“But I do. I am your husband, Everly. Tell me, do you want me to kill him?”
“No.”
“I’ve been lenient enough as it is, Everly. You should know when it comes to you, I do not have any sort of patience.”
“You might have to grow some.” I hang up the phone, not wanting to talk to him anymore.
Entering the room, I see Alec is on the bed, a bottle of whiskey in his hand as he stares at nothing. He doesn’t even bother looking at me when I walk in and sit next to him.
He smells familiar, like someone I have loved as family for so long that I can’t see what he’s asking from me.
“It’s unfair. So unfair,” he says, shaking his head then tipping the bottle up to his lips and taking a big swig before he drops it again.
“I don’t know what to say to you,” I utter then bite my bottom lip, having no other words.
“What I want you to say, you can’t. So, it’s best we don’t talk.”
I simply nod.
He looks at me and takes another drink. “I didn’t plan for it to go like this. I wanted to win you. To show you I was more than you thought of me. Show you what you deserve. Because, Everly, you deserve more than that man is offering you.”
Still, no words leave my mouth.
“I knew it would be awkward, but we could get past it, and maybe you could see me as more than family. Maybe you could see me as a man who would do anything in this world to protect you. Because I would, Everly. I would protect you from anybody and everything.”
“I believe you.” I lay my head on his shoulder, trusting every word he utters. “You’ve been my protector for so long, Alec. I’m sorry it’s like this. I’m sorry I don’t feel what you would like me to feel.”
He places the bottle of whiskey on the floor and gets up, walking away to the bathroom. The door slams shut, and all I can do is lie back, close my eyes and hopefully drown out the thoughts that are shouting in my head.
I don’t ever want to know what it’s like to love someone who doesn’t love you in return. And for this, I feel terrible for Alec.
At least with Gunner, I know he loves me. Even though his love is fucked up, it’s still his version of it.
3
Everly
I wake with a start. My heart’s pounding hard out of my chest and I’m covered in sweat. Sitting up, I look to see Alec with no shirt on, sitting on the floor instead of the bed. He turns to look at me then sees I’m fine and spins back.
I dreamed of him. Dreamed I found him dead. Gunner. Dead. My heart almost broke in my sleep.
What is he doing to me?
“Alec.” He doesn’t look around, and I know he’s still very drunk. I can smell him from here. He let me sleep while he drank himself into oblivion.
I wish I could love him. I wish I didn’t see him as family. I wish I could forget the family curse and love Alec for just being him. But I can’t. I can’t stop myself for caring and loving a man whose form of love should be abhorrent to me. Why isn’t it?
“I’m sorry. You know, I’m sorry.”
He gets up, his chest bare and smooth. Alec works out, it’s obvious from just one glance at his chiseled features and bulging muscles. He tenses, and I have to suck in a breath as he steps close and leans down so his face is inches from mine. I can smell him as he opens his mouth, and I know it’s the most inebriated I’ve ever seen him. I’m sure I could get drunk just off his fumes alone.
“You don’t love him. You like the way he treats you… like shit. It’s because no one does that. You’ve never been treated that way. I don’t allow you to be treated that way, so you get some sort of perverted kick out of it.” He takes a deep breath, his lips inches from mine. “I’m telling myself to treat you like he does, then maybe you will see, but I can’t bring myself to do it. You don’t deserve to be treated like that.” His eyes close for a brief moment, the pain evident, before they flick open again. “But you do need help with persuasion.” He moves so fast I don’t have time to stop him. His lips touch mine and they’re hard as he pushes me back, so all I can taste is him and whiskey. He tries to pry open my mouth with a slip of his tongue, but I can’t. I simply can’t do that. Instead, I sit there with my mouth locked as he tries to kiss me but I don’t return the act.