AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Tears ran down her cheeks, her reflection captured in his eyes. Aaron saw her as beautiful amidst her scars—at least the ones he knew about. “But I come from so much darkness. The things I’ve seen, and done . . .” Or didn’t do.
“Don’t you see what I’m saying, sunshine? Dark can be beautiful.” Aaron leaned in, melding his lips with hers. “You’re enough.”
She set the bowl on the bed and collapsed against him. Strong arms held her as she clung to Aaron, finding solace in her husband. His heart beat a steady thud against her ear. His protective hold giving her a sense of peace she’d never known. She wept for the little girl inside who never got to run to the safety of arms that loved her. For the woman she was now who felt shattered. Aaron just gripped her tighter, as if he could be the gold that held her together, his soft lips kissing her temple and whispering soothing words of what she deserved, and how strong she was.
Sometime later, her sobs subsided. She pulled away from him and wiped her eyes. He handed her a tissue from the side table, and she wiped her face and sniffed.
“Brynn?”
“Yeah?”
“I hope you know I’m here for you. I mean, I’m in this. And we’ll get through this together. You don’t have to do it alone anymore.” Aaron’s voice was rough.
She looked up, meeting his red watery eyes. His own grief was a punch to her stomach. “How can you be real?”
He shook his head. “I’ve got my own broken pieces too. We all do. Some just have more than others.”
A humble answer from a humble man. Had she expected something else?
Aaron cleared his throat. “Can I ask you something?”
She nodded.
“Was it something I did the other night that triggered you?”
She slammed her eyes closed and released the oxygen in her lungs.
His warm palm returned to her back, rubbing circles. “You don’t have to answer, but I’d like to know so that I don’t hurt you again in the future.”
He thought he’d hurt her? Her heart ached. She could do this—for Aaron. She took a deep breath and faced him. “It wasn’t you. I really liked you touching me . . . But, the sound of the headboard on the wall . . . It just . . . sent me back to a place I’d rather forget.”
His body tensed next to hers. “It was the bed? Not me?”
Brynn nodded. “You were perfect.”
He breathed out, as if relieved. “I don’t want to push you more than you can handle. I hope that you know that.”
“I do. I know you would never hurt me intentionally.” She did—down to her bones.
“How about you take a bath, and then we can relax in bed?”
Both her heart and her body rejected the idea of leaving his embrace. Something had unlocked deep inside her tonight. Emotionally drained, she needed him to anchor her. It was her birthday after all.
“I’d love a bath.”
“I’ll be right back.” Aaron kissed her head and got off the bed, disappearing into the bathroom a moment before the sound of water running started.
Brynn picked up the bowl, tracing the gold gluing the pieces together. Maybe it was the fact she was too emotionally wrecked to be anxious. Perhaps it was that she was still high on birthday wishes and Aaron’s steady presence. But for once, she didn’t care about anything else except capturing his full attention like she’d done once before. The memory of that empowerment intoxicated her, strengthening her resolve as she set the pottery down on the side table and made her way to the bathroom.
Aaron had lit candles on the counter. Steam filled the room, along with the scent of lavender no doubt from the special salts he kept under the sink for her. He turned, his naked chest shining with a sheen of mist.
“All set. I’ll shower in the other bathroom and meet you in bed.”
She spun around, pulling her hair out of the way of her dress. “Can you unzip me?”
“Sure.” His fingers brushed the sensitive skin at her nape before the steady tug of the zipper sent a rush of steam-filled air over her back. “There you go.”
She turned around. “Thank you.”
