Page 152 of The Sea Witch's Son

Melody doesn’t say anything when I crawl back into the bed. She simply turns and buries her face in my neck, wrapping her little body around me.

I hold onto her, moulding us together until there’s not a single layer between us. I can feel her heart beating against my chest, a strong and steady rhythm that pierces right through my soul.

Mine. Mine. Mine.

Chapter 57

MELODY

I've never liked asking for help.

Choosing to handle difficult situations on my own meant that I got to keep my cards close to my chest. I got to sweep dirty secrets and traumatic events under the rug without a moment’s thought of how I was going to deal with them.

In my mind, asking for help was a sign of weakness. An offer for someone to take advantage and knock me down when I’m at my lowest. It’s one of the many reasons I’ve spent so much time pushing Erik away.

Because I didn’t want to be perceived as weak.

“Lift your foot, little saint.”

Marlin leans into me, offering his broad back for balance as I wobble on one leg. He slips the lace on carefully, waiting for me to put my foot back down before lifting the other.

The creep stole a pair of my panties during one of his nightly visits. I growled when I found out, but it came in handy when it came time for me to get dressed this morning.

I didn’t want his help for such a mundane task, but I knew I needed it.

I knew I neededhim.

The road to recovery is long and daunting ahead of me, but last night Marlin helped me in ways I can never explain. He cut himself into pieces, offering the same level of vulnerability just so I could feel like I had power again. Something to hold onto when my own shattered pieces were no longer strong enough to keep me standing.

He was the presence I needed, the caretaker who gave so much more than he took.

He was the person who made me feel like myself again.

“This is my third favourite dress shirt, you know.” Marlin sighs, carefully pulling the lavender material over my shoulders, “You ruined the last two, so try not to do the same with this one.”

“How generous of you.” My lips pinch into a smile as I watch him slowly do up each button, “Did you make sure to iron it before offering it to me?”

“What do you think I was doing this morning?”

I huff out a laugh, “Freak.”

The dress shirt falls to the top of my knees, the silky material offering far more coverage than I was expecting. Marlin was alltoo pleased when my clothes were ruined and he got to dress me today.

In addition to bows, this man has a thing for me wearing his clothes.

“You really do say the cruelest things, little saint.” Sliding the last button in its designated hole, Marlin takes a step back and tilts his head, “How about a kiss to make me feel better?”

I roll my eyes, “Still a sensitive man, are you?”

“Crippled, some might say.”

Stepping forward, I go up on my tip toes and wrap my arms around his neck. He lifts me in the air just like he did all those weeks ago except this time, I’m the one who doesn’t want to let go.

“Shut up and kiss me, Marlin.”

He licks my face like a fucking animal.

I gasp, “What the hell is wrong with you-

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