Page 26 of Twist of Fate

That had her sitting up. “Really?” She couldn’t keep the surprise out of her voice. “You’ve never had a woman stay the night before?”

“Nope.” His fingers were curled around hers. “I’m not saying I haven’t had sex since I moved here, but I usually go to Virginia Beach or Norfolk if I want to pick up a woman.” She knew both cities were not too far from Silverbell Shore and he went to Norfolk once a month or so to pick up supplies from bigger stores not near town. “I’ve never met anyone I wanted to invite into my home.”

Beth understood where he was coming from. She knew he’d left the Navy under difficult circumstances and had been pretty much a recluse since setting up home in Silverbell Shore. “Well, I’m honored.” And she was. There wasn’t anything special about her.

He pulled her down gently and kissed the hell out of her until she was so sated she could barely move. Settling into his embrace, she held him close, enjoying the feel of his body against hers as they drifted off to sleep.

ChapterThirteen

Wyatt stroked Beth’s hair softly as she lay draped over him. Their bodies were cooling after the scorching hot sex they’d just had, and even though he was tired and knew she would be too, he wanted to know more.

More about the woman who made him feel the way no other before her had. But he wavered about whether to ask any questions, because he knew how to read people better than most, and Beth was a woman running scared from something.

He debated turning the lamp on but decided against it. “You still awake, honey?”

She stretched like a cat, yawning as she did. “I am.” Propping herself up on his chest by resting her head on her fist, she gave him a sleepy smile.

He leaned in and kissed her nose, then decided to forge ahead in the hope of getting some answers. If he knew exactly what her situation was, then he’d be able to strategize on ways to keep her safe. “Can we talk?”

Her fingers trailed over his chest. “Of course we can.”

“I want to know who you’re running from.”

Any sleepiness vanished, and she abruptly sat up, pulling the sheet high enough to cover her breasts. He wanted to pull it down again, but instead reached for her hand, grateful she didn’t pull away when he touched her. “You really want to talk about this now?”

“Yes. I can protect you, Beth, but I need to know what we’re dealing with.”

Her face softened, and she gazed at him in such a way he wanted to pull her into his arms and never let her go. “It’s not your battle, Wyatt. I can’t let you get involved. He’ll hurt you.” Her brows furrowed, and something akin to pain crossed her features.

“He won’t hurt me, honey. He won’t hurt you again, either.” Anger speared through him at the thought of any man laying his hands on the woman sitting next to him.

After a few moments, she appeared to have made a decision. He propped himself up with pillows as she settled down next to him in his embrace. “He never hurt me physically, Wyatt. I need you to know that.”

He only felt marginally better. “I’m glad to hear it.”

“His abuse was emotional and mental.” Her voice was soft, as though it physically hurt her to speak. “I didn’t see it at first, of course. I was flattered someone as attractive and charming as him paid me so much attention. It was over a long period of time, just little things here and there. He started to dictate what I could wear. What I could eat. Where I could go and who I could see.”

Wyatt pressed a kiss to the crown of her head. “That must have been hard.”

“It was. When I’d ask him things, he’d make me feel like I was crazy for not knowing. He alienated me from my friends, my mother. Made me give him my passwords for my social media accounts so he could see everything. He would post photos of us and make out like we were so happy together, as though I’d written them.”

“He gaslighted you.”

“Yes. I was living the life he said I could, not the one I wanted. Not the one I was. Eventually, most of my friends gave up and stopped contacting me. They all grew to hate him and told me I had to leave, but I felt…”

“Trapped?”

She tipped her head back so she could look at him, and he couldn’t help dropping a gentle kiss on her lips. “Exactly. Trapped. He controlled everything, even my money. Every penny I earned went into a joint bank account I couldn’t access without his permission.”

Wyatt tightened his arms around her, wanting to shield her somehow. “Are you married to him?”

“No, not legally. He wanted to get married at the courthouse, but I refused. He kept telling me how much easier life would be if we were legally married, but I think deep down I knew it would be harder for me if we took that step.”

“How long were you together?”

She let out a long sigh. “Four years.”

Four years of being forced to abide by someone else’s rules, of being abused and mistreated by a man who was supposed to love her. Wyatt wanted to punch this guy in the face, hard. “What made you finally leave him?” She stiffened in his arms and buried her face in his neck. A few moments later, he felt something wet on his shoulder and realized she was crying. “Beth, it’s okay. You’re safe here.”

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