“Oh. Okay. I’ll ask her tomorrow. Maybe I should swing by the cottage for a change of clothes. I really don’t want to put these back on in the morning.”
Remy chuckled. “You don’t want to smell like alcohol first ting in da mornin’?”
“Hell no. I don’t particularly like smelling of it, period, but I can handle it if it’s right after work. Accidents happen, drunks spill their drinks and bartenders get splashed. It happens. But I don’t want to wake up smelling like a damn brewery.”
“Someting tells me dere’s a story dere.”
Kylie sighed. “Yeah. Ezra. He often woke up reeking after a night of binge-drinking.”
“I can see why you wouldn’t want to smell dat way, Kitten. I can promise you now, dat’s one ting you’ll never have to worry about wit’ me.”
“What?”
“Binge-drinkin’. I got dat outta my system when I was in college.”
“That’s good to know, Remy.”
He glanced over at her while at a stop light. He could see the exhaustion on her face. “Why don’t you get in da shower as soon as we get back to da compound and I’ll get you some clothes for in da mornin’? You look like you’re ready to fall asleep sittin’ dere, Kitten.”
“I feel like I am. Okay. I’ll let you get me some clothes, just this once.”
“Thank you, Kitten, for trustin’ me wit’ dat.”
“I trust you with my life, Remy,” she murmured in a sleepy voice.
Remy wasn’t sure if she realized what she’d said so he didn’t react to it just in case. He didn’t want to upset her in any way.
Once they were back at the compound, he kissed her gently and sent her into his house, while he headed over to Emelise and Caine’s, so he could go into the attached cottage to get Kylie’s clothes.
“Where’s Kylie?” Emelise frowned at him.
“Right about now she should be hoppin’ in da shower. She’s so beat I offered to fetch some clothes for her for in da mornin’.”
“Things seem to be going really well between you since your weekend away.”
“Dey are. On her next day off, I’m takin’ her out for a romantic dinner. I have someting very important to ask her.”
“Well, we look forward to hearing how that goes. Just let yourself out when you’re done. Have a good night, Remy.”
“You too, Emelise. Caine.” He nodded at them, went to Kylie’s room to get her some clothes, then returned to his own home. He’d expected to find her in the shower still but she was curled up on the bed, covers over her, and already half-asleep. He set the clothes on top of the dresser, stripped, and crawled into bed with her. He pulled her close and nuzzled into her before he followed her into slumber.
Several hours after drifting off, Remy was awakened by the sound of whimpers. He sat up quickly and turned to find Kylie curled in a ball and the noises coming from her.
“Kylie, Kitten, wake up,” he said softly. He didn’t want to startle her. When that had no effect he gently shook her shoulder.
“Please stop!” Kylie’s eyes snapped open and for several seconds they were unfocused.
“It’s okay, Kitten. It was just a bad dream. You’re safe.”
“Oh God.”
Remy wrapped his arms around her and when she curled into him, he tightened his hold. “Shh. It’s a’right, cher. I got you. You’re safe. No’ting and no one is ever gonna hurt you again.” Ever so slowly he felt her begin to relax and the shaking subsided. “Do you want to talk about it?”
“It was the night I left. I’d fixed dinner for us and I kept waiting for Ezra to come home. There was a rule about eating. There were rules for everything. I wasn’t allowed to eat until he came home. By midnight, I was so hungry because I hadn’t had anything to eat all day and…I gave in to the hunger. He was so angry. I’d never seen him that enraged before. He started beating me; when I fell to the floor, he started kicking me. I curled up to protect my face and stomach but he just kept kicking. Then…he grabbed my throat. I thought I was going to die. I remember whispering ‘please stop’ over and over until I couldn’t breathe. When he finally let go, he told me if I ever broke another rule he would kill me. My throat hurt so badly—God, I hurt everywhere—and like a groveling dog, I just laid there and told him I was sorry.”
Remy closed his eyes at the images her words created in his mind. Oh how he wished he could kill the bastard all over again. “Never again, Kitten. No one will ever touch you dat way again.”
“I know.” The smile she gave him was faint. “Because you’re a good man and you won’t let that happen.”
“No, I won’t. I will always keep you safe, cher. Always. Try to get some more sleep. I’m right here.” He held her close, his hand rubbing small, soothing circles on her back, until she fell back to sleep. The sun was starting to lighten the sky when he finally fell back to sleep himself.
