Page 70 of Ruined Rose

Micah

When I return to the bed again, we lie on our sides, facing each other.

“I can’t believe you’re here with me.” I slide my palm down her arm, then back up, cupping her cheek as I look into her eyes. “You’re okay physically?”

She nods, but her eyes go glassy. “Yeah. Just the bruises you already saw. I don’t want you blaming yourself for what happened.”

“I’m sorry I didn’t think more clearly.”

She presses her lips to mine for a second before pulling back and gazing into my eyes. “Don’t, Micah. You were worried about how things looked and the way I took off.”

“But I knew you were driving and upset.” I tuck a stray lock of hair behind her ear. “I should have thought through what I was doing and just waited.”

“I shouldn’t have been driving upset like that. And I shouldn’t have believed what I saw in the first place.” She breathes out carefully. “It was really hard not to, though, and I was so confused. I felt like I was having flashbacks to the homecoming dance and felt so sick and upset it was happening again. I wasn’t thinking straight. Micah, I don’t know—” She stops, visibly wincing, the words stuck in her throat. Her eyes flick down, and she slides her fingers absentmindedly back and forth over my pec. I can tell her brain is working a mile a minute.

My heart slams around inside my chest. Is she about to cut me loose? Is being with me too much for her to handle? If I hadn’t gone along with what Alora wanted in the first place, Daphne wouldn’t have any reason to question me or how I feel about her, but—

“Just say it. Whatever it is.” My jaw twitches in agony.

“A lot has happened in the last few weeks.” She gives a weary chuckle. “Stuff that should have had me running far, far away from you.”

I gaze over her head at the wall behind her. I can’t. I can’t. Gut-wrenching pain takes hold.

“Micah. Look at me.”

Taking a deep breath, I meet her gaze.

“Even through all of the craziness—your bad attitude with the tutoring, Alora harassing me, our private moments exposed for all to see—I’ve only ever wanted to be with you. You’ve always made me feel safe. Granted, Alora has done her best to shake my faith in you. But that’s what I’ve spent the last few days thinking about. In my heart, I know you’d never do anything to hurt me. And that’s because I trust you. I trust what I feel for you is real.”

I bring her lips to mine, delve my tongue into her mouth, and kiss her long and deep. My hand slides over her slim hip, tugging her closer to me. “Fuck, Daphne, I don’t know if this is too soon, but—”

She places her hand on my cheek, guiding my gaze to hers. “But?”

I take a few labored breaths, willing myself to open up and share this with her. “I-I’m…”

She tilts her head to the side. “You can tell me anything, Micah.”

“I’m falling for you.”

Her eyes widen and a swallow works down the column of her delicate throat.

“I haven’t the slightest idea when it happened, but when we couldn’t find you and then you were hurt and I couldn’t see you, I really thought I was going to go out of my mind with worry. And I know it was a rough weekend, and I’m so fucking sorry for everything that happened.” My heart clenches when a tear rolls down her cheek. “But, Daph, that’s how I know you mean more to me than anyone else ever has. Because I would give you anything you need, do anything for you, be anything you want me to be. I’d even let you walk away from us if that’s what you feel is best. It would kill me, but I want your happiness more than my own. That’s how I know.”

“Micah,”—the way she smiles as she breathes out my name gives me hope—“my parents asked why I was so sure of you and my feelings for you. That’s what brought up the whole assault. I told them that I knew you’d always protect me. That I trust you most.”

I search her eyes and find what I’ve waited my whole life for.

“I’ve always been yours, Micah.”

“Hop in. This will soothe the soreness. I use it all the time after practices.” I set a stack of fluffy towels near the hot tub and watch as Daphne lowers herself into the bubbling water. She sinks in chin-deep, her entire body sighing with pleasure.

When Daphne gasped in pain trying to get out of bed after round two, I’d felt terrible for not realizing how sore she actually is from the accident.

“I feel kinda naughty being naked like this out in the open air.” She catches the corner of her lip between her teeth, glancing around my backyard patio area.

“Don’t worry, no one else is here.” I climb in too, gently pulling her over to the double seat on the far side of the tub. “Feel those jets on your back? This is my favorite spot. And if you lift your legs, they’ll get your feet, too.” I settle my arm around her shoulders and squeeze her to my side. Glancing down, her nipples are visible at the surface of the water. I groan, my dick already hardening at the sight of her. Because she’s right. I don’t usually come out here buck naked, but I fucking love the idea of screwing her tight little body right here in the water.

She huddles closer to me, and I reach down, pulling her legs over one of mine.

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