Page 186 of Deviant

“I don’t know,” she says as if reading my every thought. “We just have to find a way. Together.”

My heart tightens as I catch the flicker of gold flecks in her brown-green eyes staring back at me.

“You two do that a lot, you know?” I hear Harper say to us.

“Do what?” Rowen asks, her arms wrapped around my neck, as her head nestles on my shoulder, turning slightly to face her friend.

“Read each other’s thoughts. Finish each other’s sentences. It’s like you share the same brain or something. I read this other article once—”

“I never pegged you as much of a reader, blondie,” I interject, wondering what new factoid she’s going to dump on us next.

“Ha ha, very funny.” She rolls her eyes at me. “As I was saying before being so rudely interrupted, I once read an article about a study involving couples. In the study, those who finished each other’s sentences—like you two do—were considered to have such a strong bond and being so in sync, that the researchers labeled them as having foundthe one.”

“Hmm. How do you feel about that, Roe? Do you think you’ve foundthe one?” I tease, but when her cheeks turn pink, my heart stops.

Fuck.

“I found myone,and we don’t finish each other’s sentences,” Andy says, tickling Harper.

“Well, that’s because no one in their right mind could ever be able to decipher what goes on in that crazy head of yours.” She knocks on his head, laughing.

“Babe, I’m a man with a one-track mind. You don’t need to be a genius to know what I’m thinking twenty-four-seven with you around.” He wiggles his brows.

“And on that note,” I say, picking Roe in my arms and getting us off the sofa. “We’ll see you two tomorrow.”

“Wait, wait,” Rowen says, forcing me to plant her feet on the floor.

“We need to check on Abbie first.”

“Oh, she’s fine. I checked on her before dinner. FYI, you’ll never guess who I saw leaving her room?” Harper gossips.

“Who?” Rowen questions, somewhat intrigued.

“Ruby.” Harper giggles. “She said she was only there to drop some chicken soup for her, but I think it was just an excuse to see Abbie. Looks like Ruby might have a little crush on her.”

I notice Rowen’s forehead wrinkle in distrust, but she doesn’t disclose why the idea of Ruby having a little crush on Abbie worries her.

“Okay, then. I guess we’ll see you tomorrow. Good night.” She waves to our friends.

“Good night. Don’t let the bedbugs bite,” Andy jokes as he proceeds to tickle his girlfriend just to hear her laugh to his heart’s content.

Rowen and I walk back upstairs, both of us reluctant to discuss what we’ve learned about the games or her mother’s role in them.

Knowing that she needs me to be her safe port, I lead her to our bathroom and run her a hot bath. She doesn’t say anything as I peel the clothes off her body, followed by mine, and then help her into the tub, with me sitting right behind her. I tend to her hair first, then use the loofah to wash the rest of her body, Rowen never uttering a word throughout the whole process.

“Do you want to talk about it?” I ask, her head finding her spot on my chest after I’ve finished.

“No.”

“Do you need a breather?”

She looks up at me, tears forming at the corner of her eyes before nodding.

Ever so carefully, I turn her around to face me until she’s straddling my waist.

Knowing that now is not the time for a fast, hard fuck, I kiss her nice and slow, letting my tongue tease its way into her mouth and tempt her to kiss me back. Tears stream down her cheeks as I deepen our kiss, coaxing her to wrap her arms around my neck and let my hand travel up and down the slope of her backwhile the other holds her steady by the hip. When I feel her body begin to melt with mine, I lower her down onto my hard shaft, a relieved little sigh escaping her lips.

I’ve never made love to a woman. I never felt the need for it.

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