I Thee Take: To Have and To Hold Duet Book Two by Knight, Natasha (books to read in your 20s txt) 📕

“What doesn’t bother you?”

“I watched my uncle kill my brothers. I watched Marcus kill him in turn. And I can’t tell you how many other murders I’ve seen. I don’t get upset anymore. I’m not even sure I get scared. I don’t feel anything when I see it. Even when I feel their blood splatter my skin, I feel nothing. Not an accelerated heartbeat. Not fear. Not upset. Nothing. I just…stand there and watch.”

Grunt. He takes my coffee mug and sets it down.

I wipe a lone tear, looking down as I process. “Maybe I’m more like them than I think.” A monster.

“They were bad men, Scarlett. I know monsters and you are not one. Not even close.”

“I’m not so sure, Cristiano.”

“Listen, you have many, many things wrong with you, but this isn’t one of them.”

His comment catches me off guard and when I look up at him, I see a corner of his mouth twitch and his eyes are bright. Opposite how dark they were on the boat. He winks and his smile stretches wide.

“Jerk.”

He shrugs as if saying ‘if the shoe fits’. I push the blanket off and it takes me a good minute to process the pain as I swing my legs too quickly off the bed.

“What are you doing? You need to stay in bed.”

“I need to pee.”

From the expression on his face, he’s surprised I’d have this human need, but then he nods. Looking like he’s on a mission, he puts his coffee cup down and bends toward me. He slides his arms underneath me to lift me up.

“Whoa.” I hold up a hand. “I draw the line at you taking me to the bathroom.”

“You could fall.”

“I’ll be fine. It’s literally two steps away.”

“Marcus did that? Put those marks on you?”

“It’s nothing. I’m fine.”

“But it was him?”

I nod.

“I’ll punish him for it,” he says after a long moment.

I give him a weak smile and he steps aside, giving me some space.

I put my hand on the nightstand, just in case, before getting to my feet and making my way to the bathroom. I’m slow, each step painful, but nothing I can’t handle. When I get to the bathroom and close the door, the first thing I do is look at my reflection. I want to see how bad it is. And it’s bad. There are a couple of bruises on my face but most of the damage is down my front. The marks of Marcus’s belt. My wrists are raw, too, but I remind myself that it’s nothing compared to what could be happening to the other women right now.

I need to talk to Cristiano about that. Need to figure out a way to help them.

After using the bathroom and washing my hands, I return to the bedroom where Cristiano is texting someone. He tucks the phone into his pocket when he sees me.

“I want to get dressed. See Noah.”

“You should stay in bed. Clothes aren’t going to feel good on your skin.”

I shake my head, walk toward the closet.

“This is what I mean about your faults. For starters, you’re stubborn as a mule,” he mutters, taking my arm, his touch light.

“You mean as stubborn as you?”

“Get back in bed. I’ll get you something.”

“I’m fine.”

“You’re far from fine.” He comes to stand a few inches from me. “Get back in bed. Don’t make me put you there.”

I raise my eyebrows, fold my arms across my chest. “You’d put me there?”

“And I’d tie you down if I needed to.”

“I’m not even…How exactly would you put me there? I’m not a thing.”

“You’re really asking me that?” he asks as I realize how stupid a question it is. Without a moment’s hesitation, he lifts me in his arms and carries me back to the bed. “Like this,” he says as he sets me down. “Are you going to stay put or do you want me to demonstrate how I’d tie you down?”

“You’re a Neanderthal.”

“This Neanderthal saved your life.” He points to himself then to me for the next part. “Keep your ass in bed.” He turns to walk to the closet.

I sit there to watch him. Before I can decide to do anything, he’s back with a lightweight dress that he sets beside me.

“Arms up,” he says.

“I can dress myself.”

“Arms up, Scarlett.”

I open my mouth, but he doesn’t let me get a word in.

“I’ve seen you naked. Multiple times. Arms up.”

I sigh, raise my arms high.

He lifts the negligée over my head and tosses it aside.

I band one arm over my breasts, the other casually across my lap to hide how naked I am.

His expression darkens when he looks at me, focusing on the fist print at the center of my stomach before moving over the rest of me.

“I’m sorry,” he says, eyes back on those darkest bruises. “I’m sorry I left you alone. Left you vulnerable.”

“You saved my life. I know what you gave up in order to do that.”

He sighs, softly grasps my wrists to put my arms at my sides, then reaches into his pocket to retrieve the rings. He has both the engagement ring and the wedding band.

Lifting my left hand, he slides each one on slowly, differently than he did at the wedding ceremony. I realize he’s still wearing his. Did he ever take it off?

“I promise to protect you, Scarlett.” It’s as if he’s making the vow now.

His hands feel warm, safe. I look up to find his eyes locked on me, the look intense, carnal.

I lick my lips as one of his hands slides to the back of my head. He draws me to him, our eyes open as our lips lock. The kiss, like his eyes, deep and intense. Like him. Like he’s laying claim. Possessing.

I moan, I can’t help it. This feels different than the other night. He feels different.

With his chest against mine, he pushes me back until I’m resting on my elbows. He draws back to look at me, eyes heated, face hot. He