Page 99 of Butterfly

Sienna clicks her tongue. “Right. The more I know humans, the more I love dogs.”

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SOMETIMES AFTER A hard day of work, I can’t sleep because adrenaline rushes through my body. It seems that even happiness has the same effect because I’m lying on my bed, fully awake, with no intention of sleeping. Dart is snoring next to me. I’m holding Sienna, pressing her against my chest. The ragged skin of her back scratches mine.

Her breathing quickens as her arms and legs grow stiff and snap in her sleep. She thrashes around. Her lips pull tight, and her eyebrows knit together.

“Sienna.” I caress her cheek. “It’s a dream. Wake up.”

Quick breaths punch out of her.

“Sienna.” I touch her shoulder.

She sits bolt upright, her chest heaving. I hate watching her terrified. It doesn’t happen every night, but when it does, she shakes for a while. Even Dart raises his ears and tilts his head as if wondering what happened.

“Sorry.” She brushes her hair from her face. “Did I wake you?”

“I was already awake.” I rub her back. “Always the same?”

“Always the same.” She snuggles closer to me, her little frame quivering.

I can’t ask her again to accept my help. My money. Emily’s money. A therapist. Surgery. She refused. Pushing her wouldn’t be fair, especially since she left me the choice to do what I wanted when Rebecca proposed her deal. But bloody hell if it isn’t hard. Mum always says that loving someone means leaving them free to make their own choices, even when those choices hurt us. Now I understand what she means.

“Alex,” Sienna whispers against my skin.

“Yes?” I run my hand along her thick braid.

There’s a rustle of bed sheets as she props herself on an elbow and stares at me. “What if…is your offer still up?”

“My offer?” Her naked shoulder is too tempting, and I stroke it.

“About the scars and the psychiatrist.”

I freeze. Even my breath seems trapped in my chest. “Hell, yes.” I can’t bring myself to say more.

“I changed my mind.” She tugs at a corner of the bed sheet, chewing her bottom lip. “I’d like your help,” she whispers so low I can barely catch her words.

“Oh, my love.” I squash her in a hug, laughing. “Anything you want.”

“But I’m going to pay you back.”

Here we go. I knew it. “That won’t be necessary.”

“Wait to hear the whole thing. You decide how I’m going to pay.” A slow, sexy smirk quirks her lips up.

The protest I want to voice dies a quick, merciless death in my throat. “Anything?”

“Anything.”

“I like that.” Slowly, I drag down the bed sheet covering her until I reveal her full breasts. “I think you can start paying now.”

Before she can say anything, I close my mouth around her nipple and suck hard. Her body bows and arches the harder I suck.

“Alex, please,” she begs, but I tongue her other nipple instead.

When she starts moving around with her legs, I slip a hand between her thighs, finding her so wet I nearly come. I push my fingers inside her inch by inch, savouring every little moan on her lips. The circles I draw on her slick bud make her close her fists in tight balls. Speaking of which, mine are bloody painful. But I trail my lips down while tweaking her nipple. I press her knees open until I fit between them. Thank goodness she’s flexible. As I dip my head, she lets out a breathy gasp so erotic, my body tightens in response. I lap at her entrance, sucking her slick flesh and stretching her with my fingers. Showing no mercy, I use my tongue, lips, and fingers until the warm rush of her release hits my mouth. But I’m far from done. With one thrust of my hips, I’m sheathed inside her. Not a gentle move, but my balls are going to burst if I don’t take her now.

“Alex.” She wraps her legs around my waist, her heels pressing against the small of my back.

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