Shackled (The Lord Series) by Carlos

I turn my attention to Miss Teapot. When I opened the backdoor and saw her on the threshold, I was so relieved that she was back that it didn't cross my mind to see if she had any injuries.

I search her paws for wounds as I go to the kitchen. When I don't find any, I let out a sigh of relief. "Apart from some weight loss, you appear to be fine," I say before kissing the top of her head. You need a bath, too, but after I take mine because I want to eliminate any trace of Azael off my skin."

"Blowing up his brains was a kick-ass move."

Rueben's voice stops me in my tracks. I was so focused on Miss Teapot that I didn't notice Rueben making a sandwich over at the table. I quickly turn on my heels because I know he doesn't want me in the kitchen while he's in there. "Olivia."

My legs stop instantly as if glued to the floor. I wait for him to speak, as I don't know what to say. He saw the videos; he knows what happened.

Rueben is as silent as I am. It takes him a few minutes to finally say, "Thank you for protecting Camila."

My chin trembles. "I didn't. I killed her."

Rueben gets up from the table. My shoulders tense when he stops behind me. "Look at me."

I obey him without hesitation. Not wanting to see how remorseful he is, I look at the floor.

"I said to look at me," Rueben insists. I force my gaze on him. "It was an accident. You were trying to protect her." Tears fall from my eyes down my cheek. "Fuck. I didn't mean to make you cry," he mutters and takes Miss Teapot from me. "Stay where you are."

Being ordered around is degrading to most people, but for me, it is...a breath of fresh air, as I don't have to think about what I have to do. My body takes over while my brain shuts down. Not around Rueben, thought. Around him, I always have to be cautious.

Rueben opens drawers and cabinets until he finds Miss Teapot's food. He fills her bowl, puts fresh water in the other one, and returns to me.

I'm still crying as I think of the night Camila died. Rueben might say that it was an accident, but the truth is that I pulled that trigger. If I had my darkness back then, Camila and Spencer would still be alive. Rueben picks me up in his arms, and I inhale sharply.

"I'm not going to ask you not to be afraid of me after what I did to you, but I want you to know that from now on, if I touch you is because I want to fill that little pussy of yours with my cum."

I chew my bottom lip. This is so fucked up. "Are you sure you want to fuck my diseased cunt?"

Rueben puts me on top of the kitchen island. "I want to eat your pussy, then fuck it with my tongue before I make you come on my dick."

No, thank you very much. I'd rather have Jasper fuck my ass.

I shrug and look away from him. "If that's what you want."

Rueben fits my hair and forces me to meet his gaze. "I want you to be my bonded."

My stomach turns to knots. I don't want to be his bonded, but I owe it to him after killing Camila. "I understand."

"I like you, Olivia. Very much," he murmurs before kissing me.

My shoulders tense. What do I do now? Do I kiss him back? Maybe he doesn't want that. But if I don't react and he does want me to kiss him back, he'll for sure get mad with my lack of enthusiasm. Rueben pulls away from me. I put on a poker face, not wanting him to know how relieved I am that he stopped kissing me.

"You need a bath," he grumbles.

I never thought that being covered in blood and dirt would save me from being fucked by Rueben.

"Mose is preparing the bathtub for me," I say.

"How about I join you?"

*How about you fuck off?*

"That won't be necessary," Ansel says as he enters the kitchen through the backdoor. I never felt more relieved to see him. "I'll take care of her."

"I want to spend time with her," Rueben snaps.

I should have stayed in the office with Tyson. If I apologize for how I spoke to him, maybe he'll let me spend the night there. I'll even fuck him if he keeps Rueben away from me. Why do I always seek out Tyson when I need comfort? Why do I still need him after everything that happened?

When I told Jasper to wait for me in bed was so I could take a look at his leg and see if I could heal it, as I did with Mose, but he immediately thought that I was going to suck his dick. Fuck it. I'm going to do it. I'm going to ask Ansel and Mose to fuck me too, until my mind and body no longer want Tyson. I'm going to let them do whatever they want to me daily if that's what it takes to get Tyson out of my system.

I hate how a few nice words and kisses reminded me of why I feel for Tyson in the first place. Tonight, he was like his former self-so kind and gentle. He was right when he said it wasn't supposed to be like this. We had a whole future planned. That's why I chose to protect him-in my delusional mind, I thought we could still find our way back to each other. After he tortured me, I knew that he destroyed the last chance we had at happiness.

"Can't you read the room?" Ansel questions Rueben, who frowns. "For fucks' sake, how dense can you be if you can't tell she wants you to leave her alone."

Rueben looks as if I slapped him. "It's because of what I did to you when I was drugged out of my fucking mind?"

Yes! A thousand times, yes.

"No." Lying about this is so easy.