Page 139 of Madness & Mercy

“You’re mine now,” I whisper against his shoulder. “Don’t forget it.”

He doesn’t speak as he leans back into me, breath hitching, wrecked beyond words.

We come down from it slowly. Sweaty, dazed, breathing hard like we’ve just survived a war. Maybe we have. I drag my fingers through the mess of his hair and press a kiss to the back of his neck before pulling away.

“Get dressed,” I mutter, tossing him my shirt. It’s oversized on him, draping just enough to hide the marks I left. I tore his to shreds. Not sorry. But I don’t want anyone else seeing what I’ve claimed. That body’smine.

He throws it on with a little hiss under his breath, clearly sore, and trails after me as we head upstairs to the bedroom.

The second we’re through the door, he flops face-first onto the bed with a groan that’s way too dramatic to be genuine.

I sit down beside him, still shirtless, my body humming from everything we just did. I watch the rise and fall of his back, the way he hides his face in the pillow like a petulant brat.

“You good?” I ask.

“No, asshole,” he mutters, voice muffled and raw. “I’m sore as fuck.”

I bite down a laugh.

“Sorry.”

He lifts his head just enough to glare at me. “No you’re not.”

I grin. “You’re right. I’m not.”

I stretch out and lift my arm in invitation. “Come here.”

He eyes me suspiciously. “Why?”

“Because I said so.”

He hesitates, of course he does. Always trying to be difficult. But then he bites his lip, lets out a breath, and curls into my side, his head resting against my chest like it belongs there.

“You’re insane,” he mumbles. “One second you’re torturing me, the next you’re—”

“Fucking your brains out?” I finish for him, smirking.

“And now you’re coddling me,” he mutters, almost like he’s offended by it.

I hum low in my throat, my fingers drifting through his sweat-damp hair.

“You love it.”

He turns his face away, but I catch the flush on his cheeks. He doesn’t need to say a word. I already know.

You’re mine now, Cross.

And I’m never letting you go.

PART III– MERCY

CHAPTER 21 – THE CHASE

JULIAN

Iwake up alone in Nico’s bed. The sheets still smell like him, and the spot beside me is cold.

On the nightstand, there’s a folded note, a brand-new iPhone, and…holyshit. A black Amex.