closer, sliding along the sheets hips first until our bodies collide.

I kiss her once, gentle, tasting, then again harder this time seeking, once more feeling the way she melts into me, the way her body loosens and she lets go only for me.

In that moment, more of the darkness ebbs away, leaving only Ely behind. I snake a hand between her thighs and gently part the petals of her pussy until I can dip a finger into her slick center. She’s slick, and wet for me. Good. I don't want sex but I need this, I need her more than I need anything else right now.

Shifting I align our bodies and slowly glide my dick between her thighs. She helps, canting her hips up enough so I can slip into her tightness, the heat of her searing me as I push deep and seat myself fully inside her. A small hiss escapes her and the air in my own lungs shudders out of me.

"This is for you.For us.To connect. It's not about sex right now. Just be here with me."

I nod, because she's read my mind. After...after everything I'm not thinking about sex or fucking. All I want is her here with me, touching the deepest parts of my soul, keeping me in place so I don’t fall down the rabbit hole and spiral out of control.

"I love you," Ely whispers against my lips. "And I’m here for whatever you need. I can be strong for you for a little while. If you need to let go you can. I’ll be here to catch you if you fall.”

I kiss her gently. "I love you, too, Elyse. This is perfect, you’re perfect. It's exactly what I need."

She nods, understanding in her gaze and I let my eyes fall closed and her fingers brush away the tears I hadn't even noticed I'd shed.

CHAPTER 27

ELYSE

"How many of these did you pee on?" Bel asks as I stare down at the newest set of tests.

"All of them," I reply, keeping my gaze on the tiny digital screen.

Bel comes to stand beside me. "Why take more than three if they all tell you the same thing?” The new set of tests, all five of them are laid out in a perfect line, next to ten other tests I took previously all flashing their readings.

All positive.

Fifteen tests in total that all say the same thing. I think it’s time to accept the truth.

I press a hand low to my stomach. Still flat, but soft as I've been gaining some weight back with regular meals and less stress.

Bel plucks one of the tests off the counter, by the clean white end. "Fifteen positive tests later… Are we happy?"

To be honest, I'm not sure what I feel right now. Having a baby wasn't something I planned...hell, I didn't think I'd live to be old enough to have children. But when Sebastian wants something… I’m not surprised it happened. A part of me wantsto hold onto a grudge, to lay blame and be upset. I'm still in school, and have so much life left ahead of me.

It's not the baby's fault, though.