THE CONTROL: An Arranged Marriage Romance by Elena Monroe (ebook reader android .txt) 📕

We both decided in that moment that surviving didn’t have to be painful anymore.

His body collapsed onto mine, still between my legs, and his mouth continued to shovel out harsh breaths in his recovery. Laying there for longer than normal, I soaked him up until I nudged him, needing to let my lungs expand more without his weight on me.

Holding himself above me, he looked at me like he was going to ask about the grenade I threw between us right before he came, but instead he studied my features quietly. He rolled off me, his arm wrapping around my waist before dragging my ass back to his body and warmth.

I was awake, trying to concoct some kind of explanation for why I can’t get pregnant beside my frail body until I heard the light snoring of Bowen next to me. Wanting to fall asleep along with him, I twisted in his arms until I was tangled up against his chest. Dragging the blankets over us, I couldn’t have felt more comfortable.

EVE

My stomach growled so hard it woke me up out of a dead sleep. I hadn’t eaten anything except the bun I shoved into my mouth to piss my mother off when she claimed I was fat.

Bowen’s arm was still around me, holding me tight against him, and I had to wiggle my way free from my sleeping giant. He hadn’t moved a centimeter and something about that made me smile.

Wrapping a blanket around my shoulders, I crept through the room to the door before I carefully pulled it open in search of leftovers.

The house was quiet despite our guests sleeping off their hangovers before their Sunday drives home. Holding the blanket tight in my fist around my chest, I tiptoed down the stairs until I rounded the corner and came face to face with Grimm.

He was sitting in a chair across from the couch with a gun in his hand resting on his thigh, and it sent goosebumps down my spine making me stand up straighter. I had never seen someone holding a gun, and something about it felt like assault to my senses as I imagined him using it.

My eyes followed to where his landed, and to my surprise, I saw Elias passed out on his back on the couch with his arms above his head. My whole body stiffened like he would sense I was in the room and wake up when Grimm stole my attention. “I don’t trust him. He tried hitting on Abigail earlier during the reception and wasn’t good at taking no for an answer. What do you need, Eve?”

Swallowing the lump in my throat, no doubt the truth, I tried to force the words out. “I just wanted some leftovers… Woke up hungry.”

Grimm stood, gun still in hand. “Who is this guy to you?” He walked to the kitchen like he had learned all the exits, entrances, and any type of risk. He already zoned in on the biggest risk—Elias. Pulling open the fridge, he dropped the gun on the island counter before pulling out a stack of aluminum trays of leftovers.

“Bad memories. I don’t want to talk about it…” I watched Grimm move around so effortlessly for someone who had never been in Bowen’s house. Putting a plate in the microwave for me, his eyes searched mine for answers I wasn’t willing to give up yet.

He must have realized I was holding the blanket to me with more effort than I should considering I didn’t want to flash him any part of my body. Holding the plate and picking up his gun, he waved it forward, silently pushing me out of the room and back up the stairs.

Halfway up the stairs when we stopped in front of Bowen’s door, he gave me advice only someone who knew Bowen could. “He’s going to figure out why we all dislike him, Eve. Just tell him so it doesn’t blow up in your faces. I’m speaking from experience.”

Taking the plate from him, I held onto the blanket around me when I turned around to see Bowen sitting on the edge of the bed in his underwear. His eyes were sleepy and his body practically glimmered in the dark room.

“Tell me what, Evey?” His hand pushed through his hair and suddenly the knots in my stomach from hunger were there for a different reason now.

“Elias got drunk and passed out on the couch. Grimm was being a watch guard downstairs because he doesn’t like him.” Getting into bed, I put the plate on the nightstand, no longer interested in it at all.

“He’s still in my house?” His voice was unrecognizably angry, riddled with ways to read between the lines and his new intentions.

Picking at a bun in my hands, I nibbled a piece I broke off the edge while I wasted time before having to respond. “He’s harmless… just sleeping.”

The lie made me want to throw up.

Just the idea of protecting Elias made me want to throw up.

His back was still to me and I couldn’t read his expressions the way I relied on. “If he’s so harmless then why is Grimm guarding his every move? Would you like to explain who he really is yet? It won’t be pretty when I find out, Evey.”

Grasping at whatever I could, I settled on regurgitating all I had. “Grimm said he hit on Abigail during the reception… he’s being protective.”

Finally twisting around, he got back into bed but not before reaching over me and grabbing a gun from the small drawer in the nightstand. Placing it under his pillow, I watched the metal catch whatever light it could on its shiny surface.

“Not as protective as me.”

“Bowey. I really don’t want to be