War of Hearts

“Turn. The. Page.”

My fingers flicked to the next page before I could think of protesting. His darkness pulsed around me, lighting up my body with awareness of his nearness.

“Look,” he commanded.

“I don’t want to,” I whispered. “I don’t want to see any more. I’m sorry I—”

“Look.” The word cracked through the air like a whip, and my eyes flicked down to the page.

My entire body flushed, and my heart fluttered in my chest. My stomach did a funny flip, and my mouth went dry.

It was another drawing of me. But this time, I was naked. Bound with rope.

And Joseph was standing behind me, holding the coil as he wrapped it around my body.

“What…” I gasped for air. “What is this?”

“It’s you and Joseph, obviously.”

My heart leapt into my throat, and I tried to swallow it down so I could speak. “He wouldn’t… He’d never…”

Marco made a soft humming noise, considering. “So, he hasn’t tied up his pretty little princess? Does he not want to pervert his perfect angel?”

Angel. Joseph’s sweet name for me was heavy with mockery.

“This is… You’re…” I couldn’t find the words to express my feelings. They were jumbled, my emotions roiling. I was too hot; I was practically panting. Marco was far too close, his body heat stifling.

“There’s that pretty blush,” he observed, his voice thick with pleasure I’d never heard from him. “You are innocent, aren’t you?”

I wasn’t blushing. I was burning up. I had to get away from Marco before the inferno engulfed me.

The sketchbook slipped from my hands, and I darted past Marco, sucking in a deep breath as I rushed through the bedroom door. His low, dark chuckle followed me out into the hall and down the stairs.

When I burst into the kitchen, I flung my arms around Joseph, looking to him for the protection he’d promised. He cradled me against his strong body, holding me with care.

“What’s wrong, angel?”

“Marco. He…” I took a deep breath. I couldn’t bring myself to tell Joseph about what I’d seen. It was too lewd, too embarrassing. The image of Joseph looming behind me holding the coil of rope burned in my mind. “You’d never… hurt me, right?”

“Of course not.” He curled two fingers beneath my chin, lifting my face to his. “Did Marco say something that scared you again?”

I bit my lip. I’d been the one to pry into his privacy and look at his sketches. Marco had every right to be angry at me for that.

But he hadn’t been angry. He’d been… I wasn’t sure how to describe the thick atmosphere that had built around us as he loomed over me, commanding me to look at the perverted depiction of me with Joseph. Why would he draw something like that?

I didn’t answer Joseph’s question directly. I simply hugged him tighter.

“I don’t like him,” I whispered.

“Marco won’t hurt you,” he promised. “And I won’t, either. I’d never hurt you, Ashlyn. All I want is for you to be safe and happy.”

I nodded against his chest, knowing he fully believed what he was saying about his dangerous friend. I wasn’t at all certain that I was safe around Marco. He made my belly quiver and my pulse race.

“Stay with me?” I pleaded, not wanting to leave Joseph’s side with Marco in the house.

“I’m right here,” he reassured me, stroking his hand up and down my back. “I’ve got you.”

With that promise, I finally relaxed into his strong arms, knowing deep in my soul that he would protect me.