Chapter 18

Bram

Had I loved her before when she wasn’t mine? The amount didn’t seem comparable to what I felt now. Twenty-four-six-ninety left me enchanted with her presence. I couldn’t imagine being without her. And soon I would. Soon, she might belong to West, and he’d have this part of her. He’d love her, just as I did. And her, she would come to love him too.

Who wouldn’t? West was gentler than I was. He wouldn’t talk down to her.

He’d make her feel like a queen, not a slave.

I blinked through the heaviness of my lids, staring into her sleeping face. Such peace for someone who had been through real hell. The bruising was fading, but I saw no discoloration when I looked at her. Only the beauty I had witnessed from the beginning. God, I loved her. I love her more than what was fathomable. How was I going to release her to another man? I knew I should have never of taken her this way. What had I been thinking?

As if my slave could feel my eyes on her, she stirred, reaching up to hold at my neck. My arms were still wrapped around her. I doubted they left her during our few hours of sleep. And the sleep … fuck. I’d never slept so deeply. Her love worked miracles to the man I had been.

I leaned forward, brushing my lips over hers. Light blue was almost lavender as she peered up at me for the smallest moment. Sleep took her again and I almost wanted to kiss her harder so she’d wake. But if I did that, we’d be up, and I didn’t want this to end. I never wanted it to end.

The grip tightened on my neck while she snuggled into my chest. How could a heart feel so much emotion? The vastness seemed to spread inside of me forever. But with it was a sinking weight that promised of pain to come. Pain I wasn’t prepared for. Pain I couldn’t begin to comprehend. If I thought I had loved her before—if the sadness of not having her was that strong—this might literally kill me.

A yawn came from her mouth and she blinked, staring up to me. My hand came to rest on the back of her head as I pulled her closer. “Go back to sleep. I forbid you to wake. Not yet.”

A small laugh echoed around, feeding the love. She threw her leg over my hip, squeezing me tight before silence once again took over. Minutes passed and her breathing lightened. She was sleeping again, and me, I was content to live the rest of my days just like this. But I wouldn’t. Couldn’t. This may have been heaven, but the time would come when my true colors broke through. I’d ruin what we shared and I’d destroy her. I knew it just as I knew what I was feeling was nothing but an illusion. Love did that to people. It gave them a glimpse of the sweetest dream, only to show them what a fool they’d been to trust in it. I wouldn’t do that to either of us. This I could hold to in the hard times. I couldn’t hold a corpse unless I wanted to become Master Yahn.

No. I wouldn’t be like him. Today I’d say goodbye to my slave. It had to be done. West would be back any day now and the last thing I needed was him knowing about us. It was better this way.

“Up. Go shower.”

I broke away, practically dumping her on the bed. Twenty-four-sixninety stretched and sat up. She didn’t test my patience. She crawled from the bed, stiffly walking into the bathroom. I knew she was hurting. I’d known it when I went back for her the day before. I couldn’t help it. I

couldn’t control this obsessive need to have her with me.

The water came on to the sink and I knew she was brushing her teeth. Fuck if I didn’t have her a toothbrush resting in my holder. I did. I had had it there from the second day when I practically dragged her from bed at five in the morning. I made her shower and get ready here. Then I fucked her, took her back, only to go and get her a few hours later. I should have just kept her here. I would have gotten to spend more time with her than the stolen hours where I’d broken down throughout the days.

When the sink turned off and the shower started, I opened the door, taking my spot in front of the sink. My eyes lifted to the reflection of her nude body under the spray. The glass shower gave me the perfect view. A view I was never going to forget.

“Will you come back for me later?”

I shoved the toothbrush in my mouth, refusing to answer. When I was done, only then did I lean against the counter and give her my attention.

“No. I will not come for you anymore.”

Her head spun to me and she reached out, wiping over the glass where it was starting to fog. The wideness of her eyes, the shock she held in them, was damn near crippling.

“Ever again?”

My head shook and I swallowed hard. “West will more than likely win the bid on you. I’ll cover the amount, but no one will know that. He’s to have you.”

Her head shook as she continued to stare at me. “It’s for the best. He’ll be a good master to you.” Again, she silently said no with her head.

“It has to be this way, slave. It will be this way.”

“But I chose you. You asked me, and I told you who I wanted.”

My teeth clenched and my chest felt as though it caved in. “The choice is not yours. You have no choices here. You are no one. How many times do I have to tell you that?”

The door to the shower flew open and water dripped from her body as she stomped in my direction.

“My master told me who I am. I am Everleigh Davenport, daughter of the former billionaire, Henry Davenport, CEO, and owner of Northway Airlines. I am not, no one. I could have been someone. I was someone! Your father and that bastard of an owner I had took everything from me.  I demand a say. You owe me that!”