The Scars That Define Us (The Devil's Dust #2)(21)

I fall back against the couch with a sigh. The last time I talked to Shadow it didn’t go too well. This world is not for me; I can’t handle the life of being an ol’ lady. Any place where the love of your life takes the side of men who may kill you and cheat on their women on a daily basis is not something I have in store for myself.

***

It’s late at night and I just finished soaking my sore feet on ice while watching sappy love stories. They seem to be the only thing on anymore. I start turning lights off and head to bed when the door opens. I pause from turning off the last lamp in the apartment. Shadow walks through the door, making my mouth part with fear. He’s wearing ripped jeans; a snug white shirt; and of course, his cut, making him look badass. I gulp at the sight of him.

His eyes lock with mine, the torment in them holding me still. He scowls, his eyes narrowing with anger, reminding me Bobby told him about Parker and me. With that, I forget the lamp and start toward the bedroom quickly. Fear rides up my spine, hoping I can get to it and lock the door before Shadow can reach me. He leaps across the coffee table and grabs me by the hair, making me yelp in pain. Then he pulls my head back toward his face, the smell of grease and cologne arousing me as the hairs on my neck lift in fear.

“Heard you were with someone else. Thinking about leaving me, Firefly?” He speaks softly into my ear, but his tone is anything but gentle.

“Like you haven’t messed around on me?” I seethe, my teeth clenched. My choice of words is not helping my situation. Shadow jerks my hair tighter with anger, making me whimper.

“Parker won’t be bothering you anymore, trust me,” Shadow declares, his words sharp and fierce. I try to turn in his grasp to see his face, to see if he is serious, but he pulls me close.

“You’re mine, Dani” he whispers, the smell of alcohol strong on his breath. His words anger me; I refuse to let him own me and use me only when he sees fit.

“Like hell.” I raise my voice as my fingers try to pry his hands from my hair. I wanted to be Shadow’s, to be his everything. I came at him hard when we first met. There was no denying our connection but after recent events, I’m not so sure of anything anymore.

“You’re my property until I say so,” he says roughly. I can hear his teeth grit with anger as I defy him.

“Fuck. You.” I annunciate each word hatefully.

Shadow laughs maliciously.

“Did that already.” He says it like I was nothing, hurting me more.

I scoff at his remark, trying to act like his words don’t affect me.

“Don’t try and act like you don’t want me,” he taunts, nipping my ear roughly.

I huff and try to pull from his grip, but it’s no use; he’s too strong.

“Maybe I should remind you what it’s like to be with a real man,” he says, trailing his tongue up the edge of my ear, leaving a moist trail. His other hand plays with the elastic of my white-lace panties, causing them to wet with arousal. His alpha-male ways have me blistering with rage, but more than anything, I want him to throw me onto the floor and lay claim to my body, which has me even angrier. Why can’t I escape the ravenous hold Shadow has on me? Don’t I deserve better? I deserve some Prince Charming you read about in books growing up.

He roughly cups my breast with his free hand, making me sigh. His touch is like an old flame, and it ignites my arousal without my submission. My body hums with fear but warms with his touch.

I bite my cheek and hold my breath, trying to rein in my sigh and moan of lust.

“You and I both know you’ll never escape my hell.” Shadow pushes his groin into my ass, making me moan slightly.

I swallow the lump forming in my throat from my heavy breathing. “I’ll find a way,” I whisper.

“I wouldn’t count on it,” Shadow hisses, the sound of his rough voice makes me clench my thighs together tightly.

“ It won’t be with Parker. I can assure you that,” he scoffs. “Prince Charming likes to find drunk girls at bars and push them in backseats of his car. I’m not entirely sure if that poor girl was consenting or not,” he says in my ear. My body, warm from Shadow’s touch, now cools. Parker wouldn’t do something like that; Shadow is lying.

“You lie,” I snarl under my breath.

“Believe what you like.” He shrugs, pulling my head to the side by my hair. “But believe this, you are mine.” His tone is promising and threatening, yet comforting.

Giving in, Shadow pushes me forward.

“How many other men have you been with?” he questions, walking into the kitchen with his shoulders squared and body puffed out. His blue eyes shimmer in the dark room as he passes the lamp, giving him a look of a fearsome animal ready to dismantle its prey.

“Excuse me?” I hedge, humiliated.

“You heard me. You sleep with that guy?” He digs his talons into me.

“None of your f*cking business,” I retort.

“Oh, but it is.” He grins a smile so devilish it makes my body shiver.

My head turns when knocking sounds at the door. Curious who would be knocking at this late hour, I walk over and open it. Two half-naked chicks stand at the door with a distasteful expression on their faces. One is a blonde with her hair braided into pigtails, wearing a peacock-colored skirt with a green tube top. The other is a curly redhead with a pink skirt and pink, low-cut tank top.