Addictive (Houston Defiance MC #2) - K.E. Osborn Page 0,42

night, but he can’t forgive himself. That sometimes is harder to overcome.

I grab my loofa and body wash when the hinges on the door squeak. I stall, my muscles going rigid as I turn to the curtain. Wraith’s shadow enters the bathroom, and I tense all over.

“I’m just bringing your clothes in for you.” He turns to walk back out, so I do something drastic.

“Stay.” My eyes widen, shocking even myself.

Wraith stalls by the door as I slowly move my hand to the curtain. I grip the edge and begin to pull it aside. My breathing is shallow as my eyes remain on his shadow.

Suddenly, his hand shoots up stopping me from pulling the curtain back any further. “Prinie… we… I… fuck. Just have your shower. Get dressed, and come back into the bedroom, okay?”

I swear the water in here just turned ice-cold. I drop my hand from the curtain, backing up against the wall trying to fight back the tears. “Mm-hmm,” I mumble as he walks out the door, closing it softly with a click which echoes through the room so loudly, it’s deafening.

I clench my eyes shut, but it doesn’t stop the tears. Dropping the loofa to the floor, I bring my hands to my face as my eyes overflow, and I sob, letting out all my pent-up frustrations the world is currently dishing out to me.

My brother is locked up for something he didn’t do.

The man I adore doesn’t want anything to do with me.

My universe is collapsing around me, and there’s nothing stopping it from exploding.

I have to hang on, try and wait for this vicious ride to fucking end.

And right now, more than anything, I want everything to end.

WRAITH

The wracking sobs coming from the bathroom are tearing my insides apart. I want more than anything to waltz back there into that shower and hold her. Let her know I can take her pain away instead of causing it. But I can’t be that guy.

I can’t be Zero’s best friend, VP, and be here for Prinie in the way she deserves.

As I sit, my stomach clenches with every painful wracking sob that echoes through the room. And all I can think about is how much she’s suffering.

I should leave.

It’s the right thing to do.

But I can’t.

I need to know when she comes out of that room, she’s going to be okay.

So, I sit on the edge of her bed, internally dying as I listen to her gut-wrenching sobs slowly die down to a gentle crying, then they stop. She’s been in the shower for almost an hour, letting all her anguish out, and I’ve been here, on the outside, listening to it all.

Maybe this is my punishment.

I sit back a little further on her bed, finally feeling like I’m able to breathe as the sounds of her getting dressed echo from the other side of the door. I can only imagine how wrecked she must feel.

I have to know she’s okay.

Then I will leave.

Like I always do.

My stomach churns remembering all the times I’ve left her. It’s a wonder she even talks to me, let alone is still attracted to me. I have no idea what Prinie sees in me. I can’t fathom why she could fall for someone like me. A beast. An animal. I’m no good for her, that much is perfectly clear.

The handle to the bathroom door starts to jiggle which snaps me from my thoughts as I glance up. As it swings back, the bright lights from the bathroom illuminate making her glow like a fucking angel. It makes my heart thud harder, and I gasp as she stands still. Her puffy, red eyes focus on me as she jerks back in shock.

“Y-You’re still here?” Her voice is broken, just like her.

I pat the edge of the bed. “Just needed to make sure you’re okay.”

Prinie clears her throat, then slowly steps over to the bed moving in next to me. She smells amazing—all fruity and fucking perfect. It’s taking everything in me not to act on my impulses right now. My cock throbs in my jeans as I clench my eyes tight trying to rein him in. I don’t need to get hard right now. This is most definitely not the moment for that.

“Are you okay?” Prinie’s tone is curious as I open my eyes to see her assessing me.

I sharply inhale as I take in her beautiful face. Even though she’s puffy and red around the eyes, I can’t imagine anyone