“I need you to do more than hold me.”
If I can’t escape this storm in my head, I need him to at least quiet the noise in my body.
“What are you saying, baby?”
“I needyou.”
His body stills as his eyes search mine for something unsaid. But even as the need for his comfort simmers beneath my skin, exhaustion wins. My eyes flutter shut, the weight of the day dragging me into the quiet darkness.
The last thing I feel is the steady beat of his heart beneath my palm, a metronome keeping me tethered to him.
His lips press another kiss to my temple.“I’ve got you.”
TWENTY-TWO
God, I hate that I have to spend time with this prick. But I promised Sparkle I’d fix this.
I’m standing in front of Harrington Heights, the city’s noise humming behind me, but my focus is on my phone as I type a message to the number I swiped from Koen’s phone earlier.
Bring the Mercedes and meet me outside the Heights. I’m standing by the entry of the garage. Sylus.
Deep breath, Sy.It’s for her.
Anything for her.
The thought of her has me zoning out, my mind flashing back to this morning. Her sleepy form tangled in the sheets, her body fitting perfectly against mine, even in sleep. The way her tight little pussy clenched around me, as soft, breathy gasps escaped her lips, while my cock was buried balls deep.
How my mouth found her skin, brushing over her collarbone, gliding up to her throat.
How I felt the flutter of her pulse against my lips, and I let my tongue trace it, tasting her, savoring her.
How I came so hard, I was sure I would wake her.
But I didn’t.
And how when I pulled out, my cum dripped from her pink pussy, a sight I could look at over and over again.
Good thing I took some pictures. I pull up the photo app on my phone and scroll through them.
Goddammit.
Her flushed cheeks, messy hair, the faint bruises from my grip on her hips. The drip of cum gliding down her pussy.Fuck, she’s stunning.
I open our text thread and send them to her, one after another.
Good morning, Sparkle baby. I hope you wake up sore and still dripping from me. I had to head out early, didn’t want to wake you, but I’ll be back soon. Don’t go disappearing, okay? I need you later. Love you.
The words feel natural, even if I’m probably overusing thelove youswith her. But it’s part of the plan.
Desensitizing her to the words.
I don’t expect her to say it back, not yet. I’ll wait until she’s ready when she means it. But I’ve noticed something. The more I say it, the less she tenses or runs. It’s progress. And that’s good for all of us.
Confrontational therapy,or whatever Alaric calls what his therapist told him to do, seems to work. I’ve never seen him like this, not even before Oscar died. He’s calmer now, almost, dare I say, happy. And it’s all because of her.
And yet, she’s still here, still mine. None of my fears came true. She didn’t abandon me or Koen for Alaric. She wants us all.Hell, she even wants the asshole I’m waiting for, and if she wants him, she’ll have him.
Whatever she needs, she gets.
