Page 67 of Unveiled

“Rest, baby. I’ve got you.”

She doesn’t give in until I start running my fingers through her hair. Her eyes fall closed and never reopen.

I clean her up, making sure to be gentle so I don’t wake her. I love these rare occurrences where I get to admire her without her knowing.

Once I’ve finished cleaning her, I carry her out of the bath and sit her on the bathmat where I rub a towel along her skin until she’s dry. When I set her in the bed, she gets comfortable and reaches for me when I try to walk away.

I should go drain the bath, and hang our towels, but she’s too adorable to just leave like this.

I climb into the bed with my little one and pull her into my side to keep her warm. She never fails to amaze me, but today, she went above and beyond. She deserves this small reprieve of sleep.

“Marry me,” I whisper into her hair as her even breathing brushes across my chest.

Chapter 26

Ainsley

My heavy sigh fills the car as trees fly by outside, each one marking the distance away from the one place I want to be.

“My offer still stands, little one. Come live with me, and we won’t have to be apart. I could come visit you throughout the day, or stay with you on days I don’t need to go to the compound. You would be much safer, too,” Cain points out. His fingers lace through mine as he tries to convince me, but my mind is already made up.

It’s a hard choice, especially after the last few days. Cain has pampered me, treating me the way I’ve always dreamed of while fucking me so much I forgot what it was like to not be satisfied. I’ve screamed his name so much since I gave in that I can never imagine him as the monster again.

When we weren’t defiling every surface of the house, he kept training me, though he was much gentler with me. He’s too afraid of hurting me while my head is still healing, not that I can blame him, but going soft on me doesn’t teach me anything.

I want to stay with him. I want to wake up in the morning and start our days together, have him come home to me every day, and fall asleep in each other’s arms each night. We’ll still get to do that with our compromise, but spending the entire day away from each other is going to hurt more than either of us is prepared for.

But, this semester will be over in two months, and then we’ll have the entire summer together before we do it all over again. We’ve survived much worse than a few hours a day away from each other.

“I’ll have Jonah to keep me safe,” I remind him as I keep my eyes focused on the trees flying by outside. The truth is, I’m terrified that being away from Cain will make his father try something. He’ll see our separation as an opportunity, but I can’t tell Cain that. I trust Jonah to take care of me, and Cain will spend his days tracking down his father. “What’s really bothering you?”

Turning away from the window, I focus on his troubled features. Even being tortured by his own thoughts, he’s gorgeous. The sunlight streams in through the windshield, lighting up his face and making his dark hair shimmer.

“It was only a week ago that some other guy tried to claim you because he didn’t know you belonged to me,” he finally grits out through his teeth. I can’t even be mad that those are the thoughts running through his head. I brought Owen back to my apartment hoping Cain was watching, and he was. It’s my fault my actions hurt him.

“Your name is carved into my back, Cain. There’s no mistaking who I belong to now,” I remind him, trying to bring him some comfort.

“I’d feel a lot better if you were wearing my ring.”

His eyes leave the road for a split second to meet mine, showing me the sincerity in his. When he looks away again, I chew on my lip, thinking about how to answer him. Would it really be the worst thing if I gave in to this, too?

“What would you do if I said yes? Would you turn us back around, just so you could go get the ring and put it on my finger?” It’s a challenge. We both know if we go back to that house, we wouldn’t be leaving right after getting the ring.

I watch a smirk form on his lips as he unlaces our fingers to dig in his pocket. When he pulls out a small box I recognize too well, I can’t help it as my eyes roll into my head. Of course, he would be the guy to have it on him, just in case.

“Really?” I ask, quirking an eyebrow to tease him.

“You can’t hold out on me forever,” he points out. “I’m just prepared for the day you inevitably give in.”

Laughter fills the car, but it takes a minute for me to realize it’s mine. Cain shoots a deadly glare at me, but from the smirk still threatening to spread across his lips, I know I’m not in too much trouble.

“Are you laughing at me, little one?”

I shake my head as I try to push the laughter down, but every few minutes, a little giggle slips through. Each time one does, he shoots me another look, only to find me hiding a smile behind my hand.

“Are you sure you want to go back?” Cain asks again, back to being serious as he grabs for my hand again. He’s asking like we’re not five minutes away from my apartment, but I know if I told him I changed my mind, he would turn the car around without another word.

“What time will you be back tonight?” I ask instead of answering. I’m not so sure about going back, but I am sure that there’s something I need to do today. Changing the subject keeps me from lying to him while also giving me a timeframe for my little plan.

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