Page 61 of Tormenting Me

Layne: What do you think?

A picture of a broken Return of the King DVD appears. Yeah, I’d say she didn’t like my joke.

Wes: Fuck! Baby, not ROTK. You know that one is my favorite.

I chuck my phone to the passenger seat and head back home. Now, my mind is consumed by my pissed off wife, not the piece of shit in the trunk.

Oh, Wessy, we are in so much trouble.

I pull through the gate, and the doors are open and waiting for me. I swing the car around; the tires screeching as I expertly reverse it into the warehouse. Layne appears and slides the doors closed, the click echoing through the open space. I turn off the engine and step out of the car, greeted by the silence of the surroundings. “Honey, I’m home.” I give her the cheesiest line and an even cheesier smile. “My gift is in the trunk.”

“Not your pants,” she grumbles, moving past me.

She rarely gets this upset over a small joke. Something isn’t right.

“You okay, Ma Petite Mort?“ I ask, grabbing her arm to stop her from moving further away from me.

“I’m just having a rough day…emotionally.” She sighs, he shoulders dropping.

I see hurt in her eyes. She is spiraling. I hope this will help keep her out.

What if it makes it worse?

I take a deep breath, trying to gauge the situation. Layne is clearly dealing with more than just a rough day. I release her arm and gently place my hand on her back, hoping to provide some comfort.

“Is there anything I can do to help?” I ask, my voice filled with genuine concern. Layne looks up at me, her eyes brimming with tears. She takes a shaky breath before responding.

“I... I don’t know,” she murmurs, her voice barely above a whisper. “I just feel so lost right now.”

I pull her into a tight embrace, holding her as if trying to shield her from the storm that rages within her. “You’re not alone, Layne,” I assure her softly. “I got you. We’ll figure it out together. And remember, I’m always here for you.”

Layne clings to me, her body trembles and I can feel the sadness and vulnerability coming off of her in waves. The love I feel for her is indescribable, knowing that I will do whatever it takes to help her find her way back to happiness.

Gently, I guide Layne towards the car, leading her to the trunk. I open it slowly, revealing a still knocked out Bannister. She looks at me, her eyes filled with gratitude.

“You got him?” she asks, her voice trembling slightly.

“Yeah, baby. I got him,” I reply, my voice steady.

Layne’s eyes well up with tears. These are tears of gratitude. She looks at me, her eyes filled with a mixture of emotions.

“Thank you,” she whispers, her voice choked with emotion. “Sometimes I still wonder why you choose me out of everyone else. I love you Wes.” She wraps her arms around me, her hands running underneath my shirt to touch my skin.

“I love you, too, Layne.” Pulling her body flush with mine. “I’d do anything for you, baby.”

Her touch is like a match to gasoline, setting my skin ablaze, every single nerve ending on fire. For her.

I hold her tightly, feeling a glimmer of hope in the midst of her pain. We may not have all the answers, but together, we will face whatever challenges lie ahead.

I lean into her, kissing her. Our mouths devour each other. I need her like I need to breathe. I pull back. “Let’s kill this motherfucker so I can take you upstairs and spank that ass for breaking my favorite movie.”

Mental note: Revisit the maintenance spankings idea. My little brat needs them.

“I already ordered a new one online. It should be here in a few days,” she says.

“That’s not gonna save you, baby.” I kiss her again, feeling her smile against my lips.

Chapter thirty-six

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