Page 57 of Hymns of the Broken

She looks soft, distracted, vulnerable. My favorite.

I wait. I watch her from the shadow of the kitchen and let the seconds drag, the anticipation coiling tight in my chest. She’s scrolling through her phone, bottom lip caught between her teeth, looking like she’s somewhere else.

I stalk down the narrow hall, and she senses me before I even say a word—her body goes tense, fingers curling around her phone. I lean into her bunk, one hand braced against the wall, blocking her in.

“You really think you’re staying here tonight?” My voice is rough, almost a growl. “I told you earlier—I’d take my time with you. Ruin you the way you deserve. Did you think I was bluffing?”

Her breath stutters, eyes flicking up to mine. I can see the question there—the hunger and the fear, the challenge. I reach in, fingers sliding over her bare thigh, leaving chills behind.

She opens her mouth to argue, but I cut her off. “Get up. You’re not sleeping here.” She doesn't move so I do.

With no warning I stoop, grab her by the back of her thighs, and lift her right out of her bunk. She gasps, arms flying around my neck, legs instinctively wrapping around my waist. She’s light in my arms, but she makes me feel heavy.

I don’t say a word as I walk her down the narrow hallway, feet thudding, daring anyone to look. Silas cracks an eye open; I glare at him and he shakes his head, but he knows better than to say anything.

When we get to my door, I pin her between me and the metal, bringing my hips up into her so she feels exactly how hard I am for her, how desperate I am to ruin her. My mouth finds her throat, biting down, just shy of too rough. She moans soft and broken for me.

“You thought I ruined you earlier?” I snarl, words hot against her skin. “That was nothing.”

She squirms, hands clutching my shoulders, and I love the way she trembles—half afraid, half wanting. I grind into her again, making sure she knows there’s nowhere to hide, no escape. Just us and the fire I plan to leave under her skin.

“You’re not walking out of here the same. I’m gonna make sure of that.”

Only then do I let her down, hitting the button for the door to slide open while I keep her trapped with my body. The second it’s open, I drag her inside, hitting the button. As soon as it’s shut, I press her right back against the door.

With one hand braced above her head, the other roaming up the inside of her thigh. She’s trembling, breathless, pupils blown wide as I press my body into hers, making sure she feels every inch of me.

“Did you like that earlier?” I murmur, lips against her ear, biting down just enough to make her gasp. “You like knowing anyone could’ve seen us earlier? That you’re all mine and there’s nothing you can do about it.” She lets out a breath and nods.

I drag my hand up, palm rough on the curve of her ass, the edge of her tank top riding up with every movement. My mouth is at her throat, her jaw, teeth scraping skin that’ll show marks tomorrow. “I could keep you on edge all night, make you beg and cry. Do you want that, baby? Want to fall apart just for me?”

She squirms and tries to protest, but I don’t let her. I grind against her, my cock straining through my sweatpants, applying just enough friction to drive her insane. “Say it. Say you’re mine. Say no one else gets to touch you.”

Before she can answer, her phone lights up in her hand—Blake’s name. The sound pierces through the room, shrill and needy, and I see her freeze, torn between terror and desire. She’s wondering if I’m going to stop.

I grin, cruel and mean, pressing my hips harder into her. “Answer it,” I whisper, lips at her ear, voice a filthy dare. “Go on. Let him hear you. Let him know exactly what you’re doing while he’s begging for your attention.”

She shakes her head, eyes wide, but I grab the phone, thumb swiping to accept the call, pressing it to her ear before she can protest too hard. “Go ahead, Sin. Tell him you’re busy.”

As she stammers, I slip my hand beneath her shorts, fingers finding her wet and wanting, I draw slow, teasing circles against her that make her whimper.

“Use your words, baby,” I murmur, nipping at her neck. “He can’t see, but he can listen. Make him wish he were me.”

Blake’s voice is tiny and angry. “Sawyer? Where the fuck are you?”

I don’t stop. I keep rubbing slow, teasing her right to the edge as she tries to catch her breath, tries not to moan.

“Tell him you’re busy,” I snarl, tongue hot at her ear. “Tell him you’ve got someone better. Or let him listen while I make you scream.”

She whimpers, barely managing, “I—I can’t talk, Blake. I’m…I’m busy.”

Blake’s voice cracks, confused and pissed. “What the fuck does that mean? Are you with somebody right now? Sawyer—“

I clamp my hand over her mouth as I shove two fingers inside her. “He doesn’t matter anymore,” I whisper, voice crazed. “He’s nothing. You’re mine.”

Her body shakes, the phone still live in her hand as I work her higher and higher. “Let him hear you break for me,” I growl, possessive and cruel and so goddamn turned on I can barely see straight. I remove my hand from her mouth, hoping she will give me what I want. “Let him know he never stood a chance.”

SAWYER