Page 22 of Marks of Rebellion
"Can I come?"
I almost get giddy she wants to spend time with me. "Yeah. But it's going to be hard to walk in my flip-flops. When we get to the edge of the campsite, I'll need to carry you."
She bites her lip.
Is she scared of me again?
I stroke her cheek with my finger. "Will that be okay?"
"Sure."
She rises and gazes down. Her fists are clasped on my T-shirt. "Is it okay if I go in this and wash my other clothes?"
Stay naked under my shirt? Yes, ma'am.
"Sure."
We leave for the river. I ignore the smirks from the guys. It isn't anything Vanessa would notice, but I know those looks. It's like I'm doing the walk of shame after a drunken night on the town.
Bastards are just jealous.
They should be. They aren't going to ever find anyone as smoking hot as Vanessa.
When we get to the edge of the camp, I almost pick Vanessa up but stop.
Don't scare her.
"I'm going to carry you from this point out, Flower."
She nods, and I scoop her up in my arms. She glides her hands behind my neck and winces.
"What's wrong?"
She shakes her head. "Nothing."
"Didn't look like nothing."
Her smile looks forced. "It's fine. My wrists just hit the wrong spot on your shoulder. I shouldn't have slid them."
"I want to look at your injuries when we get to the river."
"No. I'm fine."
"It's not a request," I growl.
She releases my neck and shifts in my arms, turning her head quickly away from me and shudders.
I glance at the sky, then back at her. "Flower, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to frighten you."
"It's fine," she murmurs, but her lip trembles.
Way to go, dickhead.
I don't know how many men have hurt Vanessa, or what they've done, but I've seen enough to know something happened. She wouldn't confirm it last night, but I know in my gut her fiancé did something terrible to her. And I want to do to every one of them whatever it is they did to her before I kill them. I firmly reply, "It's not fine. No one should hurt or scare you."
A tear hits my arm, and I cringe inside.
How deep is my Flower's pain?
