I nod. What Blake said hurt, and I couldn’t help but feel some shame. I was engaged, and the emotional connection I have with Rhys plus all the flirting, the touches, whenwe crossed that line and kissed . . . Iwascheating on him. It was hard to reconcile the insults from a man who knew his fiancé was cheating on him with the truth of it. Blake is a monster. He had me followed because he wanted to control me. He had his business donate to the shelter to control me. He hurled insults at me to bring me down so I was easier to control. While the technicalities that I did cheat are there, what started with Rhys was only ever possible because I had already checked out of my relationship with Blake.
“What was in the other folder?”
“More photos and documents, but of you. He threatened me after showing me all of it, that if I ever tried to leave him . . . please don’t be mad? Promise me you won’t go after him, Rhys. I can’t have that guilt, I won’t survive it.”
“Baby, you are the only reason I haven’t killed him yet. Because trust me, I’ve thought about it numerous times. What did he threaten?”
“To kill you and everyone you love, to burn the shelter down with all the animals inside. He said I don’t even know half of what he’s done for us, and that the people he works for already want you all dead. I swear, I thought he was just talking to scare me. It worked. I didn’t run. I lay inside for days, terrified to leave the house, terrified to run into you, knowing people were following me and photographing me everywhere I went.”
Rhys’s head cocks to the side, his eyes glossing over blankly as if he’s thinking something through, but I can’t quite read his expression. He masks it before I can think more of it.
“I know, baby, I don’t blame you. You did nothing wrong. He can’t touch us. We’ll handle it. C’mere,” he hushes as he wraps me in his arms. His fingers gently strokedown my temple, following the natural curve of my jaw and back up again. His scent surrounds me, and like every time I’m with this man, all my worry, stress, and the rest of the world seem to disappear. This is exactly where I’m supposed to be and who I’m supposed to be with.
“You aren’t going to go tell everyone right now?”
“Do you know how many times I’ve imagined you here next to me in my bed? I’d dream of you, curled into my side while I held you, and then I’d wake up, and reality set in. Now that I have you here? I’m not going to waste a single second of it.”
My heart flips over in my chest. He’s so perfect. He’s all I want. Rhys grabs my hip farthest away from him, pulling me down the bed until I’m lying on my back beneath him. “Is this okay?” God. Could he be any more considerate?
“More than okay. You’re not the only one who’s dreamt of this exact scenario.”
“You’re telling me you lay in bed next to him and thought of me?”
“You were always in my thoughts; you consumed me. I’d fall asleep wondering what it would be like if I were next to you instead.”
“You’re going to find out. But first, I’ve been dying to do this since the last time.” He dips his head lower, big emerald eyes focused on me, and presses his lips to mine. The moment they touch, it’s like everything we’ve both been holding back finally breaks free.
I’ve never wanted anything more.
Chapter Twenty-Six
RHYS
The dam burst, and it’s a fucking race to rid each other of our clothes. I know we’ve got a shit storm we need to deal with, but right now, my only focus is on making her feel good. I’ve got no idea what tomorrow will bring, but I’ve been dreaming about having her here in my room, and I’m not going to waste a second of it.
My hands delve under her sweatshirt, gripping the tank top she’s got underneath and pulling both over her head. She’s wearing a similar bra to the one she had on our first night together, but now that the lights are on, I take in my fill of her gorgeous body. Her nipples peek through the thin lace fabric and make my mouth water.
I give in to the temptation, sliding my hands up her waist and cupping her big breasts. They’re so much more than a handful, heavy and full in my palms as I knead and massage them. Bristol moans, a sweet purr that goes straight to my aching cock. She reaches for my shirt next, and I help her, shrugging itoff and tossing it behind me to land somewhere for me to deal with later.
Warm, deft fingers start at my abdomen, smoothing over my tattooed skin. My heart stutters in my chest, knowing there’s a good possibility of what she’s about to find. Bristol takes her time, exploring my body, running over my V-lines, and over each defined ab. She works her way up, shaky fingers facing upward as she drags her palm over my pecs.
Then she stops, a little gasp coming from her lips as her head cocks to the side, fingers tracing over the cursive letters that spell out her name inside a detailed heart.
“Rhys, that’s my . . .”
“Your name.”
“Why? How? What?”
My hands circle hers, bringing them up to my face, placing gentle kisses on the inside of each palm, then the delicate skin on the inside of each wrist.
“I got it done the day I met you. I knew you were the one, Bristol.”
“Rhys, I don’t know what to say . . . That’s . . .”
“Crazy?” I fill in for her. Bristol giggles, a light sound that fills my heart with so much goddamn love.
“Yeah. Yeah, crazy.”
