She shook her head. “It took three times—three assaults—for me to finally get out. And I never told law enforcement. I’ll never forgive myself for that.”
“Aspen, listen to me.”
She didn’t want to. The shame was bearing down on her like a weight, pressing on her chest, urging her focus to rest anywhere but on him.
He leaned forward and tilted her chin up. Then his eyes beamed into hers. “Everything that asshole did…every time he touched you in a way he shouldn’t have, scared you, or said something that made you feel less than…that was on him. All of it.”
A tear trickled down her cheek. “But I could have left earlier.”
“It’s not that simple.”
It was true. In the moment, it had felt confusing and hard and messy. “I’ve been so embarrassed. That night in Misty Peak, when he dragged me out of the bar and you guys came out and saved me…you asked me if I wanted to press charges. I said no because I was so scared people would find out what he’d done to me. I was scared people would realize that I’d stayed with him after he’d hit me and figure out that I’m not brave or strong.”
He slipped the mug from her fingers and set it on the coffee table. Then he took her hands. “Aspen, remember what I told you? Youarestrong. You had to be to leave him. And you had to be brave to leave the town you grew up in to get away from him. Don’t ever let anyone convince you otherwise.”
She wanted to believe him.
“And you are worthy of a love so much better than whatever the hell that asshole gave you. You are worthy of safe love. A love that protects you. Do you understand?”
Worthy…it was something she hadn’t associated with herself for a while. “I haven’t believed that for a long time.”
“Then it’s my job to make you believe it.”
He nudged her close, and she dug her head into his chest.
“Thank you,” she breathed.
She wasn’t sure what she was thanking him for. His words. His presence. His protection. Maybe everything. Since the day they’d met, he’d been there for her without asking for anything in return.
His arms wrapped around her, cocooning her in his strength and warmth. “I’d do anything for you, Aspen. You know that, right?”
“I’m starting to.” She closed her eyes, letting all that was Jesse soothe her. She’d made really shitty decisions with Dylan. But the decision to get to know Jesse almost felt like her redemption.
Minutes ticked by,but Jesse couldn’t move. He wanted to remain exactly where he was, Aspen in his arms, for as long as he could.
It didn’t take long for her breathing to even out. For her chest to rise and fall in a steady rhythm. She was falling asleep. Good. He’d been worried that she wouldn’t be able to sleep after everything today had brought.
That familiar fury crawled around his chest, threatening to punch right out of him. But he kept it inside…barely.
Gently, he scooped his arms behind her knees and back and lifted her as he stood.
She drew in a long breath before looking up at him, eyes half hooded. “Not my room,” she whispered. “I don’t want to be in there.”
His chest tightened. Of course she didn’t want to be in the room where that scumbag had attacked her. He wouldn’t be surprised if she stopped feeling safe anywhere in his house.
He forced the rage off his face and changed direction. He stepped into his room and placed her on the bed. She snuggled into the pillow as he pulled up the sheets.
“Don’t be gone long,” she said quietly.
He grazed a lock of hair from her face, for the millionth time getting lost in just how beautiful she was. “Never.”
The second her eyes closed, his gaze lowered to her neck. To the red bruising in the form of fingerprints.
And this time, he didn’t hide anything. He let the anger carve itself into his face, thickening the muscles in his neck and fisting his hands. Every part of him wished Dylan was in the room with him right now so he could show him exactly what happened when he messed with the wrong person.
He turned and headed out of the bedroom to check all the locks on the doors and windows. He’d hear if someone breached his house, and he could go from dead asleep to awake and alert in a matter of seconds. But a lock would slow the intruder down.
He’d just checked the last room when his phone buzzed with a text from his brother.
