Page 31 of Sweet Possession

Fox reached out and tucked a strand of hair behind my ear, hisfingers brushing against my lobe and eliciting goosebumps on my skin.

“I guess what I’m saying, baby girl, isthatnot being able to work outequations, or not being able to read and write is nothing to be ashamed of.”He paused, raising a knowing brow at me.“And it’s never too late to learn.”

He handed me the book, our fingers brushing as I took it from him. Iswallowed past the lumpthathad formed in my throat and took a breath, daring myself to be brave and open up like he’d done.

“I tried to learn,”I started, my voice soft and tinged withembarrassment.“But I missed out on so much school because my dadwouldn’t let me go, and Ijust…fell behind. Mrs. Tucker helped me to learn a little, but I didn’t understand her, and she’d get frustrated with me.”I turned the book over in my hands, aware of Fox’s intense gaze on me.“But I wish I could read. Especially this series.”

I met Fox’s gaze, a kind smile playing on his lips.“Don’t tell anyonethis, especially Nash, butHarry Potteris my favorite set of books.”

I giggled again, the lump in my throat receding now I’d purged mysecret.“I won’t tell anyone.”

Without warning, Fox reached out and took my hand.“Where are wegoing?”I asked as he led me over to the bean bag chair.

He sat, tugging my hand and pulling me down to sit next to him. Asbig as the chair was, with his large frame, there wasn’t a whole heap of space, and I wasverymuch aware of my leg pressed against his, and the heat emanating from his body.

“I’m going to teach you how to read, baby girl. If you want to learn toread, there is nothing to stop you.”

My jaw dropped as hope soared to the sky. He was going to teach meto read?

“I’m sure you have better things to be doing than teaching me how to read,”I replied, trying to sound casual whenreally, I wanted to throw my arms around him to show how happy I was.

“Nope,”he said, reaching over to grab aniPadsitting on the tablebefore loading up the internet.“Besides, there isn’t anything else in the world I’d rather be doing.”

Chapter 9

Fox

Achilling scream woke me from a deep sleep. It took a few secondsfor me to get my bearings and realize the scream had come from Cora’s room.

It’d been a week since her last nightmare, and I thought we weremaking progress.

Since the day I found out she couldn’t read, we’d spent hourstogether, with me helping her to learn, and with every passing minute, I was sure her trust in me was growing while her past faded away.

She’d begun to open up, telling me little snippets of her past withFreddy. Every time she mentioned his name, it had taken a whole lot of willpower to not beg her to let me end his life. But I was adamantthatit was Cora’s decision to make, and until she came to a decision on her own, I wasn’t going to sway her.

I jumped out of bed and raced across the hall.“Baby girl, are youokay?”

I was met with a moan of pain, and fearing the worst, I grabbed thehandle and pushed the door open. Relief rushed through me at finding it unlocked this time.

Cora’s bedroom was bathed in darkness, aside from a little lamp onher bedside table which cast a soft glow over her.

“No, please. No,”she whimpered, her leg kicking under the duvet.

Fuck, she was still dreaming.

I needed to wake her, but I didn’t want to scare the shit out of her. I’donce woken Nash up from a nightmare and earned myself a punch to the jaw as a thanks. I didn’t think she’d hit out, I was more concerned about the fright it could give her.

Tentatively, I crept toward her.“Cora,”I called, keeping my voice soft.

She didn’t wake.

I called a second time, this time a little louder, and her body stoppedmoving. Crouching down next to her bed, I found her lying on her side, a frown creasing her brow, and a strand of hair falling across her cheek.

“Cora, can you wake up for me?”I reached out and gently movedthe hair from her face, and as I did, her eyes fluttered open.

They went from alarmed to relieved in a heartbeat.“Fox?”

“Hey, baby girl. You were dreaming again.”