Chapter Thirty-Five

After some hours alone, cruising in my car, I tried to clear my thoughts before going home to Wren. My mind is still a mess and although I thought having time alone would clear it, there's only one real clarity.

I need her. I always fucking do.

Stopping outside my mansion, I cut the engine of my Mustang and look out the tinted window beside me. I stare at my home, my life, knowing this is where I belong, not on some mindless fucking drive, heading nowhere but deeper into my own self-pity.

I push open the door, step out and walk straight inside. It's dark as I glance around, softly closing the door behind me, but it's late. As I kick my shoes off, I aim to head upstairs, thinking everyone's in bed, but a dim light in the living room catches my attention. I halt before turning, slowly walking toward it.

As soon as I enter, I notice a few candles burning, the fireplace roaring with blistering flames, the setting, cozy and warm. Wren catches my eye, sitting on the edge of the couch, her head down, cradled in her palms. I swallow hard, watching her carefully. I've probably driven her into fucking madness by just walking away like that. Especially when the last time she saw me that fucked up I had a gun in my mouth, about to end my life.

I slide my hands in my pants pockets and as if she senses my presence, she lifts her head slowly. When our eyes collide, she leaps to her feet, fumbling with the hem of her nightdress, fidgeting nervous, like she doesn't know whether to come closer or keep her distance, but she seems desperate to be near me.

With my feet rooted to the floor, I gaze at her expressionlessly, the firelight casting shadows across the room, dancing over the tension between us. Her eyes are rimmed red, unshed tears glistening in the dim light. She's been worried sick. I can fucking see it. I can fucking feel it. The depth of her worry stares back at me, raw and real.

After some time of brutal silence, I pull one of my hands out of my pants pocket, lifting it to my face and I rub the side of my jaw, my eyes low. Then, they return to her, and I crook my finger for her to come to me. Like a flash of light, she dashes toward me, almost giddy in her steps.

As soon as she is close, she leaps up, wrapping around me like a fucking blanket and I catch her, our lips crashing together like a magnetic pull. My hands move roughly up the back of her thighs that are clenched around my waist before giving her bare asscheeks a tight squeeze. She mulls my mouth with a ferocity that makes me dick solid in an instant.

I can feel it pouring out of her, she thought she did something wrong, but she couldn't be further from the fucking truth.

I walk with her until I'm at the couch, taking a seat and she stays clinged to me. I slump back, pulling her tighter against me, my palms roaming all over her soft nakedness beneath the thin, silk material.

"I'm sorry. I didn't want to hurt you. I only kept it from you because I just wanted to be sure…" she murmurs into my mouth, eyes frantically searching mine.

I surge forward quickly, taking her hair and pulling it back causing her to gasp. My lips trial up her throat, gentle yet commanding and when I get to her jaw, I pause.

"You don't get to keep saying sorry for continuously saving me from myself, Wren," I growl lowly.

Her breath slows to a halt, and I grab her throat, my other hand still in her hair, making her look at me, our lips now touching.

"Do you understand me?"

Her bottom lip quivers, but she nods, her eyes glistening with relief. I lower my head, gently running my nose along her jawline with a deep inhale, eyes closed, feeling the load of the day settling on my shoulders. Yet, beneath that heaviness, there's a flicker of something new—something lighter, something good. I know, deep down, that this is the beginning of a fresh chapter, a chance to build something together from the ashes.

"You gave me my freedom, baby," I whisper, as tears sting my closed eyes. "You shattered the chains that held me captive in hell for far too long. I don't fucking deserve you."

I feel it crushing me from inside, everything I've been through, what we've been through together, but now how we can move onward without the burden of all the bullshit.

I lift my head, her eyes connecting with mine, seeing the emotion and love we both share. I release her hair as I lean back again and she follows me, lying her body on my chest. I run my hands up her thighs again as she stares at me, those big brown eyes, glittering against the flickering flames, keeping me mesmerized and in this moment, everything else melts the fuck away. It always does whenever I‘m around her.

I lift my hand, sweeping my fingers through her soft strands.

"Thank you, Wren. For everything." I say sincerely with a small smile.

"I didn't want it to be like this…."

"But it is." I interrupt, reassuring her. "We can't change what happened. People did what the fuck they did, and no matter how much hurt it fucking caused, it's now about moving forward. Together. It's over."

"I just feel horrible because you told me about my mom and…"

"Shhhh…" I hush, pressing my finger to her pretty lips.

When she stops explaining her actions, because I honestly don't give a fuck. I know her reasons, she doesn't even need to justify them to me. I know we didn't tell each other things just to protect one another. It wasn't ever out of fucking malice. I know Wren inside and out. Her intentions for me, for our family are only genuine. That's all I need to fucking know.

I tuck her hair behind her ear, my head tilting to the side, eyes soaking in her pretty features.

"If you didn't find out, it would've never stopped."

I wrap my hands around her ass, dragging her closer to me until our lips are touching.

"You did good, my dark angel. I'm so fucking proud of you."

Her gaze eases at my words, her body melting against mine. She lays her cheek on my shoulder, running her palm up my chest and for a moment, we just breathe.