POV: Jasmine
She scoffed, but there was a quiver in her lip, a slight tremble in her breath. "You can't just do this—pretend like I'm the only one when you keep proving otherwise. Besides, this...? Us?" She gestured between us. "It is never meant to go beyond the walls of this bedroom."
Alaric stiffened, and my fingers, which were trailing down her neck, stopped midway, making her shiver despite the warm water. I hated to hear that, and she knows it. Why did she always have to shatter my heart with those words?
Why the fuck would she think we can never be?
I wrapped my fingers around her throat, just enough to keep her eyes locked on mine, which were burning with rage. "Do you think June could make me feel what you do? That she could consume my every thought? Every waking moment?" My voice was low and unsteady. "You own me, Jasmine. You've ruined me for anything or anyone else."
She swallowed hard, the movement pressing against my palm, but I squeezed tighter. "Alaric..."
