Page 99 of Reckless Vow

I lean against his solid body, and he massages my scalp and then lathers my hair. His hands draw a moan from me.

“Careful,” he warns, and I want to ask what he means, but then I feel his hardness between us and I chuckle.

Baldo twirls me around and washes the shampoo out of my hair. The air is filled with steam, and I’m feeling weak in my knees as he takes his time soaping my shoulders.

Hugging me to him, he does the same to my back, and then stepping only slightly back to clean my breasts and then—

Just sensing the ugly scar running from under my breast to my belly button under his fingertips, Baldo freezes.

I snap my eyes open. The lazy delight evaporates from the air as my gaze collides with his.

“Who did this to you?”

I sigh, but his mind is clouded with the brutality of his discovery.

“Who the fuck did this to you, Brook?” he demands, and then finally stills enough to read the answer in my eyes.

Understanding dawns on him quickly. But there is no sympathy or horror in his eyes. Compassion maybe, but mostly anger.

Fuck, I have had years to deal with my trauma.

I’ve done it while feeling sorry. I allowed myself to be angry. I hid from it all for several years.

I worked hard to channel my trauma into creating villains and plots that could swallow the darkness.

Baldo is discovering the gory details one day at a time, without much chance for reflection. Without even talking to me about it.

I know I can’t take responsibility for his ability to cope, but I still want to.

“Fuck.” He breathes heavily and grips his hair.

“It’s my fault, mostly. It was just a nick of a blade. I don’t think he even meant to use his knife.”

The words roll off my tongue faster than I can think. Like taking the blame, I can make this better. Easier for Baldo to accept it. “I didn’t want to tell Mom and Dad, and I neglected it and let it fester and it got infected—”

“Stop it!” He startles me. “None of this is your fault.” He steps back.

I know—hope—it’s not away from me, but rather away from the situation. And still I feel abandoned under the pelting water.

But the man who reigns over his control with a pathological precision once again tames the emotions, and looks at me with a reverence so unexpected, it takes my breath away.

Dropping to his knees, my fake husband who is yet to kiss my lips, kisses my marred skin with such devotion, that tears run down my face.

Chapter27

Brook

He saw me.

He finally saw me.

And it broke us again.

Baldo worshiped my body in the shower, making me feel wanted and beautiful. Making me forget, come undone and put back together.

I fell asleep in his arms afterward, and woke up to a note from him.

Gone away on business. Be back in a day or two.

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