Page 50 of Velvet Chains

But he caught it before I could shut it, wedging his body back inside just enough to stay. He was close to me again…close enough to kiss, and I hated how much I wanted it.

“You and I both know this isn’t done, Ruby,” he said. “Not by a long shot. And for what it’s worth…I came to tell you I’m watching your back, even if you don’t want me to. There are dangerous people who want you gone, and I’m not gonna let them touch you.”

I glared at him. “Are you threatening me?”

He flashed me a half-smile. “No,” he said. “I’m promising you I’ll protect you…because you’re mine, Ruby. And next time I’m here, you’ll be begging me to stay and fuck you again.”

No tease this time. No grin. Just the promise of it.

Then he turned and started to walk away.

I stood there, heart hammering, still catching my breath like an idiot.

Fucking Kieran Callahan.

I locked the door behind him.

But the worst part?

I didn’t want him to stay gone.

Chapter Fifteen: Ruby

What the fuck was I doing?

I pressed my back against the door and let myself slide down until I hit the floor. Pulled my knees up. Buried my face in them. I felt shaky all over—overstimulated and overspent and yet… somehow empty.

I didn’t want him to stay gone.

But I didn’t want him here, either. Not really. Not when I knew what it cost me.

Not when I had Rosie upstairs.

The thought snapped me out of it. Shame seared hotter than his mouth ever had. I shoved myself up, made sure I was presentable in case Rosie woke up, and marched to the bathroom.

I turned the water on hot—too hot. Let it steam the mirrors and scald my skin. I wanted to feel clean again. I needed to.

I washed everywhere. Twice. Scrubbed until my skin prickled and went pink. I tilted my head back and let the spray hit my face, hoping it would knock something loose, hoping it would make me stop hearing his voice in my head.

You can’t get rid of me, Ruby.

I dug my fingers into my hair and squeezed my eyes shut.

You’re mine.

I stayed there too long. When I finally shut off the water, the house felt quiet again, but more in a spooky way than a comforting way, like the world was waiting to see what I would do next.

Or like it was waiting for the perfect moment to reveal whoever the fuck was threatening me, if Kieran was telling the truth.

I towel-dried, threw on a soft long-sleeve tee and fresh sleep shorts, and padded barefoot upstairs. My legs still felt unsteady, like he’d taken something from me and left me hollow in all the wrong places.

Rosie’s door was cracked.

I pushed it open carefully, keeping my weight on the balls of my feet so the floor wouldn’t creak. She was curled up in her bed, holding her worn little stuffed bunny, her hair a mess of curls against the pillow, but her eyes cracked open when I camein. She was sleepy, confused…she’d slept right through it all. “Mami?”

My throat tightened.

“Yeah, baby. It’s just me.”