Page 20 of The Ecstasy of Sin

I react fast, dropping a shoulder and slipping an arm beneath her legs, lifting her up with ease. For the first time since she crashed into me, her face relaxes completely.

Fuck, she’s so beautiful. Soft, feminine, and curvy, yet still so fragile-looking. And she’s completely at my mercy.

I should let this perfect stranger go. I know I should. She’s suffering enough without falling victim to a monster like me while so vulnerable and helpless.

But I fucking can’t.

When my arms should loosen their hold and let this nobody fall to the ground at my feet, they tighten instead.

I breathe deeply as I embrace the evolution of my fucking insanity. I don’t even attempt to fight the tide of possessiveness that washes over me. It makes no sense, it doesn’t belong, and yet here it is.

Mine. Fucking MINE.

The covetous thought burns through me like venom.

I still don’t understand why this woman is different, why she’s making me feel things I’ve never felt before. All I know is that this broken little lamb is mine now. I’ll figure out what that means later.

Dr. Denton returns from the pharmacy with my prescription in hand, and I turn around to face him with my girl still cradled against my chest.

His eyes instantly widen. “What the fuck?”

“She needs help,” I inform him, moving away from the door and back over to the examination table, carrying her like she might break into a million pieces at any moment.

“Fuck,” he groans, rubbing at his face in obvious frustration. “Any chance you want to dump her out back behind the clinic? You know, since you’re already holding her?”

Rage ignites like a struck match, and if I wasn’t holding her, I’d revisit the idea of opening up his jugular vein with the scissors he left behind.

I’d soak the walls with blood, paint every surface in red, and turn this from a clinic to a morgue in just a few dying beats of his worthless heart.

I scowl, forcing myself to focus. My fingers twitch with the effort it takes to restrain myself.

“I’ll pay for her care, so do your fucking job,” I snap, speaking through clenched teeth.

The doctor looks terrified, and I watch his throat bob as he swallows. “Of course, yes, Mr. Kael. Sir… please just set her down on the exam table.”

“No. You’ll treat her while I’m holding her.” I know I sound like a psychopath the minute the words leave my mouth, but I find myself not giving a fuck at this point.

I settle onto the edge of the table, half-sitting with her still cradled in my arms, one leg braced on the floor. One-handed, I dig into my back pocket and pull out another wad of cash—grateful I usually carry more than I need.

I toss the money toward the other end of the table. He picks it up with trembling hands, his eyes watching me closely for any sign that I will act on the murderous rage I know is simmering in my eyes.

Dr. Denton stares at me long enough to have me curling my lip in disdain over his lack of action. He startles at the expression on my face, before turning away and scurrying like a rat to his desk. He deposits the payment quickly.

“Did she mention what brought her in here?”

“Migraine,” I say simply, frustrated that he is moving so fucking slowly.

He nods in response, turning away from me and heading back into the pharmacy.

I take the opportunity to touch her. My finger traces the arch of her mouth, caressing her full bottom lip, then trailing up the curve of her jaw to brush the long, black lashes resting against her cheek. Next, I trace the outline of her face, the skin soft but pallid.

My hand descends, wrapping gently around the delicate column of her throat, fingers spanning the width like a collar. Her pulse flutters wildly beneath my palm. I don’t squeeze, I just hold her, focusing on the life still thrumming through her veins.

Such a frail little lamb.

A fondness expands from the center of my chest, and I find myself unsure what to do with the feeling. So I stroke her pulse for another few minutes, until the doctor steps back into the room.

He stops in the doorway when he sees my hand wrapped around her throat. I turn my head to meet his gaze unapologetically. This part isn’t his fucking business.