Total pages in book: 132
Estimated words: 125465 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 627(@200wpm)___ 502(@250wpm)___ 418(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 125465 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 627(@200wpm)___ 502(@250wpm)___ 418(@300wpm)
“You’re all mine, angel.”
She shudders, still softly whimpering while I trace a line from her shoulder to her ear with my lips. So precious. So incredibly precious.
“Nobody’s ever going to take you away from me. No one’s ever going to hurt you,” I tell her, tenderness swelling in my heart and pushing away the lingering darkness until I’m at peace.
Only she can do this to me.
“I love you,” I whisper, holding her tighter.
I barely hear her whispered response—I love you, Ren—before closing my eyes and sinking into a blissful, dreamless oblivion.
26
SCARLET
It’s getting easier to wake up wearing a smile. The moment I’m awake and aware, the first thing I think about is Ren.
Another day spent with Ren.
Because that’s who he is now.
He’s been the old Ren for more than a week. The Ren who makes me laugh, who listens to me, who makes me feel seen and protected. Possessive, maybe even overbearing, but I like that. I always have. I guess it comes from growing up around extremely protective people.
Somehow, the cabin feels larger.
The air smells fresher. The sun shines brighter.
My imagination? Sure. So what?
I’m happy. I’m hopeful. What else matters?
My smile widens once I press my nose to his pillow, inhaling him, wrapping my arms around it, and pulling it in close. He promised we’d take a walk today. I never imagined something so simple bringing me such happiness, but it’s not the walk itself I care about. Being with him and feeling connected are all that matters. We have so much lost time to make up for.
Plus, getting some fresh air couldn’t hurt. He needs to get outside more, soak in sunlight and get healthy. He’s gone too long without anybody to look after him. When he’s in this gentle, familiar mood, it’s a lot easier to convince him to take care of himself.
He’s already up, which comes as no surprise. I can’t pretend I wasn’t hoping he’d be in bed, though, if only so we could indulge in each other a little.
I crave our connection the way I always have and look for any opportunity to strengthen it.
Who am I trying to kid? I want him. I want his knowing touch, his searing kisses, and even the way he sometimes pushes my boundaries until I’m caught hanging on the edge of fear that only intensifies the pleasure. The sense of being owned, the way he takes my body and does what he wants, whatever he wants. Maybe it should scare me—maybe it should infuriate me.
It doesn’t. I like it too much. It feels like coming home.
Giving myself to him, the man I’ve always belonged to, anyway.
And it seems to calm him down. In fact, when I think about it, the night he took me so hard and rough was the night his mood changed.
He’s been mellow ever since. Yet another reason for me to wish he was here right now, so I could touch and stroke and kiss him.
I’m starting to understand he doesn’t need as much sleep as I do. I’m learning his rhythms—yet another unimagined joy, something as mundane as that. He already made coffee, the rich aroma enough to make me sit up and stretch. One good thing about waking up alone: there’s already coffee waiting.
“No. I didn’t say that.”
My eyes close, and I wince at the sound of his voice.
Not that I don’t like hearing it, but I hate to wake up and find him already talking with River. It’s easier to keep him feeling upbeat and even-tempered when I’m the only person he has contact with. Selfish? Maybe a little, but in the end, he’s what I’m most concerned with.
His health, his happiness.
He doesn’t need River’s anger and scheming to worm its way into our lives. Lately, things have been good between them. Happy. One night, I overheard Ren reminiscing with his brother over what took place in the little house in the woods. He thought I was sleeping, or else he wouldn’t have gone into detail.
I made it a point to wrap my pillow around my ears. I don’t want to hear it. I’ve already seen and heard enough. Not that I needed the details to feel chilled by the nasty, seething satisfaction in his voice.
Whoever that man was, he must’ve been pure evil.
So evil, people are rejoicing over his violent, painful death.
“That was your idea,” he continues, his voice barely more than a whisper. “I’m the one who suggested going down there and using the codes I got from Christian… What do you mean? What do I think I’m going to accomplish? What the hell do you think?”
Goose bumps race over my skin, and I shiver in their wake.
What’s he talking about? Going down where? To Reno?
“I asked him about that, remember? He said they’re building one, but it isn’t well-stocked yet.”