Deny it all you want, but you’re mine.
“You’re safe,” Matthew repeats, making me realize I voiced my question aloud.
Something dark shines in Matthew’s brown irises. A fierce determination. But there’s also something else. Something I don’t quite recognize.
“He’s not going to get to you.” Matthew skims his thumb over my cheek. “I promise.”
His words send a shiver down my spine.
I believe him.
Matthew isn’t going to let anything hurt me.
But what if he gets hurt in the process?
The thought makes me shudder. Matthew doesn’t miss it. “C’mon. You’re cold, let’s get you inside.”
He stands up and extends his hand to me. I slip my palm into his and let him pull me up, my gaze going to the little cottage in the woods. I was so out of it, I didn’t even realize we had left my place, although I can’t say I regret leaving it.
Will I even be able to go back to my home?
Just the idea of it makes bile rise in my throat.
Matthew opens the door and leads me inside. The darkness has my pulse racing as my fingers grip his tighter. The light flickers to life, and he faces me, not missing a thing.
“You’re shaking. It’s probably the adrenaline crash. How about a bath to warm you up?”
I nod wordlessly, and he leads me down the hallway and into the bathroom. There is a white tub in the corner. Letting go of my hand, he starts the water before turning back to me.
“Arms up.”
I do what he says, letting him take off my clothes without protest. I should be more self-conscious that he gets to see me naked like this, when I’m already so vulnerable, but I’m not. It actually feels nice to have somebody take care of me for a change.
He navigates me to the tub, helping me enter as another shudder rocks my body. The warm water burns my icy skin as the scent of lavender fills my nostrils.
Closing my eyes, I pull my legs to my chest, my arms wrapping around them as I press my forehead against my knees, letting out a shaky breath.
“I’ll leave?—”
My head snaps up, my ears buzzing as I look at Matthew, who’s already taken a step back. I extend my hand, my fingers wrapping around his wrist and holding him in place.
“Don’t.”
His brown eyes meet mine.
“I don’t want to be alone right now.”
Matthew’s jaw clenches, nostrils flaring. I expect him to refuse me, but he kneels on the floor next to the tub.
That panic inside me eases a fraction now that he’s here, my shoulders relaxing. My fingers slide down, intertwining with his, and he returns my grip.
For a moment, we sit in silence. I lean my head against the tub, my free hand brushing a dark lock from his forehead. His hair is messy, as if he’s run his fingers through it a hundred times.
“Are you angry with me?” My question is soft, barely a whisper.
“No,” he mutters, but I don’t miss the strain in his words.
“Liar. You’re pissed. I’m pissed at myself too. You were right. I should have made a report ages ago. I should have said something. Maybe the?—”
