Chapter 8

The rains have subsided long enough for me to carry Bella back to the main house. Fair-colored lashes fall over her cheeks and I make a silent vow to anyone listening I will never let anyone hurt her again. Including myself. I tried to stay away from her. We both know how that turned out. If she knew how I spent the last three weeks there is no way this beautiful woman would have let me take her so deeply and profoundly. She gave herself to me. She trusted me with her body and I know her heart went right along with it. And for that I will forever be her guardian, her protector, lover…anything she may need from me. All she will have to do is ask. If she needs my blood, she will have that too. I'd give her the air from my lungs even if it meant my death.

Nothing Bella does is skin deep. She's a woman who will love you with every part of her being or not at all. I can only hope the pure love I saw in her eyes tonight will survive through her discovering the truth of how much blood I have on my hands.

I hold her tighter as I move through the house and to my room.

"Wake up, my beautiful rose." Keeping her close to my chest, I walk us into my shower. Warm water automatically turns on and the chill of the walk washes away.

Sated green eyes meet mine. I lower her until she can reach the floor and then I set to washing away the salt from the natural baths in the atrium. I've spent decades nurturing and caring for all the flowers in the glasshouse. I never thought I would see such a rare rose like my Bella bloom under my touch in the one place on earth I consider my sanctuary.

I doubt she will ever know the gift she's given me.

She rests her head on my chest as I rinse the last of the shampoo from her hair. "You're quiet." The breath of her hushed voice fans over my bare chest.

"Just appreciating what I have." I finish washing her and then make quick work of washing myself. Once we are dry and I've tended to her hair, I slip her between my sheets and move in behind her.

"Are we in your room?"

"Yes, it's where you belong."

I wrap an arm around her middle and pull her into me. Her smaller size fits perfectly coiled into mine.

She moans and wiggles her butt against my growing erection. I need to feel the heat of her release every day I draw air, but I already took her hard enough for now. She needs the rest.

"Naughty woman." I press a hand to her midriff and splay my finger across the smooth skin. "Quiet now. Sleep. In the morning we will need to talk."

She angles her head in my direction. She pulls her lower lip between her teeth. Is that something new? Or does she always do that when she's worried? There are a million things I crave to know about her.

"Are we okay?"

The worry in her voice wraps around my heart and claws deep. The woman has the power to kill me with her words and doesn't realize it.

"We are. Now sleep. I have you."

Hours later, I feel a tug on my arm. At first, I think something is wrong, but I quickly realize Bella is dreaming.

"Daddy."

Her breathy voice brushes over my senses and grips my cock as if she's taken me in hand.

Fuck.

She's laying on her side with the sheet pulled down to reveal a beaded nipple. Moonlight plays over her warm skin. Her hair spills to the side.

She's a siren. Enchantress. I can't look away.

I trace a finger over the hard tip and she shudders in her sleep. My touch lingers a fraction longer and the moan she gives me forces pre-cum from my cock.

"Daddy," she says dreamily again and I'm on my knees kneeling over her. How can I resist such a sensual calling? A voice in my head says I need to wake her and the demons in me know just how to do it.

My heart thumps erratically. I ease the sheet from her and stroke a finger through her folds. Sweet juices drip from the tip.

A slow smile draws over my lips.

I fist my cock and ease it to her entrance. On her side, she's fully exposed to all my dirty desires. Waking her with an orgasm will be an experience she will never forget.

I hold her open with my callused-roughened hands. She moans again as her walls stretch greedily around me. I slowly sink into her hot channel and marvel at how her breathing turns erratic.

Her lips move with a murmur. Her fingers reach for the taut peaks of her breasts.

I pull out and gently glide back into her. "Take your daddy, sweet Bella. I'll always be here to give you everything you need."

Those golden lashes flutter open before falling over the swell of her cheeks. Beyond the large windows, the sun crests the horizon. Light brushes against the red of her hair and for one moment in time she looks like the angel God lost and the devil found.

"Daddy." Her lips move with a moaned whisper.

"Yes, Bella. I'm here." I reach forward and shift her to her knees and greedily re-enter her from behind. I grip the flesh of her ass and drive into her until we are both panting, grabbing for the release that awaits us.

Leaning over her, I spread her folds and stroke her clit with just enough pressure to have her on the verge of climaxing. But not yet.

"Oh, yes. God, that feels so good." Her words are heavy with sleep but I know she's here with me.

Hot juices coat my shaft as I work her harder, deeper.

"Faster, Daddy," she begs me so sweetly I can't refuse.

I do as she commands until the base of my spine contracts, and my balls draw up tight. A heat that rivals hell's flames spills through my veins. One more stroke of my fingers over her clit and we are both at our ends.

My seed pours into her tight channel and she milks me until I have nothing left. I fall over her, drawing her up close. I'm still balls deep in her and that is where I plan on staying until well after noon. I spread my leg over hers and she cuddles into me.

"I've never felt so wanted and accepted in my entire life. Can we stay like this forever?"

I tighten my arms around her. "My thoughts exactly."