Quietly, she locations my neatly folded jacket over the again of my bike and slides each legs over the seat. Each step makes her too-thin body wobble, however I do know higher than to seize her and power her to do issues my means.

She needs to do that for herself, taking management of one thing one step at a time. There isn’t any rush, in any case, and in pushing her I’ll merely show that I’m one more enemy in an extended line of regardless of the fuck has occurred to her.

Nonetheless, I stroll alongside her at just a few ft’s distance, able to catch her if she falls.

She makes it to the door main into the home on pure willpower alone earlier than she sinks down on step one, and appears up at me.

I swear her luminous eyes lance straight via me with that piercing look that cuts via all of the bullshit and leaves me naked in entrance of her. I wish to scoop her into my arms, wash her, take care of her, take all of the ache she’s endured and maintain it for myself, however I can’t do any of that. So, I wait.

“I’ve bought you, honey.” I lengthen that hand as soon as extra and maintain my breath. Deep-brown eyes stare again at me from beneath a tangle of soiled brown, I think will look extra a beachy ash blonde as soon as she’s cleaned up. “I promised you a shower, didn’t I? What’s your identify?”

She nods hesitantly, and I bend on the knees, scooping her up as soon as extra. A tendril of filthy hair flutters beneath her nostril. I sweep the tiny curl again behind her ear, letting my fingers linger on her delicate pores and skin, tracing excessive cheekbones. Stated button nostril wiggles, and he or she sneezes.

“You’re cute.”

Hey eyes shift again to me and a shot of concern lances from her to me.

I shake my head slowly. “I’m not gonna harm you, honey. I promise. Ever. Will you belief me a minimum of lengthy sufficient to run you a shower?”

Her forehead dips, these eyes mistrustful for a second earlier than fatigue takes her and he or she slumps, the little vitality she displayed snuffed out.

Her power flooring me. The opposite women died, and he or she lived, was prepared to say her freedom the second that door on the delivery container opened. My coronary heart beats somewhat sooner and my arms tighten round her.

“There’s good smelly stuff in there, too. Berries. Jasmine soaps and issues, I don’t know … orchids.” Her eyes flare somewhat at that final one. “Okay. Orchids it’s.”

The tiniest trace of a smile curves her pale lips.

I used to be unsuitable. She isn’t cute. She’s fucking lovely.

I promise myself I’ll kill each man who’s harm her, even when I’ve to journey midway across the globe to do it. Hopefully, they’re right here in Rhode Island, and I’d be capable of do the job and be again in time for supper.

However first, I want somewhat one thing else from her.

“Your identify, honey. I’ll purchase you all of the orchids on the planet.”

She seems up at me via her lashes. On one other girl that look may be coy, however I do know it isn’t in her to be that means, particularly after no matter she suffered. Lacerations and bruises are evident beneath her pores and skin in a shifting array of colour from what number of occasions she has been crushed, or worse.

“Your identify,” I repeat softly.

She research me for a second extra, letting out a breath and a whisper.

“Thalia.”

Chapter Two

Stolen Breath

Thalia

My gaze by no means leaves the mountain of a person as he carries me via the lavish home. I don’t go searching or soak up any of the finer particulars or costly options. I’ve been in six homes similar to this up to now three years and I’ve discovered a invaluable lesson. Fairly, shiny issues like this constructing often disguise probably the most rotten core.

He climbs the steps with ease, my slight weight nothing to him. That bothers me greater than it ought to. After the whole lot I’ve lived via, the truth that I misplaced what little curves I had irritates the shit out of me.

“I’m going to place you down,” he says lowly, his voice soothing one thing deep inside me.

I don’t react to his phrases, although. Far too many occasions I’ve thought {that a} man would assist me, that this time can be completely different, however it’s at all times simply extra of the identical.

He lowers me onto a big white marble counter earlier than slipping out of the lavatory. I wait with bated breath till he returns holding a number of objects in his thick muscular arms. He opens the water and shortly a sheen of steam is coating each opulent inch of the large rest room. I watch him add bubbles and a shower bomb earlier than lighting scented candles and putting them all around the room.

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