Page 56 of Bones

“William who?”

She shrugs. “Rothschild. I thought we meant something to each other, but it was one-sided.”

Setting her fork down, she gazes at me with sad eyes. “I’m trash, Luca. I’ve always been used and abused like I don’t matter. Even you knew that. It’s probably what interested you. Let’s not pretend that I matter to you all of a sudden, because you found me in a cage, getting the treatment you would have given me. Why did you think I didn’t fight you the day you made me kneel in Manny’s blood to suck your dick? It wasn’t new. Give me your worst, and it’s probably been done before. We can drop the charade. We both know what this is.”

Her words make me feel two feet tall. I don’t bother correcting her because she’s not wrong. I never hit her and never would. Other than that, I’ve done the same things to her. I’d like to convincemyself that it’s okay, because she’s not my damn child. But deep down, I know it’s not.

“Do you want to go into the pool?”

Her lips instantly lift into a smile. “Could we?”

I nod. “Whatever you want, baby. Your therapist will be here in a few hours. And my mother and sister would really like to see you later, but that’s up to you.”

“Can I wait until after therapy to decide?”

“Of course. Go into the tiki hut. There’s a changing room in there with a selection of bathing suits for you.”

With the excitement of a kid on Christmas morning, she jumps up and heads into the hut to get changed. I am ready to go in the pool, since I was already wearing black swim shorts. I wait until my stunning wife walks toward me in a baby blue two-piece that makes my mouth water.

“Fucking gorgeous, Butterfly.”

She flashes me a shy smile. “Thank you, Luca.”

I grab her hand and pull her over to the pool. Taking the steps, we move into the heated water together. Wrapping my arms around her, just above her ass, I pull her in close to me. Leaning down, I kiss her neck before speaking directly into her ear, “I know you think I saw a victim and the predator that I am figured you were easy prey. That’s not the case, baby. I know it might feel like you have ‘victim’ stamped on your forehead, but that’s not what I saw. When I looked at you the very first time, I knew I was looking at pure beauty. That’s what drew me in. It was all you. If I could go back and do things differently, I would. I can’t rewrite history, but I can give you a future you deserve. You want to learn to read? Fine. You want to go to college? Fine. You want to go to the damn moon? I’ll buy a fucking space shuttle and take you there myself.”

She giggles in my arms. It’s the kind of laugh that’s with her whole body, and I love the way it feels as her body vibrates against mine.

“I don’t think you can just buy a space shuttle, Luca.”

I arch an eyebrow at her. “No? Maybe I’ll have to steal one then.”

Her laughter intensifies, making me feel like the luckiest asshole in the world. “I’m pretty sure you’d get caught really fast. And I’m equally positive you’d get us killed, because you do not know how to operate a space shuttle.”

“Don’t underestimate me, Butterfly. I will find a way to give you not only the moon, but every fucking star in the sky.”

Athena gazes at me while running her fingers into the back of my hair. “I don’t need the stars, Luca. I need this. You make me feel normal and safe. That’s everything I need.”

Sliding my hand into her hair, I’m careful to not hurt her, as I lean in and kiss her. With the slight hint of syrup, she tastes even sweeter than usual. She slides her tongue against mine while she moans and tugs on strands of my hair.

“Touch me, Luca,” she asks, with closed eyes, after I pull away from our kiss.

I run my fingers down her arm, which only earns me a glare. “Touch me like you want me.”

“Butterfly, it’s too soon.”

She laughs, but there’s no joy behind it, only bitterness.

“You only like it if I don’t want it? Is that it, Luca? Only when I beg you to stop do you want to fuck me? Either touch me like you fucking want me, or let me go.”

I remove my hand from her arm and step back. A tear rolls down her cheek, and she turns away from me and leaves the pool. Standing like an idiot, I watch her walk away and go back inside the house.

I have a feeling that my wife thinks I don’t want to touch her. I do. Fuck, I do. I’m not a therapist, so I don’t know if this is normal behavior. I have no clue if she should be wanting me to touch her, and I have no idea how long I’m supposed to wait.

Stepping out of the pool, I feel like a goddamn failure. This was meant to be a perfect morning for Athena. Instead, I fucked it all up.I drag a hand down my face as I walk back into the house, not even concerning myself with my wet body.

When I finally find Athena, she’s curled up in a ball on the bed, crying.

“Butterfly.”

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