“Well, kind of.”
“What the fuck does ‘kind of’ mean, Aurora?”
Louie’s ears twitch while her lips lift into a terrifying snarl.
“I-I was dreaming of him … touching me. In my dream, I begged him for more. And, well … he listened.”
My face is on fire with shame.
He said he wants to change, to be better, but can I trust him to change a billion years of bad habits?
Louie looks terrifying. Her massive body is tense, and her lips twitch with rage.
“I’m doing my best to stay calm, Aurora. What do you want me to do? I could go out there and fight him, but I’m pretty sure I’ll lose. Look, this is your life, and you’re the one who’s gonna have to make these decisions. Do I trust that old twat? Hell no. But I don’t trust anyone with you. I’m with you no matter what you decide, even if I don’t agree. Mostly because I don’t have a choice.”
Louie tunnels under my arm and lays her head in my lap. “At your service, oh mighty Mistress of Catastrophic Choices and Ancient Dick.”
“Thanks, Lou,” I whisper, snorting as I kiss her snout.
“I wish I could explain this pull I feel toward him. It’s like an ache in my chest that only stops when he’s near me. Do you know anything about that?”
“You sure it’s not just heartburn, Aurora? Youarealmost thirty.”
She’s dead serious!
“Yes, Louie. I’m sure it’s not heartburn. Jesus Christ.”
When I finally stand up, my lips twitch into a smile. Louie’s a snarky bitch, and I kind of love it.
I strip, toss my ruined clothes in the trash, and step into the shower. The scalding water turns the drain into a scene straightout ofPsycho. I run my soapy hands all over my body, not only to clean myself but also to assess the damage Jameson inflicted.
My neck is, by far, the worst injury I sustained. The lightest graze of the washcloth makes me whimper in pain. Remembering the blood Jameson smeared across my face, I creep my hands down my body and in between my legs.
I’m not worried about my clit. Doubt he would have been able to find it, anyway.
But the blood …
With a deep, shaky breath, I slowly push one finger inside of me, expecting the worst.
Huh, nothing.
Adding another finger, I’m surprised—and deeply relieved—when I still feel no pain. Maybe he didn’t hurt me as badly as I thought. It doesn’t make sense, but I’m not going to question this small mercy right now.
When the water finally runs clear, I step out, towel off, and carefully tiptoe over Louie, who’s sprawled across the bathroom floor like she owns the place.
“Hey, Aurora. I just wanted you to know how proud I am of you. Ezra told me you bit that monster’s cock off. Fuckin’ badass, babe.”
“Thanks, Lou.”
I’m proud of me, too.
After I brush my teeth, comb my hair, and slip into a massive T-shirt, I know what I want—no need—to do.
Louie gazes at me in the mirror. She knows I’ve made some sort of decision. She’s always been intuitive.
“I want to ask Ezra to stay tonight. I would feel safer with both of you here. Plus, I have some questions I need him to answer. Is that okay?”
Can dogs sigh? Because Louie hangs her head with a loud snort.
