Page 7 of Sinful Addiction

He circles me like a vulture.Preparing for his feast.As he does, something hard is circling my hips and stomach and from its sharp touch I know it’s one of his knives.

I know they’re like a second skin for him.I watched as he prepared them all those months ago in that hotel room.I witnessed only a fraction of who he is that day and vowed I wouldn’t ask for him until I was ready.

I thought I was ready earlier.

The more I think about it now, I’m not so sure.

“Tell me, pet.What do you plan on doing once we land?”

I know the answer Ava wants me to give will set him off, so I stay quiet.

“Answer me.”

The harshness of his tone makes me jump.

“So, you can handle a bit of knife play, but you can’t handle this?I told you, you aren’t ready for me.But you’re ready to fly across the country to fuck other men.Is that it?”

He’s holding my shoulders as if he’s going to shake sense into me.Going from the protective, almost nurturing man to this evil, vindictive asshole with a click of fingers has given me whiplash.

“Let me go!”

“Do you know how hard I’ve tried to keep this shit locked down for you?Do you know what it’s like when the only way you can placate your demons is to fuck women?Then you come along and ruin everything.”

Tears are falling fast down my cheeks, and I have no way of stopping them.His words sting.I need to stop this from going any further before I shatter and the past replays itself.

“Let.Me.Go.”My strangled words come out stronger than I anticipated.

The tie is gone before I can say my next words, and in a flash so is Antonio.

I don’t know what to make of that.I know he has issues, but I didn’t realize how much he pushed it all aside so he wouldn’t hurt or scare me.

I knew it was risky allowing him to take me to a place I wasn’t sure I’d healed from.Especially without telling him why.

All this time he was the one putting me first and I was selfish.He protected me from himself and all I did was make a mockery of it all.

This trip has turned into a disaster, and we haven’t touched the ground yet.

A sharp pain pinches at my chest where the proverbial knife has been pulled from my heart.It’s too late for denial.I’ve been in over my head since we met.I let my emotions get the better of me from the start despite being warned multiple times by everyone, including Antonio, that this won’t end like a fairytale.

I spent the remainder of the flight in the cabin pulling my fractured heart back together and resurrecting the walls that were shattered by my foolhardiness.

Once I’m back in my seat ready for landing, I get opposing glares from Ava and Xander while Antonio doesn’t pay me any attention and is sitting on his own.My best friend knows something has happened between us.Aside from the obscure variations of eyebrow movements aimed at me in silence, nothing is mentioned.The only thing I want to do is go to the nearest bar and get wasted.But I settle for a shrug and turn toward the window ready and waiting to get off this fucking plane.

I’m a fool.

I continue staring out the window until we’ve come to a stop and the airstairs are opened for us.I wait for the two love birds to disembark before I push out of my seat to do the same, however, I’m caught at the exit by Antonio, who grabs my elbow and whispers into my ear.

“Remember who you belong to, pet.”

“Fuck off, asshole.”I pull out of his grasp and almost trip over my own two feet rushing down the stairs toward our awaiting car.

“What’s gotten into you?”Ava’s concern matches the dip of her questioning brows.“Honestly, as soon as you got on the plane you were in a mood.Has Tony done something?I’ll make him suffer if you want.You know I’d happily inflict bodily harm on him for you, right?I can even have his body hidden.”She chuckles, like, actually fucking chuckles in amusement.

“It’s nothing.Can we please get out of here?I want to enjoy this trip before your husband steals you from me.”I plaster on the fakest reassuring facial expression and hope she drops this.

“Fine.But you have to promise to have fun.The men are here on business and Xander promised me he’d behave.If he doesn’t, I get to role reverse with him.”She wiggles her exquisite brows.

I burst into laughter for the first time since boarding.That man wouldneverlet that happen, even if he couldn’t keep his promise.Knowing him, he’ll have his entourage following her around reportingeverything.