"I'll handle it."
"Emma."
"I'll handle it." I kissed him quickly, then slipped out of his arms before he could argue. "Now let me shower, or I'm going to be late."
I padded to the bathroom, turning on the shower, the first drops of water cold against my skin—a contrast to the warm arms that circled me from behind.
"Can I join?"
I looked up at him from over my shoulder. "Do you promise to behave?"
A sly grin quirked his lips, the right dimple making a rare appearance. "Absolutely not."
Anticipation coiled low. "Want to help me getundressed?"
His fingers caught the hem of the nightdress, skimming up my thighs, dragging the fabric with them.
The nightdress cleared my hips—and his hands stopped.
"Emma." His voice changed.
I knew what he was looking at before he said another word.
The last bruises had already faded to faint yellow shadows. The new ones he'd laid over them came from a different kind of need. One I'd begged for, craving release from the chaos. Davidson's cruel laugh. Nathan's condescending voice. All of it crushing down until I couldn't breathe.
I need to not think for a while, I'd begged him, yearning for the place only he could bring me to.Can you help me?
Now his fingers traced the curve of my backside, featherlight over what I knew had to be a canvas of purple and blue. Then he dropped to his knees behind me—and pressed his lips to the new bruises.
"I'm sorry," he murmured against me. Kiss. "I shouldn't have—"
"Damien."
He kept going, lips trailing apologies across each mark. "You deserved soft, but I was too selfish and I—"
"Gave me exactly what I needed."
He froze.
I turned, cupping his face in my hands, tilting it up to meet my gaze. "The old ones had faded. And besides, we needed last night." I brushed my thumb across his cheekbone. "Both of us."
His jaw worked. Guilt still swimming in those dark eyes.
"I'd tell you if it was too much," I said softly. "You know I would."
He sagged against me. Then he pressed his forehead to my stomach, arms wrapping around my thighs.
"I know," he said quietly, then his mouth quirked. "Do you really like them?"
I smiled down at him, blush creeping into my cheeks. "I really do."
"They look beautiful on you."
"I think so too."
His grin turned wicked as he reached around to lift one of my thighs onto his shoulder. Head ducking between them, he whispered against my skin. "I believe I owe you one, love."
My fingers twisted in the strands of his hair as he licked straight through the center of me.
