Page 39

Ezra

Ezra could feel Vince’s lust from miles away. He was fucking their little princess and by Mateo’s rather quiet bond, he wasn’t part of it either. He slammed his foot down on the gas and before he knew it, he’d doubled his speed.

Fuck!

He forced himself to relax before he got his foolish self caught.

Though he was driving with legal plates, he didn’t care to get a ticket.

He’d rather spend his money on more important things.

Well, he already had, but he would have to wait to show it to his little princess.

It would take at least a few weeks, and he was set on keeping it a secret until then.

By the time he arrived home, Vince’s mind had calmed and he seemed to have fallen asleep. He opened the front door to find Mateo in the office awaiting him with a grin.

“Ah, there you are. We’ve missed you.”

“I can feel your disappointment that I didn’t jump off a cliff after all.”

“Oh, don’t be so pessimistic. I don’t want to see you dead. The quiet was nice though.”

“Maybe you should leave then.”

Mateo only grinned wider and returned to his work.

Ezra moved to the kitchen. He’d hoped to see his princess the second he came home, sad that he’d missed her first workout session.

So he was disappointed to say the least that Vince was claiming her for himself.

He tried to calm the storm of rage and jealousy, but with every second that passed with her in Vince’s arms instead of his, it got worse.

“Dickhead.” Well, that could only mean him. Ezra spun, seeing Mateo by the front door, gesturing for him to follow. “What? Afraid your rage will blind you and I’ll beat your ass?” Mateo teased, disappearing out of sight.

Cunt. But Ezra knew just as well that a good sparring match was just what he needed.

By the time he reached the front door, timid footsteps echoed from the hallway upstairs.

He snapped his head around, his princess coming into view.

She was attempting to tame her wild hair with an elastic, wearing a dress that made his mouth water.

“That easy, huh?” Mateo chuckled, returning to the office.

But Ezra only had eyes for Scarlett as she came down the stairs. “What was easy?”

“Ezra had a little trouble controlling his emotions, but the second he saw you it was all peace in the valley.”

Peace. Was that really how he felt right now? As peaceful as he could be, at least. Before he could ponder over the new realisation, she had her arms wrapped around him and her cheek pressed to his chest.

“You were gone this morning, but Mateo said I shouldn’t worry.”

Ezra nuzzled into her hair, taking a deep breath in and cherishing her orange scent. “Princess,” he groaned, wrapping his arms so tightly around her that she had just enough space to breathe.

“Ezra,” she hummed in response, her fingers slipping under his shirt and dancing up his spine.

“Repeat it.”

“Only if you ask nicely.”

Even though he couldn’t see her face, he knew she was grinning. She knew far too well the power she had over him. “Please say my name again, princess.”

“Ezra,” she purred, the smile on her face audible in her tone.

“Again, please.”

“Ezra.” The sound was even sweeter that time.

He hummed in return and kissed her hair.

Why was his name falling from her lips so mesmerising?

Fuck, she could bring him to his knees whenever she pleased with one simple word.

Maybe it was the fact that his name wasn’t laced with fear anymore.

Now that she’d come to know him, his name was uttered without judgment.

There was no sign of the hate even Mateo had for him when Scarlett said his name.

“How will you spend your afternoon, little princess?”

“Vince is going to practice driving with me.”

The jealousy wanted to boil again, but he inhaled deeply again and let her scent calm him. “I will come too.”

“No.”

Fuck, that hurt. He wanted to protest, wanted to tell her, she had no right to tell him no. But he knew better. One single word from her, and he had no choice but to fall in line. Fuck, he loved submitting to women, but she was different. She had power over him outside the bedroom and he hated it.

“Talk to me, Ezra.”

“I hate what you do to me.” He thought she’d pull away from him, but her fingertips drew shapes over his skin as if nothing had happened.

“You hold command over me so easily and even though I want to argue, my mind and body betray me. No one tells me no. You are mine and if I want you, I will take you. Then one word—one look from you is enough to stop me.”

“I’m yours, Ezra.”

“Not fully.”

Scarlett tipped her head back, resting her chin on his sternum. “Please look at me.”

He did as told—how could he not. The grey clouds that formed her eyes ensnared him in their spell in a heartbeat.

“Yes, the bond makes you listen to me because if you wouldn’t, you would hurt me. The stronger the bond, the less you want me hurt, so it forces you to please me. But that goes both ways.”

“Then why won’t you let me come with you.”

“Because you will make me nervous. I can’t have you looking over my shoulder, not yet. I missed you today, but you made the choice to leave so I made plans. I will spend time with you tonight.”

“You’re punishing me for leaving you.”

“I’m not punishing you. I made plans based on what I knew at the time. If I had made plans to go out with you and then changed them when Mateo or Vince asked me to, would you be happy?”

Despite the spike of jealousy in his chest, Ezra knew she was right. “No.”

“No, you wouldn’t. I know you are upset, and I understand. It’s okay to be, your feelings are valid, Ezra.”

Ezra swooped down, capturing her mouth with his. Why was she fucking with his emotions and mind so much? Then the kiss turned salty, and he realised he was crying.

Shit.

He pulled away and rushed up the stairs, not wanting to give Mateo another reason to poke fun at him.

He rushed into his bedroom and slammed the door shut.

His hand hovered over the lock, but he thought better of it.

The last thing he wanted was for Scarlett to feel like he’d shut her out.

He fell into his armchair, the leather cool on his neck as he reached for his favourite knife.

The blade sliced through his jeans and pierced his skin as if it were nothing more than butter.

The pain flooded his mind and drowned out everything else.

Over and over, he cut into his thigh. It was the only thing that could calm his thoughts, the only thing to keep him from spiralling further.

Through the pain, he could feel a thought grow larger like an unwanted weed. She could do that too. Her mere presence, her touch, her kisses, her words could all calm him. With each minute he spent with her, he knew she would become more important to his sanity than pain ever would.

As promised, Scarlett returned to him that evening.

She knocked and pushed the door open without awaiting a response, the light from the hallway casting a long shadow of her body on the floor.

Ezra didn’t move, simply watching as her eyes adjusted to his dim room, searching for him.

When she found him sitting in the chair, her lips curled into her sweet smile.

“We brought food. Vince said you love those chicken tenders. Maybe we can cuddle up together after dinner?”

He stood but walked past her, to the closet to change his pants. He’d hardly moved all afternoon, waiting like a junkie for his next high. “As you wish, princess.”

“Ezra…” Scarlett’s hand shot out to snatch his wrist, and a similar vice gripped his heart at the tone of her voice. “You’re bleeding.”

“I am.”

Her eyes were glued to his thigh, where the blood had drenched his jeans and had dried hours ago.

Her fingers clenched tighter around his wrist as she forced out a slow breath.

“Okay,” she finally said, dropping his wrist and flattening her hand over her stomach as if she needed to force her fingers to relax.

“If you take too long to change, your tenders will be gone. They smelled really good.”

Scarlett spun on her heel and walked off, leaving Ezra staring after her. He’d expected a whole ordeal of having to explain himself, so he wasn’t sure how to interpret or begin to handle her reaction.

Downstairs, everyone else already sat with their food, Mateo pouring Scarlett a glass of soda. “Finally, we’re starving.”

“Then fucking eat,” Ezra countered.

Scarlett spent the meal stealing from all their plates, trying their favourite foods. Once everyone had eaten, she took Ezra’s hand in hers, but not without turning back halfway up the stairs.

“If you guys turn on the dishwasher, I’ll empty it tomorrow.”

“Sounds like a deal,” Mateo chirped, already loading up the dirty dishes.

Upstairs, Scarlett pushed him through his bedroom door, but continued down the hallway. Before he could protest, she threw a smile over her shoulder. “I’ll be right there. Go lay down and warm the bed for me.”

He couldn’t hide his frown and watched until she was out of sight. He’d already changed into sweatpants earlier, so he pulled the covers back and laid down, anxiously awaiting her return.

He hated waiting, but when she stepped into the room, his patience had paid off. She wore nothing but a baggy t-shirt and barely-there shorts that could hardly be considered as such.

“Come here before I drag you into my arms,” he growled, loving how her cheeks lifted in a rose-tinted smile.

Scarlett climbed under the comforter and draped her leg over his, resting her head on his chest.

“Perfect.”

“Not quite yet,” she said, sitting back up and tugging at the hem of his shirt. “It would be comfier if you took this off.”

Who was he to deny his princess? The shirt was over his head and tossed aside before she could blink and then he lay back down, a perfect fit against his body.