“Of course, you are. When are you anything less?” Retrieving the cloth, he continued on his mission, washing down her ribs and hip, along her thigh. Ignoring her tender spots for now, he paid homage to her through this simple task. “Did you like being pinned down, Bennie? Forced to stay still, limbs tied, while my cock pounded into your hungry pussy?”
She shivered despite the heat surrounding her, yet admirably maintained her composure. “I’ve always enjoyed rough sex with you. Being hammered into a mattress is one of life’s great sexual adventures.”
That made him smile; she was determined to outwit him in this, to emerge victorious, but she didn’t understand that she’d already lost. Her forgiveness was palpable even if she hadn’t said it yet. The cracks in her carefully constructed world were the beginning of the end of her loneliness and isolation.
As an individual in this war, she was defeated.
Only united with him could she win.
He rose and rounded the foot of the tub, kneeling down beside her again to start the whole washing process on the other side of her body. He didn’t miss her suspicious glare; he just didn’t comment on it.
“Did you enjoy my thumb—”
The first link gave way with a burst of temper. “Don’t think there won’t be consequences for that, Boudreaux.”
“Hmmm. What consequences do I face for having the audacity to—”
“Donotfinish that sentence,” she interrupted sharply, a quiver belying her unease.
Reaux washed her arm, then linked his fingers through hers. “Why not, Bennie? I won’t placate you and gaslight you into thinking it didn’t hurt; I know it did. It’s a different kind of pain, yes? But pain nonetheless.” He brought her knuckles to his lips, then his cheek. “It is not the pain that disturbs you. Pain is our mutual friend.”
She sat there trembling, unable to meet his eyes.
“Fear is the enemy, and you were afraid.” He stated it calmly with no room for her to argue, no other option but to break. “I stalked you, restrained you, reduced you from woman to prey. Held you down and fucked you,tauntedyou, sodomized—”
The rest of the links in that godforsaken chain tumbled to the floor, bouncing into pieces, and she didn’t just break as he hoped; she disintegrated right there in the bath, slumping forward as heartbreakingly vicious sobs wracked her body.
He moved quickly, pulling the plug with one hand while snatching a towel from the rack behind him with the other. Draping it over his arm, he stood and hooked his hands under her armpits, lifting her out of the tub and pressing her against him.
He didn’t give a shit that she was wet through, that water was running down his chest into the waistband of his sweats. She’d trusted him enough to set the wheels in motion to fracture her defenses, and now she trusted him enough to shatter in his presence.
Nothing else mattered but protecting her when she was utterly vulnerable.
As her arms strangled his neck, her legs hooking around his waist, Reaux draped the towel around her back and carried her into the guest bedroom where the bed was clean. He murmured to her in French as he walked the room, letting her cling as tightly as she wanted.
Tears were running down the side of his neck, trickling down his chest to seep along the seam of where Violet’s skin met his. Her breath puffed over the curve of his neck and shoulder, erratic and hitching.
“My queen,” he whispered reverently into her hair. “The woman who cries as fervently as she fights. Give the fear to me,beignet. The fear, the pain, the horror. Give it all to me and I will make sure you’re stronger for it.”
“This isn’t me.” The words were broken.
“It is. It’s just the softer, gentler half of your soul coming out for the attention it deserves. Can’t say I’m surprised,” he added when she snorted against his shoulder. “It’s taken a beating today. Hell, for two years. Let the tears fall, Bennie.”
He continued to pace the carpet, stroking her back as she rubbed her cheek against his neck and wept. He said nothing more, simply giving her the time and support she needed to let the toxic elements bubble to the surface and wash away.
Twenty minutes later, she was down to exhausted snuffles, her head heavy on his shoulder. His arms ached, his back groaned, and everything in him demanded he lay down and take a nap.
Instead, he moved to the bed and drew back the covers awkwardly, lowering her down to the cool, clean sheets. Her legs slipped easily from around his waist, but it took a little persuading for her arms to follow suit.
“Easy, Bennie. Sleep now, okay?” He brushed a lock of dark hair from her forehead, frowning at her swollen eyes. “I’ll take care of everything until you wake up.”
She reached for him; he captured her hand, turned it, and pressed a kiss to her wrist before setting it down across her stomach, then tucking her in firmly.
Just like that, she was lost in dreamland.
Reaux scrubbed his hand over his face. The next job on his list was to make sure there were snacks and water close to hand, andshe needed a damp, cold cloth resting over her eyes to help with the swelling. After that, there was the bed in the other room to strip and change, the bedding to set aside for housekeeping.
When that was done, he fully intended to take a shower of his own, followed by a goddamn nap before he fell on his face.
