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CHAPTER SEVENTY – SIX ETHANS POV The covers slide down her body, revealing her nightgown that rides up her bare thighs. It's a plain white one, not the red I was promised tonight, but, oh well—I didn't expect her to wear it after the fiasco in the hospital. Her hair is slightly damp, which means she took a quick shower. I'm tempted to lie beside her like this, but I don't want any of the blood marring my clothes and skin on her. She can make me feel like I do have filthy hands, and those hands keep on tarnishing her over and over again. If I were sane enough, I would've stopped this vicious cycle of tainting her every step, but I'm fvcking insane about this woman. I strip on my way to the bathroom and shower quickly, letting the blood cascade down the dRosen. When I return to the room, Rose is still curled on her side, but a frown is etched deep between her brows this time. My chest tightens at what she must be dreaming about—the memories from today. All I want to do is erase them and protect her, not only from those heinous memories but also from the world. Not bothering with clothes, I lift the covers and slip in behind her. My arm snakes under hers, and I place my palm on her stomach and stroke it over the cloth, searching for what I don't know. It's not like I can feel the life growing there this early. I never thought about becoming a father before. I was like Rose and found the idea of a kid ridiculous. But ever since I saw this woman again, all I've wanted to do is put that life inside her. It was a way to keep her with me, bind her to me so she'd never think of leaving me. Did I go overboard by switching out her pills? Probably. But I don't seem to have a moral compass regarding this woman. Most of the time, I act on instinct like a fvcking animal. 'Mmmm," Rose mumbles, the sound pained. Her brows furrow further, and her breathing turns harsh. "No…mmmm…n-no…" 'Rose," I softly call her name. 'M-mmm…no…" 'Rose." I grab her face, and while my touch is gentle, my voice is anything but. 'Wake up." 'Mmmm…" 'Come on, baby. Open those beautiful eyes." 'Nooo!" Her voice catches, and a tear slides down her cheek and clings to her upper lip. I shake her shoulder, and she startles awake, her mouth agape and her bright eyes unfocused. Sweat covers her temples and her brows. 'It's okay. I'm here." I wipe the tears staining her cheeks. Her chin trembles as she stares at me over her shoulder. 'They…they were grabbing me…I didn't…couldn't…fight…" 'It's over, Rose. It's all over, okay?" "They… stripped Sasha in front of me and almost raped her and me…I couldn't help her." So Rose finally figured out Pharaoah's second in command is actually a woman. About time someone did. 'But you did help." I plant a kiss on her forehead. 'You did great. You were strong, Princess." Her breathing slowly calms as she tilts her head further to get a better look at me. The sadness in those electric blue eyes bugs me, especially since she seems sad about something entirely different than her nightmare about the kidnapping. She attempts to face the other side. 'Stay away from me." 'Not so fast." I grab her chin and force her to face me. 'You said all night long, remember?" 'What?" 'I will make you forget about those scum." Her eyes widen, but she doesn't get a chance to protest as my lips devour hers. She stiffens but doesn't attempt to push me away, her arms lying limp on either side of her. Like me, she can't ignore the synergy that blossoms out of nowhere whenever our bodies are close to one another. Wrenching my lips away, I whisper against her, 'Tell me you want me." 'No." 'Rose…please." She purses her lips before releasing them. 'I'm not talking to you right now." "But I want to talk to you. I want to touch you and make you forget. But I can go to another room if you don't want it." "Don't go," she whispers, and she continues before I can be relieved. "This is only because I feel weird due to the hormones. It means nothing. I won't forgive you, and I'm still not talking to you." A muscle works in my jaw, but I bottle up my reaction for the dozenth time tonight. We'll see if this means nothing. Trap her lower lip between my teeth and pinch her nipple over the cloth. It hardens into a tight bud quickly, and Rose arches her back. Her pupils dilate, and her arse grinds against my hard dick. I don't know if it's because of the hormones or what happened today, but the look of ecstasy on her face is like nothing I've seen before. Still clutching her by the jaw, I slide my other hand down her body until I find the hem of her nightgown. I bunch it up to her waist and part her legs enough to push the crown of my dick inside. "Fvck," I groan against her mouth while she gasps. Bloody fvcking hell. This is not normal, after all. At first, I denied it because it didn't make any sense, but now, it's crystal clear. Being inside Rose is like finding a home—which is bloody weird considering I've never had a home. And until her, I didn't think I had the right to covet it. Now, I want it—need it—with everything in me. I let her legs trap me in as I slide in and out of her in a rhythm I've never tried before—slow, moderate, and too fvcking deep. I take my time rotating my hips, pulling out almost entirely, then thrusting back in. I tell myself it's because I don't want to hurt the baby, but soon after, the pace grabs and drags me under. My body has never been in synergy with hers as it is now. Rose holds her breath, then gasps, then holds her breath again. She has always needed to improve at controlling her air intake whenever she's turned on. I place two fingers in her mouth and open it, using the chance to glide them against her tongue. 'Breathe, Princess. In. Out. That's it." Her eyes never leave mine as she follows my lead. I slide my fingers from her mouth to part her arse cheeks. Rose gasps as I slowly push my middle finger inside. Her walls clench further around my dick as a moan rips from her throat. Holy fvck. I want to own every inch of her here and now, but she's too damn tight. Still fvcking her in the arse, I pick up my pace in her pussy, and she bucks off the bed, murmuring, 'There…there…" "Here?" I rasp against her ear as I pull out, then pound back in, hitting her sweet spot. She shudders, and her legs tremble as she shatters all around me. Rose might act like she needs no one on the outside, but she always, without a doubt, comes undone around me. And in a way, she has the same effect on me. I've never wanted to own anyone as much as I crave her. I never thought about complete belonging before she came along. She's the only one who drives me crazy day in and day out. I keep thrusting into her a few more times before my own orgasm sweeps me under. A groan spills from my lips as I empty myself inside her tight walls. Rose slowly closes her eyes, lips pursing. I wrap my arms around her waist, holding her close. My head rests in the crook of her neck, and I nibble on the hickey I left there yesterday. She remains still for a minute, and her breathing eventually returns to normal. I think she's fallen asleep, but then she whispers, 'I'm going to abort the baby."