Page 12 of Burned

“I’ll make whatever I want when I’m being treated like a child.”

The words hit too close.

Because I am treating her like something fragile.

Something breakable.

Something I can put on a shelf high enough that death cannot reach her.

And I know better.

I know Erin is not fragile.

I know this woman walked into my life wearing cheap black satin and a warrior’s gaze.

I know she lied to my face, defied me at every turn, and still somehow became the only person who could bring me to my knees without touching me.

I know she held herself together through Caleb.

Through Cass’s blood.

Through the Morettis.

Through a gunshot that should never have come near her.

I know.

But knowing does not stop the image carved into me after betrayal.

Erin, bleeding and pale, after throwing herself in front of Gregory.

I can still feel my hands on her body, trying to keep her in this world by sheer will.

I have survived fire and betrayal, but nothing moves me like the thought of losing her.

“I will not apologize for keeping you alive,” I say.

Her mouth tightens. “I didn’t ask you to.”

“You don’t have to.” My jaw locks.

“That’s the problem, Lucian. You think that because of this mess we’re in, I don’t have any rights. You just decide. You make all the rules and expect me to follow them.”

“Those decisions keep you breathing.”

“Decisions made with me outside the conversation while everyone else talks about my life,” she says.

I move closer before I decide to.

Erin holds her ground.

Always.

Even when she trembles. Even when she is afraid enough to run, she plants those feet and looks at me like she would rather be destroyed than back down.

Most of the time, I love that about her.

Right now, it makes me want to spank her.