Page 52 of Quiet Rage
“Yeah, I think so, too,” Kellen agrees, and I can see in his eyes that he also wants this to be true.
Maybe even more than I do.
Chapter 23
Kellen
I can feelher resolve crumbling. Her walls are coming down slowly, and she is giving into the idea of us being together. She is beginning to let go of all the fucked up shit I did to her so we can start over.
I scan her face for any signs of fear, but she simply looks content. Her shoulders are relaxed, and her chest rises and falls at a leisurely pace. Earlier, she even laughed a little. It wasn’t fake or forced, either. It was genuine and came naturally.
“I’m stuffed,” Tamson announces, holding her hand over her stomach.
“Me too,” I lie. I could eat the rest of this and then some, but I want her to have plenty of leftovers. It bothers me knowing she has so little food here. How the fuck does she live like this?
I meant what I told her. I want to take care of her in every way possible. Financially, physically, and emotionally. I care about her in a way I never cared about anyone before. When I’m with her, I’m a different person. I’m the person that I want to be.
We close the containers and put them into the fridge. Tamson places our glasses in the sink before we make our way back to her room.
My phone buzzes in my pocket. I pull it out to see a message from my dad has come through. My mood darkens as I read the text.
Dad: I need you at the Den tomorrow.
My chest feels heavy. What am I’m going to have to do this time? Whatever it is, it’s never good.
I don’t respond. I don’t have to. He knows I’ll be there. Shoving the phone back in my pocket, I forget about tomorrow and concentrate on the here and now.
“Is everything okay?” Tamson asks, real concern lacing her voice.
“Yeah,” I assure her. “Everything is fine.”
“What do you want to do now?” Her question is innocent, but my mind immediately goes into the gutter. I want to strip her naked and fuck her again, but I don’t want to push her, either. However, maybe I could get at least some of her clothes off.
“How about I give you a massage?” I suggest, hoping she’ll go for it.
She thinks about it for a moment. “Like a back massage?”
“Yeah,” I confirm.
“Okay,” she finally agrees.
“Do you have some body lotion or something like that?”
“Sure, hold on.” She disappears into the bathroom and returns with a bottle of lotion in her hand. I take it from her and flip the top open.
She gives me a nervous look, biting her bottom lip as she grabs the hem of her shirt to pull it off her body. I’ve seen all of her before but she is still shy about being naked. She turns around and unhooks her bra, letting it fall to the ground with her shirt.
I squirt some lotion on my palm, while watching Tamson crawl onto the bed to lie down on her stomach. I set the bottle down on her nightstand and take a seat on the edge of the bed. Her head is turned to the other side, so unfortunately I can’t see her face to gauge what she is thinking right now.
Rubbing my hands together, I warm up the lotion before placing my palms on her shoulders. Keeping my touch light, I massage her stiff muscles gently. My fingers glide over her smooth skin, and I just enjoy touching her. I let my hands run down her back, tracing over her spine with my thumbs.
I repeat the motions a few times, making sure to give every part of her back equal attention. It doesn’t take long for her to relax under my touch.
I’m so fucking thankful she is letting me do this. The need to touch her is constant. Being able to do it now without her resistance feels like a soothing balm on an open wound.
Taking my time, I rub and knead every inch of her back. I do it for so long, I have to reapply lotion twice. When I get ready to reach for the bottle again, she turns her head on the pillow to look at me. Her eyes are hooded, and her cheeks are a hue of red. She gives me a lazy smile.
“So…do you want a turn?” she asks shyly, surprising me with her offer.
