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“Words, Baby Girl. You know I like your words.”
“You can hold me whenever you want. There… permission for forever.” I raise my eyebrows in faux-defiance, trying to help lighten the mood a little, and it works because his grin grows wider.
“Oh, we’re being bold now, are we?” He chuckles and continues to walk toward the front door, unlocking it with ease with me still in his arms.
“Oh my gods, this place smells like cherries!” I inhale deeply as we enter the house, closing my eyes and taking in the beautiful scent. I only know this is cherries because it’s Mac’s favorite and she practically bathes in the stuff—her words.
Bear huffs a laugh. “Of course it does. Mackenzie came and worked her magic here after… well, you know.”
“Should I write her a note to say thank you?” The bewilderment in his gaze holds a little sadness and he shakes his head.
“She doesn’t want thanks, but you know what? Yeah, screw it. We can write her a note.” It’s as if he changed his mind halfway through speaking and he grins at me again. “Wanna do it now or after we’ve cleaned up and had some rest?”
Again with the choices… this man.
“After.”
“After, it is.” He kisses the top of my head and walks with me up the stairs to his bedroom.
I was a little anxious before coming here that it would bring back the terrifying memories of the night I was taken from him, but the almost overwhelming scent of cherries and the fact that everything looks so different is a great way of tricking my brain into believing that this isn’t the same room. The furniture is all rearranged differently and there are clean, fresh sheets on the bed.
I think I need to give Mac more than a thank you note. I can’t believe all the effort that’s been put into making this place so different from before, yet it’s also the same. It’s just another one of those things that this family of Bear’s seems to excel in. They’re all-knowing and a powerful force when they come together. Not just when they’re shredding bodies to save someone, but it’s in the quiet things they do, like this.
“We should get cleaned up.” He walks to the ensuite and carefully places me beside the basin, then he turns on the faucet and lets the water run over a black washcloth before handing it to me.
“Can you do it?” I almost don’t ask, but my fears seem to be non-existent with Bear around.
“Anything you want, Baby Girl.”
Taking a deep breath, I grip the bottom of the white T-shirt Ophelia gave me and lift it up and over my head. I’m braless—as usual because I still don’t own one—but the room is warm enough for me to not feel too much of a chill as the air hits my nipples.
The shivering isn’t from being cold, more from nerves. He didn’t see the full extent of my injuries with the doc, and now I’m baring all to him. Again. I have to push away the memory of last time and focus on now. Master is dead. Everyone in that house is dead. They’ll never come after me again.
His eyes hold a hint of reverence as he looks at me, a sultry smile stretching his full lips.
“You’re beautiful.”
My body heats and I take a shuddered breath before swallowing deeply.
Bear raises his brows as I take my own time to trail my gaze up his torso. The anticipation of reaching his eyes is almost impossible to control but I remain calm, and steady mybreathing. Once I get to his face, our eyes lock, his dark brown ones to my green, and I smile.
“The soot won’t clean itself, Handsome.”
This is me giving him all the permission he needs.
His gaze darkens as his chest rises and falls heavily and there’s a low growl coming from the back of his throat. I’m not scared, though, because this is the man I entrust my whole self to. Even in the short time we’ve spent together, I’m beginning to learn how to decipher his looks and his growls. This one is full of lust and wanting, but he’s holding himself back.
I know why, and I get it. I just hope he doesn’t hold himself back forever.
The rough surface of the wet cloth makes me flinch a little as he first presses it against my skin, the memory ofthemdoing the same thing trying to push itself to the forefront of my mind, but this isn’t the same.
An involuntary shudder makes Bear pause.
“You want me to stop?” His voice is so low I almost miss his sweet whisper and tears spring to my eyes as I slowly shake my head. “Baby girl, I’mma need you to use your words.”
Turning my gaze to his, I take a moment to let his strength bolster my own with a simple look.
“Please don’t stop.” Everything he does makes a new, happier memory, never erasing the old ones, but making them a lot easier to live with. I never want him to stop gently pushing at my boundaries the way he does because with each one he breaks through, my world gets bigger.