Page 29 of Scarred Sins
And I fucking mean it.
Every single word.
My heart only beats for her. Without her, I’m nothing. I need Blair’s presence more than I need the air I breathe. Her entering my life wasn’t planned, but it’s fate.
And who am I to test fate?
One way or the other, we’re bound to each other. The immense need for revenge runs through our veins, both in the desperate need to see those who had harmed us going down on their knees.
With her by my side, I fear nothing.
NINE
Arlo leaves the room shortly after.
It’s his room, and his scent overpowers my senses. The pillow, the sheets, and even the damned blanket smell like him. The entire room is in a rich shade of maroon, a gorgeous color that somehow makes me feel relaxed.
The sheets are silky, complementing the matching pillowcases. From someone else’s perspective, the room might look depressing, given the lack of decorations and personal touches, but I love it. It’s one of the prettiest rooms I’ve ever been in.
Before leaving, Arlo set out a set of clothes for me to change into and two towels. The bathroom is right across from me, hidden behind the dark, oak wooden door. I drag myself to the bathroom, making sure to lock it behind me, then slip out of my dress.
He didn’t take it off.
Why?
It took me years to understand that it’s the bare minimum, yet now, when it finally happened to me, I’m left confused. Why? Why does he care more than all the other men I’ve encountered previously?
Hot water falls over my head, sliding down my body. It’s almost too hot, but perfect. My eyes flutter closed as clouds of hot steam fill the bathroom, the humid air making it difficult to breathe.
My chest rises and falls with each deep breath, the anxiety slowly going down the drain along with the water. The longer I’m under the stream, the more relaxed and at ease I’m feeling. I don’t know how much time I spend in the shower, mindless of any thoughts.
The set of clothes he laid out for me is his, but thankfully, he added a pair of new underwear. Not wearing underwear is a big no for me, and wearing his seems even worse. Why did he buy a women’s pair of underwear?
Why is he treating me so kindly? He must have a hidden agenda, right?
There’s no reason for him to be that good toward me. Especially because I thought he was long dead.
Benjamin Miller is Arlo.
The day I left prison, I left thoughts of Benjamin behind. All the sorrow I felt, all the connection I felt toward him, I left it all behind me. At some point during the hitchhiking ride, I did think that he had fled, since his office was wiped clean.
And all this time, he was alive.
Stalking me.
It should terrify me more. It should force me to use the dagger that he gave me and told me to keep. It should make me freeze in place until the monsters in my head take over my mind and soul, until I’m in too deep to return.
It doesn’t.
I hate the sense of safety that he gives me.
Is it the familiarity?
In prison, he treated me well. He always had sweets ready for me, sent me books, and we spent long, long hours talking about everything and nothing. He always went above and beyond to ensure my wounds didn’t get infected and my stitches remained intact.
However, we’re still pretty much strangers. He’s taking a big chance on a stranger, so why? If he wants something from me, I have nothing to offer. Nothing that could be of use to him.
Thoughts swirl through my brain as I wipe down my body, then wrap my hair with the second, smaller towel. The two towels are the fluffiest, softest towels known to mankind, and I could just stay wrapped in them for ages.
