Page 51 of Darkness Falls

Her resilience and determination are two of the biggest things that have always impressed me most about her, so I wanted to test them. A few minutes pass, but she doesn't speak, and I'm starting to get concerned.

"Are you okay?" I ask cautiously.

Her eyes meet mine, and fuck, it does something to me. She looks so weak and vulnerable. I instantly hate myself for doing this to her.

"I'm sorry," she whispers.

My brows furrow as I'm filled with confusion. I bring a hand up to caress her cheek, and she leans into my touch. "Sorry for what, Callie? You didn't do anything wrong."

"I couldn't take it. I'm sorry, but I had to make it stop." She bows her head, looking away from me.

I tilt her chin up. "That is the purpose of the safe word, trouble. You never have to apologize or feel ashamed for using it." I pull her in for a hug, and she lets me hold her as she cries for a few moments. "Thank you for trusting me enough to use it."

She sighs but still doesn't pull back from my hold. Once she finally calms down and the tears have dried up, she lets go of me, and I look down at her.

"Let's get you home so I can take care of you properly."

I lean in and gently press my lips to hers. She seems surprised, but it felt like the most natural thing to do. I want to kiss her, provide her comfort even. I know she needs it right now, so I'll happily give it to her.

When I step away, her hand comes up to touch her lips, but she doesn't say anything further. I walk back around the car and slide into the driver’s seat to get to the house. We are only a minute or two away, but I still make a point to intertwine my fingers with hers so that she knows I'm here for her. She looks down to stare at our connected hands but again doesn't say anything.

Fuck, Kyler and Barrett are going to kill me if I’ve broken her spirits somehow. Seeing her in this weak, vulnerable state isn't as satisfying as I thought it would be. I'm so proud of her for using her safeword. That just shows how much she fullytrusts me. I'm still not entirely convinced I deserve it from her after everything, but being included in her small bubble is a blessing.

I finally pull into the driveway and park the car before hopping out and walking to her door. I open it and reach out a hand, making a mental note of how she looks at me with eyes full of caution before she takes it. I lead her into the house and straight up the stairs, not caring if anyone else is around. Once we are inside my bedroom, I sit her on the edge of the bed.

"Wait here for a minute while I get everything ready." She nods, and I walk into the adjoining bathroom.

My room is the primary suite in the house, so I'm lucky enough to have a private ensuite. With Callie living with us permanently, I should consider giving her this room and moving my stuff into the 4th bedroom. It would be the gentlemanly thing to do, and it might even earn me some extra points with her.Fuck’s sake.What the hell has happened to me? This girl is making me soft.

I turn on the water in the big, jetted tub to run her a bath and grab some lavender-scented bubble bath to pour into it. I hope she doesn't ask me why I had this on hand. I may be a stubborn asshole, but who doesn't love a nice relaxing bath every now and then?

When I finish setting everything up, I head back to where I left her. I only make it one step into the room when my entire body freezes. Callie is right where I left her on the bed, but she's singing a song that I haven't heard in a long time. My mind pulls me into a distant memory.

"Mommy sing song again?" my sweet little voice echoed across the room. I was only a few years old, and she was tucking me into bed for the night. I looked up at her with nothing but pure adoration as she tucked in the sides of my dinosaur comforter around me.

"Of course, my love," she told me before she walked over to turn the overhead light off and then came to sit on the side of my bed.

"Mommy sing?" I giggled, and she leaned in to kiss me on the cheek.

"Hmmmm, what was that song again that you love so much?" She teased while messing up my hair. I laughed at her again. This moment brought me nothing but pure joy and was a true testament to the innocence of my childhood with her.

"Goodnight! Goodnight!" I yelled, and she smiled down at me. My dinosaur night light gave the room the perfect amount of light to keep the monsters away.

My mom's eyes looked so kind. Shimmering brown eyes, much like my own.

"Okay, lovebug, I’ll sing it again, but only if you sing it with me," she said, and I felt so excited. My part of the song was always the beginning.

"Da Da Da Da Da," my little voice sang out, and she leaned in to sing with me.

"Goodnight, sweetheart; well, it's time to go," she sang.

"Da Da Da Da Da," I said.

"Goodnight, sweetheart; well, it’s time to go. I hate to leave you, but I really must say."

"Goodnight,sweetheart, goodnight." We said the last goodnight in unison before she hugged me and placed a kiss on my forehead.

"Goodnight, Mommy," I told her before she stood up.

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