Page 45 of Ruthless Obsession

“Mavis, go back to your room.”

“I like when we’re close like this, Sophie,” he admits.

His words tug at my heart strings.

“I’ve been wanting to tell you this, but you’ve been so upset. I never planned to leave you in the basement for four days. Two days max. But I was on heavy medication after Dr. Cottingham removed the bullet. Luckily, it didn’t hit any major organs. I cut back on the dosage. But I see you gave me the full dose trying to keep me sleepy.”

I remove his arm from around me. “I find it interesting you still sent a doctor into the basement a few hours after you put me down there to draw blood for STDs. My kicking didn’t seem to faze him.”

“He’s another Royal Bastards doctor we keep on payroll. He only cares about getting paid.”

“Wow, he doesn’t care that you keep a woman locked in a jail cell in your basement.”

“First of all, it had to be done. Second, you’re not just any woman. You’re my woman.”

“Listen to yourself, Mavis. You stole me and decided to keep me for yourself.”

“He wasn’t treating you right anyway. Besides I’m out to kill him.”

I prop up on my elbow and plant my hand against my head. “What happened exactly?”

He flips the lamp on so he can see my face. Mavis squeezes my bun. “Did you like the way I shampooed your hair?”

“I’m still mad at you. I don’t want you in my bed,” I bite out.

“Oh, yeah?” He grips my jaw, pulls me closer and crushes my lips. I break our kiss.

“No Mavis. Everything doesn’t go back to the way it was.”

I swat his hand away.

“After successfully clearing out and leveling three warehouses in one night we planned to hit another one,” he tells me.

“Things were going well. We took out several men and more came from somewhere deeper inside. One of them shot me. I didn’t notice at first. It was like the adrenaline started to dissipate and next thing you know I was bleeding out. Guess the asshole sent more men to take us out this time.”

I want to caress his bearded jaw, but I don’t.

“Tell Legos and Tonya they can leave. I’ll continue taking care of you,” I mutter.

He smirks. “You hate me, but you’ll continue caring for me?”

“Did you call my name when you entered the house the night you were shot?”

Mavis caresses my face. And instantly I want his hands and mouth on me. But I fight the urge to kiss him back.

“I was delirious but yeah. I also said I wanted to be with my parents.”

My eyes widen. “Mavis, why would you say that?”

“You tried to escape. And even though I have my brothers I just felt ready to give into death.”

I jab a finger into his chest. “Don’t ever say that again,” My voice quivers.

“You only want to keep me around so I can clean your body and wash your hair.”

I chuckle. “Not true. You do have hair washing skills.”

He brings my hand to his mouth. His lips brush along my flesh. “I’m never letting you go, Sophie.”