Page 124 of Petite Fleur

"Are you sure? It's gruesome." I ask her. She's allowed to feel what she needs to feel. She's allowed to back out, but I don't want her to see what I do and be disgusted by me.

"If it's too much... Can I walk away?" She asks quietly.

I'm not sure how she wants me to take that. "Walk away?" I ask rather than answer her question.

She nods, fidgeting slightly how she's standing. I know what's coming. She's going to ask if I'll let her go. I don't want to break her heart, but I won't.

I can't.

I'm far too selfish and far too in love with her. "If it's too gruesome, if I can't help you or even watch you kill them. Can I leave the room? Maybe wait in the car?" She asks me.

The smile that spreads across my face almost hurts to make. That's how bright it is. I settle my hands on Maeve's waist, pulling her back into me until our faces are close enough that I can feel the cool air from her minty breath on my face. "Yes, you don't have to help. You never have to watch, I just need you to know what kind of guy I am, but if you're asking if I'll ever let you go, I can't. I'm in love with you, and I'm far too selfish to be without you." I say honestly.

I feel her hands holding onto me, one in my hair and the other on my back. "I don't want you to." She answers.

That truly wasn't what I was expecting.

I don't think I've ever been speechless in my life before, until right now. I just stare at this gorgeous woman in my arms, completely dumbfounded. I know I need to say something, fuck... anything, but I think my whole brain just froze and now I'm rebooting slower than an old computer with dial-up internet.

My girl feels something for me, I don't know what yet, but it's a start. "I never would have. I've loved you for far longer than I'd ever admit." I say honestly.

"How about you lay down for a little while, you've had a long day, and it's late." I tell her. I rub my hands along her ribs, staring into those warm brown eyes and feeling so at home, but my girl raises an eyebrow at me. Either in challenge or confusion, I don't know. "I thought I was going with you?" She asks.

My girl. Fuck, I love her.

"You are, ma fleur, but not right now. They're asleep anyway, I won't touch them until they've woken." I explain.

It's boring to kill them while they're passed out; I want them to feel it all. I want them to know that they can't escape their fate, just like their victims couldn't escape theirs. Just like Abby couldn't stop them, they can't escape what will happen to them.

"Lay down, I promise you that we can wait until morning to deal with them." I promise. If she wants to be there, I won't let her miss it. Not until we've reached the point that she's uncomfortable.

I finally get Maeve into bed shortly after our talk. I think it surprises us both that she curls up with me, she hangs a leg over my hips, resting it between my legs while her cold ass toes settle under my leg. I'd rather die right now than to move her, her smug little ass knows it, too. She's grinning as she slides her feet further under my leg once she's stolen all the warmth she can from one spot.

Asshole.

"Do you need some socks, ma fleur?" I ask her, staring down at her while she situates against me.

"Nope." She says with a small laugh, one that she tries her best to hide.

She really is an asshole, an adorable one though. I wrap my arms around my girl, gripping onto her thigh with one hand and her back with the other.

I should've propped my leg up onto a pillow or something, it feels swollen from the long day we've had, but I won't move her when she just got situated.

I shift a few times, hoping to ease the pressure from my leg on the mattress, but nothing is helping.

Fuck. I can’t move, just tough it out. Once Maeve falls asleep, I can sneak off and pop some narcotics or grab a pillow, but not now.

Not when my girl is laying against me and I am surrounded by the scent of blueberries and the warmth of her body.

I’d be a fucking fool to move right now.

I must shift a few too many times because Maeve adjusts her leg and uses her own calf to prop my leg up and I have to admit, the relief is almost instantaneous.

“Better?” She sleepily whispers.

Oh, my sweet girl. I lean down and kiss the top of her head before laying my head against hers. “Much. Get some sleep, ma fleur.” I say just as quietly.

I refuse to move an inch while she settles further against me, not when I’d live and breathe for the moment that her body falls limp against me and she’s finally asleep in my arms again.

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