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Her eyes shuttered and her face crumpled as she pulled away. I let her, my heart aching.
“Now you do. Sogo.” She shoved me again, harder, and kept on shoving and pushing.
Her breath fell short as she threw her weight behind her struggle in a frenzy. Relief that Travis wasn’t here to watch her fall apart swept over me. Sienna kept her life private and while I was glad she trusted me enough to let go, I knew she’d hate anyone else witnessing her fear. I’d bear her bruises tomorrow and every one would be worth weathering her now.
A deep cry ripped from her, echoing around the cave as she slumped in my arms, panting. Sweat pooled around my chest as I held her to me, twisting so my back was to the cave wall and sliding down it, cradling her to me.
“It’s okay. He can’t hurt you here. He can’t.” I repeated words I both believed and didn't all at once, kissing the top of her head.
She sobbed into my chest, gasping and choking. I squeezed my eyes shut, ready to find Jamie, rip his cock from his body, and stuff it down his throat.
Bile rose in mine as I fought the murderous urge back. It’s why Trav brought me out here, after all. At least, it was one of the reasons. I suspected that he hoped I might run into her up here, too.
“You don’t have to go back,” I murmured, reaching down to tuck her legs onto my lap. I bent my knees in a deep vee, making a nest for her in the middle. “It’s okay.”
“It’s not okay. He won’t stop.” She shook her head, speaking into my shirt.
“He can’t hurt you if he can’t get to you,” I said gently.
“But he can hurt daddy.” She raised a tear stained cheek to me, her eyes red-rimmed like this was the first time she’d let out all the fear and anguish and shock of what he’d done to her. “Kyle, Jamie’ll kill him.”
My blood froze in my veins, and I cursed. The obvious hole in Trav’s grand plan slapped me in the face for not having the foresight to see it first.
Paired with my first name for only the second time ever, I knew just how serious she was.
I cupped her face, leaning down to press my lips to hers but she turned away.
“Don’t kiss me,” she whispered.
My heart broke fresh. “Do you want me to let you go, too?” That last came out more harshly than I wanted, and I instantly regretted my tone. “I’m–”
“Don’tletmego,”she sobbed out in a rush.
“I won’t.” I folded my arms tighter around her, though my relief lodged in my chest. “You wanna tell me about him?”
She shook her head, shivering in my arms as I promised myself I’d find the nearest blunt instrument when I saw him next and removed something vital. After a few minutes the shivers subsided and she pressed into my chest, as though seeking warmth.
I cast about in the darkness and managed to get a finger to one of the blankets that usually filled the cave. It must have trailed us, tangled around someone’s foot as we ran. I wouldn’t have had a clue if it was me or not. Flipping my wrist, I tossed it over us and wrapped the Sienna-scented cloth around her.
She sighed, her body softening. I kissed the top of her head and willed myself to remain calm.
“Tell me.”
Sienna’s fingers curled into my stomach, her nails scratching me slightly through the blanket. “He–” she stopped, started, and fell silent.
The process repeated a few times while I stroked her hair and called myself an asshole for pushing her, but I wanted–needed–to know what happened to her, if she was willing to share.
“It’s okay. I’ve got all the time in the world,” I reassured her.
“Why do you still want me?” She tipped her head back, her eyes glassy with fresh tears. “After what he– What I let him–” A tear rolled down her cheek and when I brushed it away, it was hot.
“I will always love you, and anything he did that you survived only makes me love you more.”
I brushed back the next tear that fell and the one after that as she stared at me in utter silence, her mouth hanging open.
“You...love me?” She stared at me in wonder before her face crumpled in panic again. “No. You can’t. You shouldn’t. I have to get back–”
“Breathe, wild child,” I instructed softly. “We’re not going anywhere for a bit. And you running about in the dark back to the house like this is probably a real fucking bad idea. Because my climbing is shit and I’ll probably die trying to help you.”
