Page 6 of Crown of Thorns
“I don’t know what that means.”
“I know and I’ll tell you, I promise. But right now, we have to get you safe. Will you trust me?” he asks. I hesitate before slowly nodding my head. The look of pure relief that washes across his face is shocking to see. “Thank you.”
“What next?” I ask. I know I said I’d trust him but really, I’m not ready for that and I don’t know if I ever will be. What I do know is that the rose colored glasses have been ripped clean off my face now, and I’m going to have to keep my eyes open to all things around me. Because the only one who’s going to protect me is me.
“People are going to come to the hospital and help you get ready. The news broke three days ago that you were in a bad wreck and my people have been holding vigil. They need to see that you’re alive and well. We’ll walk down the steps together and someone will hand you flowers. After that, we’ll get in a car and drive back to the castle. All right?”
“All right,” I repeat, giving him the words he wants. But nothing is all right and I don’t know if it ever will be again.
“We’ll go from there,” he says. “But for now, we’re closing ranks until we can flush out the traitor and make it through the coronation.”
“I don’t—”
He stops me before I can tell him that I don’t want to be a party to his coronation. I don’t want any part ofit. “Let’s just take it one day at a time. Okay?”
I sigh again. “Okay.” I guess that’s the best I can hope for, aside from magically being returned to America to live anonymously as I had for years.
“Good.” He s presses a gentle kiss to my mouth before whispering, “And I know you like it when I’m gentle too.”
“Rhys—” I start. I’m not ready for his romantic onslaught again. I know how convincing he can be and I’m not ready. I can’t.
“I missed my hen.” He presses his mouth to mine again before dropping his forehead to mine. “Don’t ever scare me like that again. Don’t ever run again.”
I let him hold me in his arms, but what I don’t do is make promises that I’m not sure I can keep. And by the sharp look on his handsome face, Rhys is all too aware that I haven’t said I’m here for good.
Chapter 3
Vigil
Ilook around the room, nervous as my need for the bathroom becomes more and more urgent. Only I can’t tell Rhys that I need to go.
“What is it?” he asks, always knowing when something is up.
I used to love the attention he paid me, now I don’t know how I feel about it. It makes me feel itchy.
“Nothing,” I whisper.
Shit. How can I distract him? Get him out of here so that I can pee? This is so humiliating.
“You’ve got to be fucking kidding me,” he grumbles.
“What?” I turn back just in time to see him roll his eyes before he scoops me up and carries me into the bathroom. “Oh, no… that’s not what I meant.”
“I’ve licked your cunt until you came on numerousoccasions, hen. Ate your cream all up. I’ve had my fingers, my tongue, and my cock inside of you. A lot. So I think you can tell me without looking like you’re going to keel over that you need to take a piss.”
I kind of don’t like this tone he’s taking with me. It’s making me feel smaller than I already do, and that’s saying something because I feel pretty pitiful right now. He sounds mad, but he’s not the one about to pee his pants in a hospital bed in front of the person he was engaged to, but isn’t even sure that he likes them now.
Speaking of… I wonder how long I’ve been here. Like what day is it?
“Dammit Stella,” he growls. “Say something. Anything.”
“I… umm…” I lick my lips. “I need a shower too.”
His face softens as he takes me in. I’m sure I look bedraggled… and scared. “It really will be all right. I promise.”
“Okay.” I don’t know what else to say to him. I don’t believe anything will be all right but then again, I was almost murdered last week? Last month? Who knows, but it all still feels fresh and that’s what matters most. My trauma is real and I’m not ready to let it go yet, that is if I’ll even be able to at all. Ever.
Rhys places a gentle kiss to the top of my head. “I’ll just be right outside if you need me.”
