“Fuck, Savi. I’m sorry.” I can’t even look at her as I swallow down the shame I feel.
“You have nothing to be sorry for. These marks don’t hurt, Knox. All I see when I look at them is how good it felt to be needed by you.”
Putting my hands on the wall, I stand under the shower with my back toward her—suddenly exhausted from the weight I always carry.
“When are you going to realize that you don’t have to hold all this pain on your own?” She lays her hand gently on my back and softly places a kiss against my skin.
“Pain is the easy part,” I admit quietly. “It’s the guilt that eats me alive.”
“Then maybe it’s time we figure out a way to let some of it go.”
“This isn’t your problem, sunshine.”
She slips in front of me as her arms wrap around my neck. Waves of wet, dark hair cover her breast, and her makeup has long been washed away. She’s breathtaking and easily the most beautiful sight I’ve ever seen. She has a way of looking at me that almost makes me believe there’s something good in me that’s worth finding again.
“What happened to me wasn’t your problem either, Knox,” she shakes her head sadly. “Yet, you held my pain for me that day, and did everything you could to make it better. Even after all these years, you are still here, taking it all away.” She places her hand over my heart, and the tattoo that means the most to me. “I know it’s not my problem, but I’m here asking you to let me take some of it away.”
“That’s a lot to ask of me. I don’t let people in.” I brush her hair over her shoulder and slide my fingers around her neck as my thumb strokes over her slender throat. It’s becoming harder and harder to be near her without feeling the need to touch her.
“Tell me something I don’t know.” She rolls her eyes and tries to make light of the situation, which works when I feel some of the tension melt away.
“You aren’t going to like what you hear,” I warn her, taking the shampoo off the shelf. “Turn around,” I say softly.
When her back is to me, I start washing her hair. It’s the most natural thing in the world for me to take care of her, and it’s one of the few things that make me feel good.
“Mmm,” she moans when I massage her scalp. “You have magic hands, Stone.”
“I know.”
Her elbow juts out behind her, and I dodge it as a smile finds its way through my darkness.
“You are also good at distracting me, which isn’t going to work this time. When you are ready to talk about what upset you earlier, I’m here. Since you proved yourself tonight in the bedroom department, I won’t be going anytime soon.”
“Good to know,” I chuckle. “It would be a shame if you were to leave so soon because I haven’t even begun to show you what I’m capable of making you feel,” I whisper in her ear before smacking her perfect ass, causing her to yelp. “Turn around so I can rinse you.”
“So bossy,” she grins.
“Sunshine, you have no idea,” I laugh, feeling lighter than I have in years.
I ignore the fear that wants to creep in when I think of telling her about my past. I’m worried that when she learns the truth, it will be too much for her, and she’ll run.
What terrifies me the most, though, is becominghimif I lose her.
SIXTEEN
SAVI
I wasn’t lyingwhen I said he had magic hands. After washing my hair, he moves to my body. A spicy, woodsy aroma fills the air as he applies body wash to a sponge. It smells just like him, and I love having his scent all over me.
His hands are gentle as he washes every inch of me before rinsing us both off and wrapping me in a towel. He’s been silent and deep in thought for a while now, and I want so badly to be let in, but I remain quiet.
Knox has always been the silent type, only letting people see what he wants them to see. He’s very hard to read most of the time, but I can tell he’s still thinking about whatever upset him earlier.
Once we are back in his bedroom, I start searching for my clothes, wanting to give him some space to sort out his feelings and come to me on his own terms.
“I should probably go back to the house,” I say, finally breaking the silence. “I left it unlocked, and I need to check onFreya.” I find my clothes buried under the sheets and fist them in my hands.
“Freya?” His eyebrows scrunch in confusion.
