Page 54 of Savage Desires

WILLOW

I wake up to Kisten's arms around me. I'm not curled against his side like last night when I fell asleep. Instead, I'm lying on top of him. My upper body is draped over his chest, and my legs are tangled with his. We couldn't get closer if we tried. I love being this close to him.

His even breathing tells me that he's asleep. I slowly shift my body, trying to move off him without waking him up. I don't know what he will think about me sleeping on top of him, and I don't want things to be awkward. I barely move an inch before his arms tighten around me.

"Where are you going?" he asks. His voice is sleeprough and sexier than it has any right to be.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to wake you."

"If you're awake, I'm awake," he says, nuzzling his face into my hair.

"I should move. This can't be comfortable for you."

He grunts, pulling me even further on top of him. "I like you here where you belong."

My cheeks heat with a blush. I'm glad he can't see that I'm embarrassed by his words. Though I'm happy he feels that way because everything inside me says this is where I belong. I feel like everything I've been through has led me to this moment. I'm not saying I wouldn't change anything that has happened in my life, but if I had known this was waiting for me on the other side of the pain, it would've made enduring easier.

"When do we leave?" I ask instead of confessing how much his words reflect my feelings.

"After breakfast. I need to make sure Lucy is ready to go on time and check in with Gladys to ensure everyone else is set to move on to Hope House."

"Okay. I should take a shower. My hair is probably wrecked after last night."

He tries to run his fingers through it, but they get caught in the tangles. He chuckles and kisses the top of my head.

"A shower it is…"

He rolls me off him until he's poised over me. The heat in his eyes makes butterflies take flight in my stomach. The sheer desire in his eyes is heady. His hips shift, and the roughness of his jeans on my thighs is a stark reminder that I'm naked. I can feel my whole body flush. I can't believe I've been lying on top of him this entire time naked and didn't realize it.

"You're beautiful."

I've been told that many times before, and it's always sickened me. From Kisten, it makes me feel shy and a little unsure. I don't understand how he can say that about me, considering what I am. I've been treated less than human for so long that it's hard to think of myself as something different and even harder to accept that someone as amazing as him would ever want me.

"Whatever you're thinking, stop," he growls.

I blink up at him, surprised he can read me so well after such a short time. I've had a lockdown on my emotions for so long it's disconcerting that someone can see past the mask I wear. I'm not sure how I feel about him being so perceptive. It'll prevent me from spiraling in my head if he's always there to call me out.

"It's hard to accept that you want me."

"Don't ever doubt it. I wanted you that first night. Had I known what was happening, I would've carried you out right then."

I can see the truth of his words reflected in his eyes. I can't believe he wants me the same way I want him. Now we have the chance to be together. I haven't ever believed in fate, but how we met and how he was at the auction almost feels like kismet.

"I need you to believe me, Willow. I'm not letting you go now. You gave yourself over to me. I never walk away from what's mine."

I can't seem to find my voice, so I just nod. He leans in and kisses me softly.

"Let's get ready for the day. I'll go to the room next door and clean up while you shower."

I immediately want to protest and make him stay. I need to get over my clinginess before he gets sick of me. I hurry into the bathroom before I have to watch him walk away from me. My anxiety at being parted from him is silly. I've never been anything but independent. Even before I was taken. I've only been able to depend on myself for years, and the first time I have someone I can count on, I'm overly attached. It's unhealthy, I'm sure, but I don't care. It feels right.

Even though the shower feels amazing and washing my hair in steaming hot water is heavenly I still rush through getting clean. I would like to say it's because I'm used to showering quickly, but it's because I don't want to miss Kisten returning. Every second we are apart, my skin gets itchier, like a million bugs crawling under my skin. I don't like it.

I wrap a fluffy towel around my body and another around my hair. I should take the time to brush it out right now, but I'm low-key hoping Kisten will offer to brush it for me again. That moment is burned into my mind as one of the best moments of my life. I want a repeat of it every day until forever. I can't imagine a man like Kisten doing that all the time. It was likely just a one-off, but I will keep the dream alive for a bit longer.

There are four large bags that I didn't notice before sitting in front of the dresser. I peek inside the first two and find clothes; the third bag has two pairs of shoes and a purse, and the fourth bag makes me gasp. Ignoring the new clothes, I grab the fourth bag and rush to the bed to empty it. Tears well up in my eyes at each new thing I take out of the bag.

There are two new sketchbooks that are obviously expensive. Both are bound books; one has a dark brown cover, and the other is black leather. They are the nicest sketchbooks I've ever seen and beyond anything I could've hoped for. Once the bag is empty, I pick up each item to study it closer. Every kind of media that can be used to sketch is here… charcoals, pastels, fancy pencils and pens, every color of colored pencil, erasers, a pencil sharpener, and more.

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