Page 82 of Crave

I felt desperate.

“You’re staying in here tonight.” Gabe said. “Don’t bother arguing, I won’t hear it. You can take the bed and I’ll sleep on the goddamn floor, but I’m not letting you out of my sight.”

I lifted my hand and caressed his cheek. “You can’t keep me here forever. Silas needed…” I stopped. “He needed the truth.”

ANGEL NO!

Those screams still lingered. Screams that’d never been there before. Silas wasn’t the only one who needed answers.

We all did.

I swallowed a strangled noise in the back of my throat.

“I don’t care what he needed. You’re sleeping here.”

Gabe moved, pulling down the comforter further on his unmade bed and jerked his head. “In.”

“You can’t sleep on the floor.” I started.

“Then I’ll sleep standing up.”

There was a huskiness in those words, a need left unspoken. My pulse kicked as I slowly made my way toward him, meeting his stare.

“In,” he urged.

I sank down and slid backwards, curling my feet up underneath me. The thick, musky scent of him enveloped me as I lay my head on his pillow. He towered over me, just as Silas had done before, only this time the bedding was pulled upwards, sliding over my feet and my legs to tuck high around my shoulders.

“Sleep, Angel.” He said carefully. “I’ll protect you.”

A pang moved through my chest. I knew he would. There was no doubt about it now. He’d go to war with his brothers for me…and that hurt the most.

Brother against brother.

All because of the things I’ve done.

That’s a good girl, let me take that now.

I closed my eyes and willed the memory away. It wasn’t real. None of it. Not then and not now. I closed my eyes pretending to sleep, but I lay there listening to Gabe as he snarled. “You deserve better. Better than my goddamn brothers. I can’t let him hurt you, not anymore. You need someone to protect you. Someone to take care of you. Someone to…”

He went quiet. I kept my breaths slow and quiet, tracking him in the dark as he moved away.

There was a shuffling of something on his desk before silence. If I opened my eyes would I find him looking at me in the dark? I knew I would. Something was changing between us, festering like rot, determined to take hold. That intoxicated rush rose, sending a flare of heat between my thighs. This was a rot between us. Silas. Theo and now Gabe and the only thing rotten here was me.

Filthy and foul, desperately clawing for a hold in this family.

ANGEL NO!

Those screams surfaced, turning that throb between my thighs into a sickening hunger.

“Angel.” His voice was so quiet, as though he didn’t really want me to answer. “Are you awake?”

I didn’t move. Now even when the soft thud of his steps neared the bed.

The edge of the mattress dipped with his weight. I couldn’t fight it anymore and opened my eyes, finding him bathed in the gloom.

“Let me take care of you.” He murmured, reaching over his head to drag his shirt free. “I just need you to let me take care of you.”

Sheets lifted, letting the rush of cold air in before it was gone once more.