Chapter Twenty-Five #2
“But then his behavior started to change. I thought maybe it had something to do with the people he worked with. I did meet some of them, and they were all so terribly rich that they seemed to lack humanity. Just not nice people. We never spent time together, never really had sex, he would ignore me for days, and then suddenly drop an event or a dinner on me like I was expected to know and be ready at all times. Then the comments started about my weight, or my profession, constantly digging at me that I smelled like a wet dog, or was covered in dog hair, that my full potential was for me to be at home, pregnant and barefoot in the kitchen. He was so degrading. He even tried it the last time we had sex. Called me a whore and a slut and then told me I was pathetic for crying about it after. God, Rhys. I wanted to leave. I wanted to leave so many times.”
“Fuck,” Rhys hisses. “What was holding you back? I know for every survivor of domestic violence, it’s different depending on their situation.”
“At first, I wanted to believe that he was just stressed about work. That things would get better when he got his next promotion. But then everything started to escalate, and . . . I haven’t told anyone this because I just learned about it myself, and I was trying to handle it.
Shelters run on donations; without them, they would crumble and fall apart.
When I was trying to save Bloomfield Animal Haven, I spent several months working my ass off to get steady donations to fund it.
Then one day, we secured it. An anonymous donation that was life-changingly huge.
The next month, we received another one.
And another one. I didn’t know who it was or what organization, but I was just so thankful I had a fairy godmother out there somewhere helping make it possible for me to help all these animals. ”
“Tell me it wasn’t Blake, sweetheart.”
I look away sheepishly, feeling so stupid. But like always, Rhys reads the emotion on my face and pulls me right back into him. His large hands cup either side of my neck, his thumbs rubbing gently against my jawline. It brings me so much comfort, and I melt into it.
“Hey, this is not your fault. Men like him only feel good when they’re controlling everyone around them. It makes them feel powerful and strong. But they’re usually the weakest kind of man out there. A real man doesn’t need to control those around him, or hurt people in order to be the top dog.”
“I know you’re right. It just took me so long to see it.
But it gets worse, Rhys. He found out about us.
After we kissed, I knew I couldn’t go on any longer with him.
I had been trying to find new funding for the shelter, but I couldn’t suffer anymore in that house after kissing you.
I couldn’t pretend anymore when my heart was with someone else.
I’ve been so unhappy for so long, and I just thought we could have a normal conversation about me leaving.
I’ve spent years of my life with that man, and I felt like I owed him a face-to-face.
” The tears start to stream down my cheeks as I remember how bad it went; how violent and different he was with me.
“He came home, and I told him that I was unhappy and had made up my mind to leave, that I wasn’t going to marry him.
Rhys, it was like a switch went off. Like he’s been hiding all this time behind a mask. ”
“Was he physical with you, Bristol? Did he hit you?”
I ignore his question, knowing it’ll set him off, and there’s nothing we can do about it right now.
“He showed me two manila folders, the first one was photos of us—together. The shelter, the coffee shop, in my office, when I was concerned about your injury, us standing too close, us . . . kissing. He’s been having someone follow me.
Accused me of being a whore.” Rhys shifts then, grabbing my face and guiding me to look him in the eyes, his big thumbs wiping at the tears as they cascade down my face.
“You are not a whore. Not for what we did. Not for any reason. Do you understand?” There’s no missing the sharp sting in his words, and I’ve never seen this side of him before. I’m not scared, anything but, actually.
I nod. What Blake said hurt, and I couldn’t help but feel some shame.
I was engaged, and the emotional connection I have with Rhys plus all the flirting, the touches, when we crossed that line and kissed .
. . I was cheating on him. It was hard to reconcile the insults from a man who knew his fiancé was cheating on him with the truth of it.
Blake is a monster. He had me followed because he wanted to control me.
He had his business donate to the shelter to control me.
He hurled insults at me to bring me down so I was easier to control.
While the technicalities that I did cheat are there, what started with Rhys was only ever possible because I had already checked out of my relationship with Blake.
“What was in the other folder?”
“More photos and documents, but of you. He threatened me after showing me all of it, that if I ever tried to leave him . . . please don’t be mad? Promise me you won’t go after him, Rhys. I can’t have that guilt, I won’t survive it.”
“Baby, you are the only reason I haven’t killed him yet. Because trust me, I’ve thought about it numerous times. What did he threaten?”
“To kill you and everyone you love, to burn the shelter down with all the animals inside. He said I don’t even know half of what he’s done for us, and that the people he works for already want you all dead.
I swear, I thought he was just talking to scare me.
It worked. I didn’t run. I lay inside for days, terrified to leave the house, terrified to run into you, knowing people were following me and photographing me everywhere I went. ”
Rhys’s head cocks to the side, his eyes glossing over blankly as if he’s thinking something through, but I can’t quite read his expression. He masks it before I can think more of it.
“I know, baby, I don’t blame you. You did nothing wrong.
He can’t touch us. We’ll handle it. C’mere,” he hushes as he wraps me in his arms. His fingers gently stroke down my temple, following the natural curve of my jaw and back up again.
His scent surrounds me, and like every time I’m with this man, all my worry, stress, and the rest of the world seem to disappear.
This is exactly where I’m supposed to be and who I’m supposed to be with.
“You aren’t going to go tell everyone right now?”
“Do you know how many times I’ve imagined you here next to me in my bed? I’d dream of you, curled into my side while I held you, and then I’d wake up, and reality set in. Now that I have you here? I’m not going to waste a single second of it.”
My heart flips over in my chest. He’s so perfect. He’s all I want. Rhys grabs my hip farthest away from him, pulling me down the bed until I’m lying on my back beneath him. “Is this okay?” God. Could he be any more considerate?
“More than okay. You’re not the only one who’s dreamt of this exact scenario.”
“You’re telling me you lay in bed next to him and thought of me?”
“You were always in my thoughts; you consumed me. I’d fall asleep wondering what it would be like if I were next to you instead.”
“You’re going to find out. But first, I’ve been dying to do this since the last time.” He dips his head lower, big emerald eyes focused on me, and presses his lips to mine. The moment they touch, it’s like everything we’ve both been holding back finally breaks free.
I’ve never wanted anything more.