Dark Need (House of Sin 3)

My seduction is what caused him to overload.

And when I found him lying on that couch, screaming in pain, I had to act.

I just didn’t know what it would cost me.

I suck in a breath and look at myself with my head held high.

I won’t let my demons win.

This is my only chance, my only way out.

And if he wants to use me for my body … then I will use him for my freedom.

So I quickly clean up the mess between my legs and grab a few clean clothes from the drawer in the room. Some tight leggings, a pair of clean undies and a bra, as well as a casual sweater. Not too hot, not too cold, a bit on the small side, but it fits snugly.

As I stand in front of the door, I take another deep breath and grab the door handle. My hand shakes. I stop it with my other hand and push down.

My jaw immediately drops the moment I open it, and I’m frozen to the floor.

Soren is missing.

And the entire cabin has been thrown asunder from head to toe, furniture turned over everywhere, broken vases, shattered plates, a smashed chair.

Oh my God.

Why would he do this?

I step through the rubble, trying not to get snared on something or twist my foot. I search for him in the other rooms, but they’re all empty.

Did he … leave me?

Adrenaline courses through my body, and I immediately rush to the door, terrified of being left out here alone in the woods. But the terror immediately subsides when I spot him standing over a giant log with an ax in his hand. His biceps tense up, and he holds the ax up and throws it back down again with a powerful swing, splitting the wood in half.

I let out a breath to calm myself down, although I do wonder why I panicked. Why I thought he’d leave me by myself … after doing what he did.

I swallow and clutch a tree as I watch him toil around, his brows furrowed, sweat dripping down his face. The sun hasn’t even come up yet, and here he is chopping wood like it’s no one’s business with only a small lantern to light the place. And it casts an eerie shadow on his body.

As the ax hits the block, he wipes away some of the sweat and looks up.

Our eyes meet, and I’m momentarily stunned.

Not just by how powerful and dangerous he looks when he swings a weapon like that …

But also because of the way he looks at me.

So full of betrayal and hate.

Hate … not directed at me.

But the hate is definitely there.

It’s the same look I saw when I stared into the mirror, and it takes my breath away.

Does he feel … guilty?

I lick my lip and bite on it, contemplating what to do. If I have the guts to go over there and talk to him.

One brief look, and he’s right back to chopping wood in the most aggressive way I’ve ever seen. Still, I suck in a breath and hold my head high while I walk over to him. When I’m right in front of him, he keeps on cutting the wood like it means nothing.

“Look at me,” I say.

He pauses, digging the ax into the next piece of wood like it’s weightless even though it looks heavy as fuck to me.

And when he stands tall, his arms broad, muscles taut, while towering over me … I can’t help but feel overwhelmed and overpowered.

Is that why I gave in so easily?

I gulp, forcing the thought to the back of my mind.

“We need to talk,” I say, folding my arms.

He merely raises a brow at me. “Nothing to talk about.”

I take a step closer and put my hands against my sides. “Yes, there is.”

“It shouldn’t have happened,” he growls.

My brows furrow as I fight the anger. “It shouldn’t have happened? That’s all you’re going to say?”

He picks up the ax again as though he’s unbothered by my words, but I know he can hear me.

“You fucked me,” I say out loud, not afraid to speak the words. He chops into the next piece of wood again and briefly glances at me like that’s all the acknowledgment I’m going to get.

Tears form in my eyes, but I will them down. “You took my virginity.”

Soren

I pause mid-swing and look at her with great intent. “Virginity?”

She was a … virgin?

Untouched, unspoiled.

And I … took it from her.

“You owe me this,” she hisses through gritted teeth.

I look down at the ground between my feet, the ax dangling in my hand.

She’s right. I do.

But the fact that she just told me she was a virgin only makes this weigh harder on me.

“I … did not know,” I respond.

“No, shit. I don’t go around telling people I’ve never had sex before,” she spits. “Do you?”