Page 235 of Ruthless Desires: Vol. One

I nod in agreement. “From what he said, it sounds to me like he had some last-minute business to deal with, and he’s turning it into a vacation. God knows why.”

When I look to Wren, she has the blanket pulled tight around her.Fuck.I was hoping she wouldn’t immediately get nervous.

“What I said still stands, love. We’re not leaving you behind. So if you say yes to this—and that’sifyou say yes, because you don’t have to—then we’re taking you with us.”

She nods slowly, staring at the bed. “This would help you guys? With your revenge plans?”

“Yes,” Rhett says. He’s gripping a pillow tightly, and his jaw is clenched.

Please don’t pressure her. Please don’t—

“Can I think about it?” she asks, her voice small and quiet.

“Of course, sweetheart,” Rhett says. I have no idea how he’s so tense yet manages to speak so gently to her. “Ell, when do we need an answer by?”

“Tomorrow afternoon.”

“I’ll have an answer by tonight,” she says.

Rhett sighs. Then he tosses his pillow onto the bed. “I need to sleep.”

Good.He’s so behind on rest, I don’t know how he’s functioning.

Wren fidgets with her blanket. “Can I stay with you?”

“Sure.”

“Make sure he doesn’t get on his phone,” Oliver says to Wren. “He says it helps him relax, but he always ends up on news sites. And that’s stressful as hell.”

Rhett grumbles something under his breath while Oliver kisses his cheek and then Wren’s. I have to hide my smile as I take Wren into my arms, pressing my lips to the top of her head. Then I kiss Rhett softly, wishing I could reach inside of him and take some of the dark thoughts swirling in his mind.

Grabbing Oliver’s hand, I lead him out of the room. “Sleep well, you two.”

Chapter twenty-two

Wren

Waking up in Rhett’s arms is one of my favorite feelings.

It’s not that I don’t love waking up with Elliot and Oliver. I love it just as much. But since Rhett’s sleep schedule is so different, I don’t get to do it nearly as often with him. Plus there’s something about the way he holds me that fills my heart to the brim.

Carefully, I roll over so I’m facing him. My hope is not to wake him, but when I turn, he’s already wide awake.

I frown. “Did you not sleep?”

“I did.” He kisses my forehead. “Woke up an hour ago.”

“And you just… stayed?”

He swallows, and his gaze flicks away. “Didn’t want to let you go.”

Butterflies take flight in my stomach. Nuzzling my face against his chest, I say, “I like that.”

“What?”

“You not letting me go.”

He hums lowly, tightening his arms around me. I don’t miss the tension riddling his muscles, but hopefully I’ll be able to ease some of his stress soon.