Last Kiss (Winters)

From USA Today bestselling author Willow Winters comes an emotionally gripping, standalone, romantic suspense with an edge of darkness. I never thought of life like the petals of a rose before. But they're so alike. Delicate and easily crushed. Broken… just like he made me. He could pluck away and there was nothing I could do except be destroyed and accept my fate. That's what he does, he ruins what he touches. Ruthless and cold hearted. They gave me to him. To break. To do as he'd like. All because I was in the wrong place at the wrong time. He grew addicted to the feel of plucking away at me. At leaving me bare and taking control over every piece of me. And if I'm honest with myself… I grew to love it too.

I fell in love with a boy a long time ago. I was only a small girl. Scared and frightened, I was taken from my home and held against my will. His father hurt me, but he protected me and kept me safe as best he could. Until I left him. I ran the first chance I got and even though I knew he wasn't behind me, I didn't stop. The branches lashed out at me, punishing me for leaving him in the hands of a monster. I've never felt such guilt in my life. Although I survived, the boy was never found. I prayed for him to be safe. I dreamed he'd be alright and come back to me. Even as a young girl, I knew I loved him, but I betrayed him. Twenty-years later, all my wishes came true. But, the boy came back a man. With a grip strong enough to keep me close, and a look in his eyes that warned me to never dare leave him again. I was his to keep after all. Twenty years after leaving one hell, I entered another. Our tale was only just getting started. It's dark and twisted. But, that doesn't make it any less of what it is. A love story. Our love story.

It was only a little lie. That's how stories like these get started. With every lie I told, he saw right through me. I think in his heart he knew I was broken, he felt my pain as if it was his. And, that's what changed everything. He's the reason it all fell apart. Sometimes it's a single moment that alters everything in existence. Sometimes it's the chain reaction of falling dominoes, lined up in pretty little rows and designed so that each one will cause more and more pain as it topples. In a single day, everything changed, and there's no way to go back. I didn't know what would happen. Secrets and lies ruin everything and I should have known better. For the first time in, I don't know how long, I wish I could take it back. I'd take every bit of it back if I could just be with him again.