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The sight of him was overwhelming. I hadn’t seen what was concealed under his coat before. Strapped to the teeth with leathers, an assortment of throwing knives lay sheathed on the harness that crossed over his chest. A long dagger hung sheathed on his thigh. I wondered if he’d been using his shadow magic to mask what was concealed beneath his clothes all this time. He undid the buckles on the leathers, one by one, and the heavy metal clunked against the wood as he laid them out atop the dresser.
Words were just out of my reach as I stood in the doorway, watching him. What could I say? That I missed him? That not a moment had gone by that I didn’t think of him? How I’d wished every moment that I’d spent more time with him, thinking I may never see him again? That more than anything, I just wanted to hold him, to feel him? To know that he was real, not another dream.
He disappeared into his bathroom. The sound of water splashing off the tile echoed out into the room as he turned the faucet on, filling the tub. He returned, heading for his dresser before he rummaged through his drawers.
Damien’s scent lingered in the room, filling my senses. It helped me relax a little, and I knew I was home, knew I was safe. It felt so surreal to be standing here, in his house. A part of me feared I would never see this place again, that I would never see him again.
He pulled some clothes for me to wear from his dresser and motioned me to follow him into the bathroom. The bathroom was just as stunning as the rest of the house, draped in gray tones with rich brass accents. A large, gold, ornate mirror hung from the gray wall above the vanity, and just past it, against the far wall, stood a large shower. Walls reached up a couple feet around the base, forming the largest tub I’d ever seen. The shower head was accompanied by three faucets already working hard to fill the tub.
Damien reached into one of the cabinets as he fished out a towel for me to use and set it on the vanity. “That should do it. Go ahead and take a good soak. I’m going to prepare the spare room for you. I’ll check your wounds after you’ve washed up.” He kissed my forehead tenderly before walking past me.
“Wait.”
His footsteps stopped in the doorway.
“Please don’t go...”
He didn’t respond at first. “Are you sure?”
I looked back over my shoulder to him. My hands trembled still, and I only grew more and more frustrated that I couldn’t stop it. “Please, Stay… I don’t want to be alone.”
His eyes showed understanding of my pain and he nodded before he stepped back into the bathroom. I walked over to the shower, removing his hoodie, and taking a deep breath before my fingertips slid under the hem of my shirt. My muscles were tight and sore at the slightest stretch as I lifted it.
My hands halted as they reached the level of my rib cage. The thought of him seeing me like this, seeing the horrible sight hidden under my clothes was enough to make me ill, but I was terrified of him leaving. What if he walked out that door and never returned? What if he left and Marcus returned in his place?
His hands grazed mine, and the tenderest of kisses brushed my shoulder. “I promise, you’re safe.” His words eased me, and I smiled. “I’ll turn around. Let me know when you’re in.”
I inhaled deeply, calming my nerves, and I slid my shirt over my head. The fabric whispered as I dropped the destroyed shirt on the floor. I grimaced as my muscles stretched and my joints popped as I reached to unclasp my bra. I let it fall into the pile of clothes. I hesitated for a moment before I slid my jeans down along with my underwear. The air was cold against my bare skin, and I hugged myself as a shiver shot through me.
The bath was already mostly full by this point. He must have added something to the water; it was white and murky, and the soothing aroma of rosemary and lavender filled the room. I stepped in, warmth sweeping up through me, and a sigh of relief escaped my lips.
I lowered myself down into the bath. The water met my wounds and I winced at the sting, the cuts and bruises eased, but the few burns stung deeply, and I forced myself to breath though it. The water was hot, steam rising into the air, but the heat soothed my sore muscles and the aches in my joints. It burned away the horrible sensation that lingered on the surface of my skin, and I didn’t want it to stop.
“I’m in,” I said as I turned the faucets off.
He walked to the side of the tub, settling down on the floor next to it. I drifted over to the edge next to him, raising my arms to rest atop the wall. I laid my head against them, closing my eyes as I let the heat consume me. I could have fallen asleep right there, but I was afraid to.
What if I woke up and I was back in the cell?
Damien’s hand reached out to mine, holding it as he rested against the edge of the tub. It grounded me, proving that this wasn’t a dream. I was safe. I was… home. It felt strange to think of this place as home, but there was nowhere else I would rather be. Nowhere I felt safer. Thiswashome.
Damien… he was home.
It was something I would likely never say out loud. I felt like such a naive girl to think this way. I’d barely known him a month, but despite that, he came for me, never gave up on me. He’d faced so many dangers to ensure that I was brought home safely.
His fingers stroked back and forth along the back of my hand. I opened my eyes to look at him, to see his pained eyes moving over the markings on my wrists from the shackles. I could see his mind working through the possible causes of the wounds.
“About what the deputies said…”His eyes lowered to my hand. “About the rape kit…”
My skin tightened, throat going dry at the thought.
“He didn’t—” He couldn’t finish the sentence.
My eyes fell to the tile floor, unable meet his gaze, and I retracted my hands. I’d caused him so much pain when I’d been taken, and I knew that the sight of me only hurt him more. “He never touched me like that.” This was exactly what Marcus had wanted. To get under Damien’s skin.
He’d succeeded.
“I’m so sorry this happened,” he said, voice faltering.
