Page 119 of Wicked Dreams (Fallen Royals 1)

I try to retreat, but his fingers just dig into my skin. He has me trapped against his body and the steering wheel, his hands on my face. His thumb caresses my cheek, just below my eye. Once, then twice.

He’s blurry.

Am I crying?

“Why?” I manage. “Caleb—”

“Do not ask me,” he warns. He leans forward and steals a kiss.

Steals my breath.

I can’t breathe.

“I need to know why—”

“You don’t.” His voice is deadly. He’s deadly. He kisses me again, biting my lip.

I hate that he’s using this to distract me. To revive me.

I’m so fucking cold.

“Come back, Margo,” he says against my lips. He presses kisses along the edge of my mouth, my jaw, my throat.

“Did you put my father in jail?”

I close my eyes, letting my head fall back.

His teeth nip my throat. His lips chase away the pain, back up, up, up. My jaw. The spot just below my ear. My earlobe. My temple.

How can he destroy me and make me feel better at the same time?

We’re fucked up.

I’m fucked up for enjoying this. For letting him melt me down to liquid again and again.

His lips touch my eyelid. His tongue flicks out and tastes my tears.

This is more than just… him trying to ease the pain. Him trying to erase what happened in our past.

My heart is splintering.

His lips find mine again, but everything is soft. His touch. His tongue, sweeping along the seam of my lips.

I exhale a long, shuddering breath.

When I open my eyes, he’s watching me. Maybe he’s trying to figure me out. If I’m stable, or if, once he releases me, I’ll run.

I would if my legs didn’t feel like jelly.

“How could you?” I whisper. “Was it your idea?”

He shakes his head. “We’re not doing this right now.”

I move back into my own seat, clicking my seat belt into place. My desire for answers chews at me, but he’s right. We can’t do this now. Not after that.

He starts the car. I close my eyes. Whether I actually fall asleep or just doze, I couldn’t say. But what feels like minutes later, he’s lifting me out of the car.

I keep my head tucked under his chin. Everything hurts.