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Giving her a mischievous grin, I say, “Personally, I love the freshly fucked look on you. I say you go just like that.”
A throaty laugh comes from her as she wrinkles her nose. “No way. Only you get to see me like this.”
A feral feeling courses through my chest. “You’re damn right. I’d have to tear someone apart, limb by limb, if they saw you like this, then burn their body parts.” I wave a hand dismissively. “And you’re too hungry to waste time on that.”
She laughs, and I slide my hands down to her ass, squeezing gently. Kissing her lips, I whisper, “Go get ready, goddess.”
Everleigh steps back, saluting me. “Yes, sir.”
Goddamn. I swear my dick is getting hard again.
Tugging her dress down her hips, she spins around, heading for the bathroom, my gaze glued to the curve of her ass as she sashays away from me.
As much as I hate when she leaves the room, I love to watch her go.
Catching a glimpse of my rumpled, sweaty clothes, I shake my head.
I’d better change. I am not escorting my gorgeous goddess to dinner in wrinkled clothing, looking a mess.
By the time I’ve changed, leaving my shirt untucked so I can reapply more deodorant, I step into the bathroom, a gasp leaving my lips.
I don’t know how the hell she can transform herself into a fucking vision so quickly, but my dark goddess steals the breath from my lungs for the second time tonight.
Catching my eye, she blows me a kiss before reapplying her red lipstick. Transfixed, I watch her, one thought running through my head.
I’m the fucking luckiest man in this goddamn universe.
nine
William
Iliftmyglassand take a drink, studying Everleigh over the rim from where I sit across from her. Raising my eyebrows, I set the glass on the table. “Can you tell me about Savannah’s stepfather?”
I knew something was wrong with my fiancée when she was quiet in the car. When she said she needed to check in on Savannah, pulled out her phone and called her, then proceeded to talk to her in low, reassuring tones, my scalp prickled with unease.
My gut instinct that something happened when the girls were shopping turned out to be correct when Everleigh confessed what occurred at the sunglass boutique.
I’m pissed Everleigh ran outside after the guy. My girl can hold her own, but I don’t know how much she knows about this man, especially if he’s been out of the picture for a while. It was rash and irresponsible, but I’m trying not to lash out at her.
She sighs. “I can’t go into too much detail, but suffice it to say that Savannah’s stepdad was a creep. An abusive alcoholic who cut her down every chance he got, at least while her mother was alive. But once she passed away, he became a monster.” Everleigh’s hands twist together nervously.
“He sexually abused her.” It’s all over the pained expression on Everleigh’s pale face.
She winces at my bluntness and nods. “When I first met her in school, she came across as very reserved. Guarded. I was new and most of the people in school had their cliques. I didn’t fit in with that group, considering…” She stares at the table, her hand wrapping around her water glass, then spinning in slow circles as she’s lost to her memories.
Reaching out a hand, I gently pry her fingers from the glass, clasping her hand in mine. “The two of you became good friends. Eventually, best friends.” I redirect her thoughts, her face brightening from my words.
“Yes. We were both social outcasts, so to speak, so it made sense that the two of us started bonding.” Her gaze flits to mine, the flame from the candle on the table highlighting the golden flecks in her eyes. Her face is troubled, her brow furrowing as she continues. “Her stepbrother was terrified of his father and wouldn’t stand up for Savannah. He knew what was going on, heard her cries, yet did nothing to stop it. One day, he apologized for not intervening, but by that point, Savannah was too angry and traumatized from the repeated sexual assaults. She lashed out at him. Her stepfather came home from work early and heard them fighting. He accused her stepbrother of becoming soft and hit him. It was a brutal beating and Savannah tried to escape, but her stepfather caught her at the door of the mobile home they lived in. He forced her stepbrother to hold her down and made him watch while he assaulted her.”
My hands clenched into fists, my stomach churning.No wonder Savannah is so skittish toward men.What a fucking horrific thing to endure.
It’s too damn bad Everleigh didn’t kill him.
“Savannah didn’t talk about what was happening at home. After that horrendous night, Savannah and her stepbrother, Tyler, had bruises and other injuries. One of the neighbors heard Savannah screaming as her stepfather dragged her away from the door. Rather than call the police, they came over to investigate, but of course, her stepdad threatened to kill Savannah and her stepbrother if they made a sound.” Everleigh lifts her glass of water, taking a long drink. Setting it down, she brushes a hand through her hair. “When Savannah’s stepdad left for work the next morning, she and her stepbrother planned to skip school to hide their injuries. The neighbor returned, catching them off guard, and started asking questions. Her stepbrother shut the door on them, but they’d seen enough of his injuries. Since he was afraid the police would be called, he and Savannah decided to go to school. The neighbor called the school and told them what they heard and saw. They notified the authorities, who started investigating. Somehow, their stepdad got wind of it because he left his job and never returned. Ultimately, it led to Savannah and her stepbrother being removed from the home, though it took quite a while.”
My jaw clenches, feeling terrible for all Savannah endured. Although a part of me feels bad for her stepbrother, the other part blames him for not doing anything to help Savannah. She was raped by his father, and he didn’t do a damn thing to stop it.
As for her stepfather, I’d like to find him and torture that bastard to death.
