Page 18 of Hearts Etched in Glass (The Afton Adders #2)
Emergence, Sleep Token
The void in my chest has now been sealed with rhapsodies of love. I have found the missing piece to my story, to my heart, and that was Marcus.
No matter how different our relationship may be to the outside world, I am proud to know the man that has been with me my entire life is also the other composition to my soul. Marcus and Tilly make me whole.
Taking the warm, wet washcloth, I wring it out in the tub as Marcus and Tilly sit, soaking in the hot waters.
I had just showered and don’t want to miss taking care of them after our moment of union.
Tilly is laid back on Marcus’s chest, appearing to doze off and on, as he has two fingers tracing her forearms. His eyes find mine as he gives me a handsome, elated smile.
I rub the soft cloth up and down his shoulders, noticing the bruises forming around his chest and the cut on his cheek.
It is hard to not narrow my eyes in question, and Marcus catches that I am assessing his injuries.
“Let’s get her to bed first, then I’ll explain,” he whispers, tucking a small piece of hair behind Tilly's ear.
Tilly fidgets at his touch, as her bright eyes open. “How much did you hear of Marcus’s confession? Did you hear him explaining his dom?” She turns in the tub to sit on her heels, between his legs. The feel of her reassuring him gives me great comfort, for I know this is not an easy conversation.
“I heard a little, but Marcus. This…” I carefully wash over some of the bruises on his chest, wincing at sight. “This is awful. I’m ordering you. You will not go back there. We will give you whatever you need.”
Marcus’s eyes cast down to the bubbles in the tub. “I don’t think I will ever go back there.”
“You sure you don’t know who it is? I’d love to rip him limb from limb,” I say, dropping the washcloth in the tub and draping my arms around Marcus, placing my forehead onto the back of his head.
“I’m fine,” Marcus states, but the crack in his shaky voice betrays him as silent tears run down his cheeks.
“Oh, darling.” Tilly curls into him, wrapping his arms around her. I tighten my arms to hold him. It breaks my heart to see him like this. To see he swallowed so much pain and took the only affection he had been manipulated into thinking he deserved.
Marcus begins explaining the events that would take place with the depraved man, that tried to claim he was a dom. The memories are harrowing, and it takes every fiber of my being to not drive down to that establishment and light some fucking dynamite, to blow it to Hell.
After he tells us their last encounter and the horrible note the fucker left him, I look down at my hands to see my fingernails have imprinted on my palms. Once he has finished his recollections and has settled, I dry both of my lovers off and usher them to bed.
Tilly settles between us after she gives us each a kiss goodnight.
“I love you both so much.” Her eyes are as glimmering as her words are full of devotion and tenderness.
We share how much we love her, but before we may turn to sleep, she grabs each of our faces, catching me by surprise.
“You both took me like such good, good men. Thank you, darlings.” Her is voice seductive and it’s truly unfair, because it makes blood rush to my dick.
Then she playfully kisses the tips of our noses and settles back between our naked bodies.
We lay there until I hear Tilly’s soft breathing, telling me she is fast asleep. When I glance over at Marcus, I find him staring back at me. I take my hand off Tilly’s hip and reach under the covers to find Marcus’s hand.
We sit there staring at one another for some time until I finally say, “You deserve love Marcus, and I love you.” Then I carefully reach over Tilly’s sleeping frame and kiss the cheek of my darling man.