Page 31 of Always Right

Someone broke into the gallery.

I let out a breath, allowing my eyes to flutter open as the morning sun poured in through the window. And though I couldn’t see him, I knew I wasn’t alone. I didn’t trust myself to not cry, not when my emotions were everywhere after the break in.

The bed dipped next to me, a familiar warmth filling the room in his presence.

The exhaustion made my thoughts cloudy.

My eyelids were heavy, and I wasn’t sure I would be able to stay awake all day, but I had been sleeping long enough and needed to get out of bed. I looked at the man sitting next to me, his gaze tender and full of concern. Derek’s hand rested on my waist, and I told myself I didn’t have the energy to push it away, but the truth was that I found comfort in his touch.

I always did.

Wordlessly, he reached to the nightstand next to the bed and helped me sit up, bringing a glass of water to my lips. I swallowed; my throat grateful as the cold liquid soothed its dryness.

“What time is it?” I asked, leaning back against the bed.

“A little past noon.”

“Oh.”

“How do you feel?”

“Sore.”

His lips pressed into a tight line. He didn’t do a good job hiding his anger. I could feel it, even when he tried to contain it.

“How were the girls?”

His face lit up. “Perfect. They are playing in their playpen right now.”

I should let him spend more days with them.

“I prepared a bath for you. The water should be warm right now so...I’ll wait in the living room.”

He didn’t say anything else and disappeared into the hallway while my ass stayed glued to the bed. I found it hard to admit that I enjoyed his company...that it was nice to have someone caring for me rather than doing it on my own.

But he would always care for me.

I knew it, even if deep down I wanted him to walk away and leave me to fend for myself.

It would be easier to hate him that way.

Every single bone in my body ached as I walked to the bathroom. I tossed my clothes to the floor, my focus turning to the bubbles in the bath as I dipped a foot in first.

A grateful sigh left my lips as I slid in, relaxing into the warm water that soothed my aching body. I closed my eyes, leaning my head back against the edge.

I wasn’t sure how long I laid there...long enough for the water to turn cold and my body to erupt into goosebumps. I would have slept there if I could, but I stood, rinsing myself and then stepping out of the tub. I looked at myself in the mirror, my eyes falling on the ugly bruise on my abdomen.

Derek had looked at me with so much anger, I was sure he would murder whoever had touched me.

By the time I pulled an oversized shirt on and some leggings, it was past one.

The cooing of my daughters filled the air as did Derek’s quiet chuckle as I walked toward them. My girls squealed when they saw me, their innocent smiles lightening the tension on Derek’s shoulders.

He held me all night.

And still, it wasn’t enough.

The need of being in his arms made me want to crawl out of my own skin, but I couldn’t help it. Not as he sat there, glancing at me from the sofa, like he belonged there…in my house, my life.

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