“I love you, Mom.”
Rhys’ mom leaves the bedroom, and he wastes no time following her, flicking the lock. He returns to me quickly, wrapping me up in his big, comforting arms. We stay embraced for moments, maybe longer, just breathing each other in before he breaks away, his palms holding either side of my neck, as his eyes bounce all over my face.
“Are you alright?”
“I’m so much better now that you’re here. I was so scared, Rhys.” My voice breaks on a sob as the tears fall.
“God, baby, your tears kill me. I’m so sorry I left you. I never should have left. I’ll never forgive myself for putting you in that position.”
“It wasn’t your fault, we can’t live with you hovering over me every single second, it’s not realistic. There’s no way we could have known Blake was going to show up.”
“But he was still out there and I knew that. I’ve never been so scared in my life, Bristol.”
“Me either. He looked so crazy, like I had never met him before. Is he—” My voice breaks before I say the words. “Is he dead?”
Rhys shakes his head, his thumbs wiping the tears off my cheeks. “He’s not dead, baby. But he’s someplace where he’ll never hurt anyone ever again.”
He kept his promise. I didn’t want Blake’s death to be on either one of us. I’m okay not knowing where he is or the state he’s probably in. Our conversation at the shelter starts to flow back in slowly. Blake is evil. He knowingly made it possible for people to traffic humans, helped them make an ungodly amount of money, and did what he could to protect them. To protect people who were harming others. That stands against everything I’ve given my life toward. Blake deserves whatever comes for him.
I lurch forward suddenly, my brain finally catching up completely. “Oh my god! Rhys! Kira! Where is Kira?”
“Shh, hey, she’s going to be okay. Blake had her; she’s not with the people he worked for. He gave us the location where she’s being held. His cabin?”
“He had her at his cabin? God, Rhys. She’s been missing for how long, and I didn’t know? What kind of friend am I?”
“You texted with her; there was no way to know. Don’t carry that guilt.”
“His cabin is an hour away. When did they leave? Will they call you as soon as they have her? I just need to know she’s okay. Can they bring her here, please?”
“Breathe, sweetheart. My men will call me as soon as they have eyes on her. They’ve been told to bring her here. You can talk to her on the phone to reassure her as soon as she’s safe.”
I sit back, letting myself relax as his words give me comfort. He’s got this. She’s going to be okay. She has to be.
As if reading my mind, Rhys gives me the reassurance I so desperately need right now. “She’s going to be okay. Let’s take a shower, help you relax some. It’ll help pass the time.”
I nod my head in agreement, a shower sounds good, needed, even. Rhys gathers me up in his arms, carrying me bridal-style to the connected bathroom. After setting me on my feet, he reaches in, turning the water on. I cross my hands over my front to pull my shirt off, but Rhys’ hands beat me to it, his fingers lightly gripping the hem.
“Let me, my love. I just want—” He pauses and clears his throat, like he’s holding back how emotional this has made him. “I justneedto take care of you right now. Please?”
Once we’re both completely naked, he checks the temperature, pulling back the curtain for us to step in. My eyes flutter closed as soon as the comforting, scalding spray of the water beats down on my tense shoulders.
“Is the temperature alright? Is it hot enough?” he asks, his hands sliding across my stomach, resting on my hips.
“I’m worried it’s going to be too hot for you. I love it like this.”
“That’s all that matters to me,” he whispers against my lips. I kiss him slowly, lovingly, without rush or inhibition. I kiss him like he’s mine, and we have all the time in the world. When we break apart, I look up to meet his eyes. He’s so achingly beautiful. How did this giant teddy bear find his way to me? Fate has to be real.
“I love you.”
Rhys’ lips turn up in a half-smile, as if he feels guilty for being as happy as he is. My heart aches at that. “I love you, too, sweetheart.” We’ll get through all of this, then we’ll focus on our future, on building a life.
Rhys gathers shampoo in his palm, urging me to turn to give him easier access to my long hair. He washes it meticulously,his fingers massaging my scalp, slow and deliberate, taking his time. Then he rinses it, repeating the same action with my conditioner. It’s so sweet and so incredibly intimate. There’s no desire for sex from either of us, just a deep-seated need to be close to the other person, and for Rhys, to take care of me.
Once my hair has been thoroughly washed and conditioned, I grab his soap, sudsing it up between my palms.
“It’s my turn to take care of you, Mr. Hudson.”
Rhys growls, low and deep
