Tempted by Deception (Deception Trilogy #2) - Rina Kent Page 0,95
much distance between us as possible. However, my feet remain glued to the floor.
I did nothing wrong. If anything, he’s the one in the wrong by exposing me and his son to this life when he knew we’d be in constant danger.
He stops in front of me, larger than life and scarier, too. “Did you say anywhere but here?”
“We’re not safe,” I blurt. “I don’t want to raise my child in a world where he could be killed any second.”
“If I hadn’t seen you, I would’ve found your corpse tomorrow or received a ransom call. Did I or did I not tell you that the moment you step a foot outside, you’re fucking dead?!”
I jerk at the building force behind his words. I finally manage to step back, startling when I hit the solid wall.
Adrian is on me in a fraction of a second, his hands slamming on either side of me. I can breathe his rage, his merciless wrath, and it’s even scarier than if he were touching me.
“Answer me, Lia,” he grinds out.
“You did.” I hate how my voice trembles.
“Apparently you didn’t listen, or you wouldn’t have put yourself and Jeremy in fucking danger. Did you want to witness his death before they kidnap and rape you, is that it?”
“No!” The images make bile rise to my throat once more. “I just…I just wanted to protect him from…from…”
“Me?”
“From your life,” I confess slowly, staring at my feet.
He doesn’t say anything, but his arms tighten on either side of me, as if the tension will burst free from them. I think he’ll punish me now, he’ll turn my skin red, and I hope that will be the end of it.
His quiet voice fills the air. “You’ll make it a habit, won’t you? No matter what I do to make you happy and comfortable, no matter how much I try to make progress with us, you will try to escape every chance you get.”
My head snaps up and I shake it slowly. I don’t want him to think that or else he’ll take away whatever freedom I have left. “Adrian, I…won’t.”
“Liar. I can see it in your eyes, Lia. You’re scared of me and how I’ll retaliate, but you won’t stop. Not until you accomplish your goal.”
“Adrian…please…please…”
“Please what?”
“Don’t take it all away. I’ll be suffocated to death.”
“You should’ve considered that when you planned to run away.”
“Adrian…”
He wraps his hand around my jaw in a firm hold that forbids me any movement. His hands might kill and maim, but they’re usually warm and gentle whenever he touches me. Even when he punishes me, his hands are firm, but they’re never as freezing cold as right now. “Where did I go wrong, hmm? Was it by allowing you to go out? Allowing you to treat Yan as a friend? I should take care of those two things first.”
A tear slides down my cheek as I shake my head again. “Don’t…please…”
“After that, I will keep you in a room and use you as my fucking slut. Is that what you want?”
The thought stabs me deeper than his earlier threats. Adrian’s caring side is the reason I’ve been able to get through all these months. While sex has played a big part in our relationship, it isn’t what’s kept me going or reduced my nightmares. It isn’t what saved me from myself after the end of my career.
I didn’t think of it much at the time, but I liked how Adrian attentively looked out for me. I loved his aftercare and how he always made sure I was comfortable and satiated. How he held me every night and kissed me before leaving the house.
It was his way of telling me I’m more than just an object of desire to him.
But if he takes all of that away, I’ll be no different than a whore with a shiny diamond ring.
And that thought pierces the place in my heart that’s come to the realization that I love him. Despite his villainous nature, I love that he took care of me after my injury, that he continues to do so, even after I gave birth. That he devotes time to be there for me and knows my needs before I voice them. I believed he only wanted me because of Jeremy, but his attitude has never changed toward me post-birth. If anything, he’s been doing his best to take the load off me.
A fresh stream of tears fall down my cheeks. “No, Adrian, don’t do that…”