The devil's advocate

Chapter 26 Cain

I realize my critical mistake the moment my palm co

She’s i

With all the rage building in my gut like a skyscraper, I’d forgotten Eden didn’t have access to her phone and couldn’t contact me to warn me even if she’d wanted to.

Because I sent her away.

And now she’s looking at me like I’m a monster…when she was only doing what I asked her to.

If I didn’t drive her to Damien’s dick before, this will certainly do it.

“Shit.” I kick a garbage can, sending it sailing into a stall. “Goddammit.”

“I couldn’t text you,” she states, pressing a hand to her skin. “I—”

“I’m sorry.” I rush over and gather her in my arms. “I’m so sorry. I don’t know what came over me.”

Actually, I do. His name is Damien King.

She’s silent. Not even so much as a whimper or a cry escapes her.

This isn’t like Eden. She’s slipping farther away with every second that passes.

And it’s all Damien’s fault.

Panicked, I drop to my knees and nuzzle her stomach. “Please forgive me.”

Fear coils my insides when she doesn’t respond. I can’t live without her. I won’t. I’ll kill her before I ever let Damien, or any other man, destroy what’s mine. He doesn’t get my Eden.

“I need you to forgive me.” Frantically, I pull at the fabric of her dress. “I would never hurt you.”

“You just did,” she whispers.

Desperate times call for desperate measures. I never wanted to tell her about my father or brother—I wanted her to believe I had the picture-perfect family, before it was sullied by tragedy—just like everyone else does.

But securing her sympathy is the only way to fix this.

Her eyebrows shoot up as I loosen my tie and unbutton my shirt. “What are you doing?”

“Sharing my biggest secret with you. A part of me I keep hidden from the world.”

I’ve never let anyone see these scars. Not since that night.

Her face twists in confusion when I slide her hand to my back. “What happened? Your skin…it almost feels like… burns.” Her eyes widen. “I thought you weren’t in the house fire?”

“I wasn’t.” I cradle her face. “They aren’t burns. They’re scars.”

“From what?”

“Belts, a few chairs, cigars. A cheese grater once.”

She looks horrified. “Oh, my God. Who did this to you? Why—”

“My father…and on occasion, my brother. It started when I was young, and it only got worse as I got older. As far as why—that’s something I’ll never know the answer to. Some people are just wired differently than us. They like to cause pain and suffering because they lost their humanity.” I breathe her in like air. “They have nothing to pull them back when it gets too dark.”

They have no Eden’s in their life.

Nothing that makes them feel like a savior.

No one who will love them unconditionally.

Her eyes become glassy. “I’m sorry you had to go through something so horrible—”

I shut her up with a kiss. I don’t want to talk about my family. I don’t want to relive my past.

Life is about moving forward. Working toward new goals. Embracing what’s right in front of you.

“It’s over now,” I tell her when she tries to come up for air. “My life is good now. It’s good because I have you.” I bury my head between her breasts, sucking the soft skin into my mouth. “I’ll never hurt you again, sweetheart. I swear on my life. I won’t do what’s been done to me.”

She starts to speak, but I cover her mouth with mine and force my tongue through her lips.

I can’t bear to hear her say she’ll never forgive me.

“Whoa—”

I move her panties to the side and plunge two fingers inside her.

She can’t escape me. I won’t let her. I need her too much.

“Cain—”

I don’t like her tone, it’s not sweet and breathy like it was before Damien—it’s resistant.

I push a third finger inside her, hammering her little cunt as hard as I can.

“You like that, don’t you?” She whimpers and clenches around me. “There you go, baby. That’s it,” I murmur, wrapping my other hand around her throat. “Come for me, sweetheart. Cain won’t stop until you do.”

Infuriation slices through me like a knife through butter when she doesn’t. “Did you fuck Damien today? Is that why you can’t come? Perhaps I should shove my fist inside you and see if you feel anything then.” She tries to shake her head no, but I tighten my grip. “Then come for me like a good girl, Eden. Prove how much you still want me.”

Come for me right fucking now, you little slut.

Come for me or I’ll choke you, chop your sexy body up into hot little pieces, and make Damien eat them one by one.

The room sways and my head pulses so hard I scream.

I won’t lose her. I won’t let him have her. She’s mine.

Mine. Mine. Mine.

“I can’t lose you, Eden,” I choke out. “Please, baby. I need you to come for me. I need you to show me how much you love me.”

I need to know I haven’t lost her.

When she finally does a moment later, it’s glorious. Her chest heaves, her cunt clamps my fingers, and she bucks her hips.

“Such a good girl,” I murmur as I fix her panties and smell my fingers, inhaling her scent. “Such a good girl.”

A lonely tear streams down her cheek. I lick it up when it rolls into her cleavage. “I love you, Eden.”

“I love you, too.”  She kisses my forehead, then my nose, before finding my mouth. “I love you so much.”

Relief fills my chest.

This is my peace. The storm is over.

Her tongue is urgent and needy as her hand ventures lower. I utter a deep groan when she palms my cock through my pants. “Is this for me?”

“Always.” I move the top of her dress until her tit pops out. I lave her nipple with my tongue. “Christ, I can’t wait to fuck you tonight. It’ll be so good, sweetheart.” I suck the pointy bud into my mouth. “I’m go

The hand squeezing my dick stops. “What do you mean tonight?”

I give her a smile. “I’m taking you back home where you belong. It was stupid of me to tell you to spy on Damien.”

It was a careless mistake on my part. One I won’t make again.

I’m going to do what I should have done eleven years ago and get rid of him for good.

Problem—each and every fucking one of them—solved.

“What about the election?”

I flick her nipple. “There won’t be much of an election after he’s gone.”

“You’re go

I narrow my eyes. “Is that a problem for you?”

“No. It’s just…” She worries her lip. “I’m concerned about your reputation. One dead opponent is bad enough, but two? You know how this town is, Cain. People will talk. And if they start talking…it might impact their votes.” She kisses my jaw. “I don’t want people thinking you don’t deserve to win the election on your own merits, you know?” I close my eyes as she nips my throat. “No one deserves to win more than you, my love. Killing Damien might screw up your big chance.”

“It’s the only way to stop him from ruining my life.”

She has no idea how Damien is. His determination knows no bounds.

The man is senseless and psychotic. A reckless combination.

I moan as she licks my Adam’s apple. “Call me crazy, but if he wants to get revenge by ru