Page 38 of Bound by Vengeance
Austyn pops up from the bed, tearstains all down her cheeks and eyes red rimmed. “What are you doing?”
I kick the door shut and lock it, tossing all my shit down to the floor. Pulling off my shirt and taking off my boots, she watches me the entire time, her breathing hitching from her crying bout.
Her bed creaks as I climb onto it and grab her body, pulling it to mine and pressing her back to my front.
“Ryker, stop!” she protests, but it’s half-heartedly.
I lean into her ear. “Shhh, beautiful. I’ve got you.”
Fresh tears hit her, and her body shakes in my arms.
I fucking hate this shit, but I’m happy I’m here to hold her through it.
It takes a while before her tears dry up and her breathing steadies. I continue to hold her, absorbing it all, taking on her pain and feeling it right along with her. She’s too young and beautiful to be feeling any of this.
Suddenly, she turns in my arms, still in my grasp. “Thank you.”
I lean in and kiss her forehead. “Anytime.” Looking deeply into her eyes, I see her hurt and pain shine through like beacons in the night. Whatever is hurting her is deeper than what happened to her when I found her that day. There’s something else lingering that has gouged at her soul, branding it for life.
There’s a hurt so deep, so life-consuming that my insides feel it, too.
“Talk to me, baby.” I keep my tone calm and soft, not wanting to break this moment, yet wanting so badly for her to confide in me.
She shakes her head as wetness pools inside in her eyes.
“Whatever it is, let me take it on for you.”
Austyn continues to shake her head then burrows into my chest, trying to hide from me. I give her that play because she needs it, and because she’s wrapped in my arms. Her body begins to shake again, and I hold on tightly.
Kissing the top of her head, I tell her, “You’re safe. I got you. No one will touch you again.”
Her breaths hiccup, and then she begins to breathe deeply in and out, her tits pressing against my chest.
“I want it to go away.” It’s so soft I almost don’t hear it. “Just make it go away.”
Rubbing her back, I ask, “What do you want me to make go away?”
Her breath catches. “The dirt.”
“What dirt?”
She clutches my chest. “That covers me.”
I tighten my arms around her as it hits me. She feels dirty from what that asshole did to her. She can’t get it off her. She can’t get clean. That would explain the thirty-minute showers. While I thought she just loved being in the water, Austyn’s been trying to scrape him off her. Fuck.
Not wanting to scare her, I ask, “What do you want me to do?”
After what feels like hours but is probably only minutes, she lifts her head. “You called me beautiful. Did you mean it?”
“Fuck yes.”
She closes her eyes then opens them. “Then make me feel it.”
I cup the side of her face, gently moving my thumb back and forth. If she wants me to show her how beautiful she is, how much I desire her, I have no problems doing so. Keeping myself in check is going to be the most difficult part because taking her the way I want isn’t an option. She’s giving me this, though, and I’ll take it.
I graze my nose along hers, hearing her breaths hitch. Then I touch my lips to hers in a sensual kiss. Austyn gives it back to me, but she’s hesitant and unsure.
Leisurely, I caress her bottom lip with my tongue, and she opens for me. She loosens up and meets me stroke for stroke, digging her nails into my shoulders.
