Page 143 of Thorns of Silence

“I love you, my Nix,” I murmured against her lips. We’d unpacked and were now exploring each other’s bodies in the master suite, a fire roaring and the plush comforter beneath us. I pulled away a bit, studying her soft features, and signed, “I love you.” I would never tire of saying those three little words.

I had just started learning ASL and could say only a handful of words, but I intended to remedy that. I’d learn it back to front.

“I love you too,” Phoenix signed, then captured my bottom lip between her teeth.

She threaded her hands through my hair and gripped tightly, her touch possessive as she deepened our kiss. Her hands soon slipped under my T-shirt. I didn’t know if we were moving in fast or slow motion, all I knew was that I needed her.

We’d spend the rest of our lives together, so I could wait for as long as she needed. We’d build a solid foundation and the two of us would be nothing like our fucked-up parents.

I tore my lips away reluctantly and dropped my forehead to hers, my breathing ragged.

“Make yourself comfortable,” I mouthed. “I’m going to take a quick shower.”

A cold one, because my dick was as hard as steel.

She nodded, smiling softly, and I pressed one more kiss on her lips before disappearing into the bathroom.

My cock throbbed painfully, demanding I take her. I had never wanted a woman as I had her. Yes, I could appreciate a woman’s body, but the thought of going all the way without a deeper emotional connection would always leave a bad taste in my mouth, so I’d never done it. And I knew Phoenix had never given herself to a man fully before, which meant it was more important than anything else that I got it right.

With her, it was all I could think about. So, I ensured we took our time, taking it slow and experiencing each part of our relationship. It wasn’t easy to wait, but it’d be worth it in the end. Phoenix deserved romancing, wining and dining. She deserved the world.

I closed my eyes and remembered the two of us in the field of dandelions, images of her beautiful smile and big blue eyes. Her lips on mine as her soft body pushed against me. The way she grinded against me. She felt so fucking good.

And the little noises she made. Fuck!

I fisted my cock and began pumping up and down when the door to the bathroom opened and I froze, my hand still wrapped around my length.

Phoenix came to stand beside me, her eyes traveling over my naked body and her lips curled into a playful smile.

“Can I help you with that?” she mouthed, licking her bottom lip as she eyed my hand fisting my cock.

Before I could find the words, she’d shed her clothes and was stepping into the shower. I could tell by her expression that she was nervous, but her touch was sure when she placed her palms flat against my chest.

She smiled up at me and my heart started to race. She inhaled a deep breath and then removed all the space between us until not even the water from the shower could slip through. I wrapped my arms around her, pulled her against me, and pressed my cock against her stomach. God, even that felt unbelievable.

The girl of my dreams was in front of me, wet and naked, her breasts glistening and her eyes eager. She was so fucking beautiful; she had no idea how much power she held over me.

I turned us both around and pressed her back against the tile. I watched goose bumps break out over her delicate skin as the steam from the shower created a halo around her head.

I grabbed her wrists and pinned them above her head, kissing a pattern from her ear down her neck as she pushed herself against me. Ignoring my throbbing cock, I grabbed some soap and lathered it in my hands. Then I traced my fingers over her neck and down her collarbone, to the tops of her breasts. She instinctively arched into me, and I smirked as my hands dipped lower, cupping her tits.

“You’re breathtaking,” she mouthed, bringing her own hands down and roaming them over my torso, my chest, my biceps. She liked to explore my body, and her touch made me come alive.

The scene in my head slammed shut and I was back to the present, back in the castello. My temples throbbed and I opened and closed my mouth soundlessly as I begged my mind to take me back to that place of comfort.Instead, just as I was about to reach a hand out to search for the warm body I knew lay beside me, my vision blurred and I was yanked back to yet another memory.

Clean tiles were replaced by blood-soaked walls. My lungs capsized.

I’d always thought my father’s torture was the worst thing life had to offer. That was no longer the case. I was in hell, and this time I was alone. I could scream until my lungs turned raw, but I knew Amon wouldn’t be coming to my aid.

Blood covered every inch of my prison, like a grotesque scene out of a horror film.

But that wasn’t the part that had me gagging. It was the scent of burning flesh. I looked down to assess the damage and started cataloging the cuts and gashes across my torso, still sensitive even hours later. It was part of my routine—the only thing that tethered me to reality. The skin on my back protested from the lashings I’d received yesterday, but I couldn’t turn over, my wrists and ankles bound.

Hours turned into days. Days turned into weeks.

A young girl, maybe in her late teens, stood next to my bed, shaking like a leaf. She had the wrong shade of brown hair and blue eyes. She hadn’t wanted this any more than I did, yet I’d seen firsthand what happened to the women who didn’t obey him. And while I fought it, hating to be touched, I couldn’t watch another woman be mauled to death by dogs in what was one of Perez’s sadistic torture techniques.

Perez Cortes would pay for this. One day. Somehow. Some way.