Finally, we reached the door, slightly chipped, with peeling pale blue paint. It was exactly as it had looked in the photos, and I relaxed slightly as I inserted the key into the lock. Swinging the door open, I gestured for Wren to go ahead of me.
“What is this place?” she murmured, her pretty eyes wide and curious as she stepped inside. So beautiful. Once again, I pushed down the urge to press my lips to hers, instead, entering the flat behind her and closing the door.
“This is ours for tonight. I thought we both needed to get away. Somewhere different and new. A place without any memories,” I admitted, taking in the tiny studio flat. If the photos had been correct…
There.
Sheer curtains covered a set of doors, glass panes encased in white painted wood. Pushing the curtains aside, I opened the doors to the night breeze.
Wren’s jaw dropped as she took in the sight before us. The flat was the highest in a series of Victorian buildings along the Brighton seafront. Beyond the buildings there was a road, and across the road was the sea. Out here, late in the evening, the road was silent, and it was quiet enough to hear the distant murmur of the waves lapping at the pebbly shore. Strings of lights between ornate black lampposts illuminated the seafront, and to our left, the glittering, colourful lights of the pier lit up the night sky and the waves beneath the wooden supports.
Wren leaned back incrementally, and I took it as my cue to slide my arm around her waist, over the top of her hoodie. As she relaxed into me with a tiny sigh, some of my tension drained away. After the things she’d confided to me and Vivienne, I wasn’t sure how welcome my touch would be. She’d never shied away from me before, but there was no way on earth that I’d risk making her feel uncomfortable, or even worse, bringing back memories of that monster.
And yes, he was a monster. If people knew what we did in the cirque, they would probably call us monsters because we ended lives, but I truly believed in what we stood for. I’d been exposed to some of the worst examples of humanity during my years in the cirque. We meted out justice for those who never got a chance to speak out. For those who knew and had firsthand experience of the monsters in their towns, in their homes—those evil, twisted people who lived to ruin and destroy. Monsters who slipped through the system, who avoided the traditional routes of justice.
This man… No, not a man. This devil in human skin had hurt Wren over and over, and he needed to face the consequences of his actions.
But it would be up to Wren.
“Amélie?” Her voice was so fucking soft, and it sent a delicious shiver through my body.
“Mmm?”
“Thank you. I don’t know how you knew what I needed, when I didn’t even know myself. This is…this is perfect. And…thank you for helping me to remember that I’m strong. That I can face what’s coming.”
“Youarestrong, little bird. So fucking strong. And no matter what happens next, I’ll be right there with you. Always,” I murmured, giving in and lowering my head, running the tip of my nose up the side of her head, breathing in her sweet scent.
She trembled against me, turning her head, and our eyes met. Her lashes fluttered, her soft lips parting, and all my previous worries about whether she was interested in being more than friends with me instantly dissipated. It felt like the most natural thing in the world for me to lean in, closing the final distance between us. When her soft, pliant lips touched mine, my stomach flipped again. Sliding my mouth over hers, I wrapped my other arm around her. She responded by turning in my arms, opening her mouth to me, her tongue tentatively sliding against mine.
How could a simple kiss make me feel so much?
No. There was nothing simple about this kiss.
“Amélie,” she breathed, winding her arms around my neck.
“Mmm. Wren. Fuck,” I gasped, letting her push me back against the wall, our kiss turning deeper, more passionate.
She shifted, my leg falling between hers, and she moaned, pressing into me and rolling her hips down to grind herself against my thigh. I was already so fucking wet, so turned on from having this girl in my arms, right where I wanted her. She was delicious, addictive, and against all odds, it seemed like she wanted me back.
My mouth went to her throat, and she gasped, tipping her head back, letting me get my lips on her soft skin.
“I didn’t know it could be like this,” she panted. “This is…you are?—”
Without any warning, she broke off and released her grip on me, only to yank me into her, rubbing her own thigh against my aching core. It felt so fucking good. The need to mark her pretty skin burned through me, and I couldn’t wait any longer. I moaned at the delicious friction, kissing down her throat, and then sucking, branding her with my mark.
Her palm slid down my back to my ass, cupping it through the fabric of my leggings. She squeezed softly. I could feel her hands shaking, and I lifted my head to meet her glassy gaze.
“Hey. Are you okay? Is this okay? We don’t have to do anything you don’t want to. Just say the word, and we can stop. I have no expectations here, and I don’t want to do anything to make you uncomfortable?—”
Shaking her head violently, she pressed her finger to my lips. “It’s not that. I just…I don’t have much experience. Any experience, really.” Exhaling a deep, shuddering breath, her gaze dropped to the floor. “After everything that happened to me, I never wanted…not until you. With you, Iwant, so much, but I think I need…maybe I…” Her words faded away, accompanied by a helpless shrug.
Wren. My heart twisted, and I wanted to hurt anyone who had dared to lay a finger on this beautiful girl, who had such a soft heart, even after everything she’d been through.
“How about we concentrate on making you feel good, hmm? No pressure.” I cupped her jaw. “And if you aren’t feeling comfortable or you want to stop, all you need to do is tell me and we can stop straight away. No questions asked. I promise you I’m happy just being here with you. No matter what we do or don’t do, okay? Your happiness is the only thing that matters to me.”
She blinked rapidly as her eyes filled with tears. “You’re amazing,” she whispered, brushing a kiss over my lips. “I can’t believe you…you want this.”
“How could I not want this? Want you? You’re beautiful, Wren. Inside and out.” Pressing one last kiss to her mouth, I turned her around in my arms. “Let me make you feel good. Hold on to the railing.”
