Broken Trust(Devastation Duet #2) - Winter Paige Page 0,21
on the water, filling my hands and splashing my face in an attempt to hide my torment, then begin brushing my teeth. One of them will surely come to check on me any minute. I look down at my necklace, pieces of time, of love. Pieces that I have now betrayed. I didn’t feel this guilt with Jonah. I knew Joshua wouldn’t like it, but he would understand my need to feel. With Costin, he would never understand. There is no justifying it; I may as well have spit on everything we ever had. I’ve betrayed the man I love with the only man he was ever threatened by. The one man I swore I would never be with because I love Joshua that much. My thoughts are interrupted by a knock, and Jaxx immediately walks in.
“Gee, thanks, Jaxx. What if I had been naked?”
“What if?” his eyes travel the length of my body before giving me a pointed look, and I realize that my towel is gaping open…again.
“Fuck!” I grab my towel, pulling it closed. “Sorry.”
“It’s okay, baby.” He clears his throat. “Are you all right? That was…”
“I’m a horrible person, Jaxx.” My lip trembles.
“No,” he rushes over, holding me as I cry. “You aren’t a horrible person, E. You are just struggling to deal with all of this any way you can. Cut yourself some slack, baby. You have been through so much.”
“Is Costin mad at me?”
“Mad?” He laughs. “No. No, he’s not mad. Seems you two had a pretty good time?”
“Jaxx,” I sigh, “it was wrong. I just… I needed someone to help me block it out. With Jonah-” His whole body stiffens. “Ya know what? Never mind. It was wrong. It won’t happen again.”
Nodding, he says, “Well, for now, I think that’s a good idea. Remember, Eliana, the less we lie about, the less we have to hide, and the better we can play this. Never say never, just not right now.”
“No, Jaxx, never. It can’t happen, not after Joshua. I can’t.” He opens his mouth to speak, and I cut him off. “I can’t handle the guilt, Jaxx. So please, just drop it.”
“Okay. Ready to go shopping?” he squeals.
“Were you attempting to sound like me, fiancée? Because that was shit.” I laugh.
“Oh, I’m your fiancée now?”
Frowning, I step into him. “Jaxx, I really am sorry. Yes, fiancée. That is if you still want me?”
“I’m kidding, E. Of course I still want you.” He tugs my towel closed again. “Now get dress; we’re dress shopping.”
“Dress?”
“Yep, wedding dresses,” he says with wide eyes.
“Oh, my God.” I laugh. “Is it sad that I am ridiculously excited for this?”
“No, it’s not sad at all, fiancée.” He kisses me gently, surprising me. ”Think you can sell this?”
“I… yeah. Yeah, I think I can.” I smile, kissing him back sweetly. “It should be weird, but it’s not. Right?”
“Nope.” He smiles, shrugging.
“It’s because you’re my person, Jaxx. My very best friend. Now get out so I can dress.” I laugh.
“I think your modesty went out the window thirty minutes ago.” He chuckles, walking out the door as I throw my towel at him. Damn, I think he’s right.
Chapter Nine
Costin
“Fucking wedding dresses… we’re stuck here cleaning up, and they are off shopping for wedding dresses?” I kick the bloody chair across the room.
“Yep. Can you not make a bigger mess?” Abel walks over, picking up the chair, and smashes it against the wall, sending wooden pieces all over the floor. “At least make your messes productive. Help me gather this shit and toss it in the bin to be burned.”
“Whatever, man, have you seen Andrew?”
“Yep.”
“And?”
“Basement… high as fuck. Gonna need a crew up there before the night is out. He’s not happy.” Abel stomps to the bin, dumping the wood.
“Fucking fantastic. What girls are with him? Will they be missed?” Fucked question, I know, but the last thing we need is some kindergarten teacher showing up here, thinking she is going to explore light BDSM and then never making it home.
“Richard had them screened.” he shakes his head. “It’s fucked.”
“At least, E is out ’til later tonight. Wedding dress or not, she doesn’t need to be here,” I shoot back.
“About that…”
“About what, Abel?”
“He’s not bringing her back here tonight. They are staying in the penthouse downtown. Jaxx thinks it’s best she not come back to all this tonight, and it helps to sell the engagement.”
“The fuck? He didn’t even tell me.”
“I didn’t want to tell you,” he scoffs.
“We are supposed to be in