Page 85 of Ruthless Desires: Vol. Two
“Yeah. Of course she did.”
“Like, she never lorded things over you? Never told you that she wanted to leave you at a bus station because of something you did, or called you a spoiled brat, or made you feel bad for mistakes you made in the past? Even if she said she forgave you?”
“No,” I say. “But your mom did?”
Wren nods. “All the time. She’d even say we were okay, and then go complain to her friends about me. She’d do it with me right next to her, and then I’d get embarrassed and try to defend myself. It made her friends uncomfortable too, even though she’d always play it off as poking fun.” Wren rolls her eyes, and I realize they’re glistening with tears. “Once we were alone, she’d scold me for talking back to her and tell me I was being too sensitive.”
“I’m so sorry, princess. No kid deserves a parent who treats them like that.”
She sniffles. “It only got worse when she married Thomas. They’d both gang up on me, and it took me way too long to grow a backbone, so I’d just take it until I could run to my room and cry.”
My heart breaks for her. I can only imagine how lonely she felt.
“I—Iknow you guys wouldn’t do that type of thing to me,” Wren continues. “You wouldn’t talk badly about me to other people or tell me you wanted to leave me. You wouldn’t say you forgive me and not mean it. Hell, Rhett just told me a couple hours agovery specificallythat he’d never do anything like that. But sometimes, all I can think of is my mom and Thomas.”
“I get it, princess. Sometimes it’s hard to remember you’re safe when you haven’t been for your whole life.”
“I want to feel as safe as I know I am,” she whispers.
“It’ll come. And in the meantime, you’ve got us no matter what. I’m not letting you go, you hear me? I can’t.”
“Fuck,” she mutters as she wipes at her eyes. “You’re going to make me cry.”
“You can, princess. It’s okay.”
She shakes her head. “I don’t want to. I just want to be happy.” Her fingers trace over the butterfly tattoo on my chest. “I’m not ready for tonight to be over, but I don’t want to spend the rest of it being sad.”
“I’m not ready for it to be over, either.”
“Then kiss me,” she whispers, and her lips brush against mine. “Kiss me and make me forget.”
With only a moment’s hesitation to stroke my thumb over her cheek, I fit my mouth to hers. I know a kiss can’t help heal a broken heart, but as my lips move against Wren’s, I try anyway. She deserves so much better than what she’s gotten out of life.
I move us back so Wren is pressed against the half wall behind her. My body is touching her in every spot possible as I kiss away the lingering memories of her childhood. If I could, I’d go back in time and find her. Comfort her. Take her far away from everything that ever hurt her.
Wren eases back. “Oliver, I need you to know something.”
I search her eyes for any hint of what she has to say, but all I find is an earnest care. “Tell me.”
“I’m not letting you go, either. The past few weeks have been hell, but they’re the best hell I’ve ever been through. I’d do it all again in a heartbeat, because it meant falling for three men who not only stole my heart, but protect it with their lives. Ididn’t realize how deeply love could run until you. It’s so much it hurts sometimes, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
A smile takes over my face, one that’s so wide my cheeks ache. “You—fuck. Goddammit, I love you so much.”
Our mouths crash together in a kiss that’s almost frantic. There are so many emotions, so many feelings, and the only way to stop them from getting too overwhelming is to pour into each other.
“Wren,” I groan. “Hold onto me.”
Her arms come around my neck, and I hoist her up so she’s sitting on the ledge. Immediately, I steady her with my arms around her waist. It’s a long way down to the ground if she were to fall, so I want to make sure she’s secure.
She gasps and holds me tighter. “Oliver!”
“I’ve got you, princess,” I murmur against her lips. “I won’t let you fall.”
The door leading inside slams open, and quick footsteps sound behind me. No doubt, they saw us through the window and freaked out.
“What are you doing?” Elliot’s voice is panicked as he rushes toward us. Rhett is close behind him.
“She’s safe,” I say, kissing Wren when she smiles down at me. “I wouldn’t do this unless I knew I could hold her.”
