“I told you, I will start a fucking war, Creed,” I inform him. Anger takes hold of me, and I’m on him again, my hands slamming into his chest, his face, but he doesn’t fight back.
“Damien,” Nesrin calls to me, but her voice seems so far away, as if she’s on the other end of a tunnel, and I just can’t get to her. “Damien stop.” Her words break through the cloud surrounding me, her hand on my shoulder stills me for a moment.
Looking at my former best friend, I realize he’s smiling. Blood drips from his lip and nose, and his left eye is already starting to swell. I told him not to come near her, but he didn’t listen. He brought this on himself.
His gaze lands on Nesrin who’s behind me, and I want to wipe the bloody smirk off his face. “I told you, Darling,” he says. “We may not be the same in our needs, but our wants, they’re exactly alike. The violence that simmers in this town runs in all of us.”
“Get the fuck out of here.” I grit out through clenched teeth, as I attempt to tamp down my anger. This is ridiculous. I don’t want to fight, but he knows I’ll do it if I’m pushed into a corner.
Creed tips his head, before retreating through the door that leads to his bedroom. We used to sneak in through there when we were younger, listening to his father when he had meetings in the library. It was our way of rebelling. Stupidly spying on the men of Thorne Haven, learning the secrets that run this town.
When we’re alone, I turn to Nesrin, pulling her into my arms and holding her there. Like an animal, I want to bathe her in my scent, to mark her as mine. But after the spat with Creed, he now knows not to come near her again. He was testing me, seeing if I’d fight for her, and I did. And I’ll do it again and again.
“Let’s go,” I pull her along, my fingers laced with hers. She doesn’t fight me all the way to the car, as people stare at her holding the rose that I gave her. The gossiping will start the moment we’re in the vehicle. Even as we drive home, Nesrin is silent, and I want to ask what Creed told her, but I don’t.
I have a feeling I already know. By the time we reach the house, the tension in my muscles has eased, and I take Nesrin’s hand, leading her up the stairs to the second floor, then down a small corridor that leads to the staircase that will deposit us onto the rooftop. I need her beside me tonight, more than ever. And this is my favorite place in the world.
When we get to the top, I allow her to step onto the landing first. Before us is a king-sized mattress, covered in a basic sheet and comforter, with a few pillows, along with a minibar fridge.
Nesrin stands behind me, as I tug my tie free and unbutton my shirt. She watches me, her eyes wide, as she takes me in. I turn to look at her, my body facing hers, and I reach for her, lifting her against me.
Her legs wrap around my waist, and every nerve in my body sparks to life as if I’ve been shocked by a live wire. A buzz skitters through me because, tonight, I’m having her. Claiming her. She’s fucking mine.
“I-I… I’ve never seen you so angry,” she whispers, as I lower her onto the mattress. The rooftop was a place of refuge when I was growing up. I loved being up here, away from everyone—even my brothers.
“Having his hands on you, his mouth on yours, it made me crazy. I saw red.” I settle beside her, needing her warmth and aching for her touch. Nesrin rolls over onto her side. Her eyes rake over me, burning every inch of me.
“I told you before, and I’ll tell you again, I’m yours.” Even though she says it, it didn’t stop me from flying into a rage earlier when I saw her with him. She reaches for my face, her touch warming me from the inside out.
“I want to see you,” I tell her, rolling onto my back as I crook my finger. With a narrowed gaze, she sits up, kneeling on the bed beside me. “Straddle me.” The order is clear, concise. She doesn’t argue, and I watch her climb over me as if she’s about to ride me, which makes my cock jerk with approval.
“Now what?” she sasses, crossing her arms in front of her chest; she tips her head to the side, but rolls her hips to taunt me.
“Take that dress off.” My voice is husky, my body is tense, craving to touch her, but I don’t. Not yet. Slowly, Nesrin reaches for the tie around her neck and unbuttons it. The material slips down her chest, toward her hips. Then, she slowly tugs the zipper down, the hiss of the metal teeth echoes in the night, which causes my blood to run hot through my veins as desire takes over.