Chapter 6
CHAPTER SIX
EZRA
T wo rooms, one steeped in light, one in shadow.
Her side breathing with a new sense of rejuvenation the longer she fills the space; my side constricting and hidden away, the mirror divide reflecting back a shadow of the monster that lingers inside me.
I’m not a good man. I’ve never professed to be, but the tangible connection I feel tethering me to this woman allows me for the briefest of moments to believe that maybe one day, I could be better—for her.
I shut down the thought as memories from my past hit me full pelt, my wicked soul’s reminder that I deserve nothing but to be left here to wither, rot, and die in this hell hole.
‘Irredeemable men must live with the choices they’ve made,’ my father’s voice creeps forward, but I shake it away. I refuse to let him sully this moment with her.
I’ll watch her—like this—without her knowing I’m even here.
I’d found this cramped room with the two-way mirror accidentally, and before now I had never seen a use for it. I don’t know what pervert had it installed, but right now as she busies herself with the rest of her unpacking, I am fucking grateful he did.
I suddenly feel something that I haven't felt for years—nerves bubbling away in my belly, the shifting thunk of my heart thudding against my ribs. I’ve taken what I want without permission for as long as I can remember, so why do I yearn to drop to my knees and ask this woman to be mine?
Why does the idea of her wanting me out of choice rather than coercion have me practically giddy?
I’m not about to prance around like some fairytale prince—have you ever seen a bear do the samba—uncoordinated is inherently a part of my nature.
Being 6’3 and built like a brick shit house, graceful isn’t an attribute I’ve heard used before.
I could easily break her if I hold on too tight, and even though I know that - I still can’t walk away.
She deserves to be cared for, soothed, worshipped.
Her friend’s voice quietens the ramblings in my head, and I immerse myself once again into Cara’s world beyond the mirror.
“No time like the present—if he’s as intense as you’re suggesting, the cards are bound to offer some insight,” she says, urging Cara to pull a small bundled silk-wrapped package from her suitcase.
Untying the loose knot of fabric reveals an old deck of cards.
Cara holds them between her palms before she fans them out on the dresser top with nimble fingers.
Selecting one at random, she holds it up to her friend. I catch sight of the boyish glint lighting up my face in my reflection when I see the depiction of a wolf beast cradling a woman, a black forest of trees behind them.
“Well, fuck me sideways, that is a sign if ever I saw one. Maybe there is something in this divination stuff.” Cara grins at Suzy’s teasing tone.
Puffing out my chest, I utter, “Couldn’t have said it better myself,” in response, even though neither of them can hear me.
The jealousy that stirs inside me as I watch Cara’s defences melt away is unwarranted, but the heart-stopping smile her friend pulls from her is steeped in so much carefree levity, I instantly wish I had put it there.
“There’s something about him, Suze, something that both scares me and entices me all at the same time.”
“That isn’t a bad thing; coming from experience, the ones that are a little unhinged make the best soulmates.”
“Well, that might be a bit of a stretch. I met him a couple of hours ago, and you’re already talking soulmates.” The terse titter of her laugh feels awkward even to my ear.
“It’s okay to dream bigger, Cara. Maybe it’s this guy, maybe it’s someone else…”
I know her friend is being supportive, but just the mention of Cara being perfect for some other man has my blood pressure rising as I grip my tense fists around the arms of the chair i’m sitting in until the wood is on the verge of snapping.
“You don’t have to have all the answers right now.
That being said, every time you mention him, you have this little flush that creeps across your cheeks.
I think that warrants exploring,” Suzy adds, and just like that she’s back on team Ezra.
I don’t have long to rejoice in it when she whispers, “Are you wondering?”
To anyone other than them, the question would be confusing, but when Cara pinches her lips between her fingers to stifle a smile as her cheeks heat, I lean in a little closer.
“It’s okay to daydream about being hunted and fucked without mercy, Cara, it’s a kink—we all have them.”
“Remind me never to play twenty questions with you again. You know far too many of my secrets,” Cara snaps back at her friend playfully.
My stiff cock has officially joined the conversation that I’m not meant to be privy to and jumps in my trousers, precious blood flow now redirected from my brain as all sane thought is eclipsed by the image of Cara running naked through the forest in the dead of night while I hunt her like prey.
Cara appears to ponder the next sentence that comes from her mouth as she glances out the window. “Wolfe by name, wolf by nature?” It’s as though she’s asking the universe the question.
I’m ready to play Cara’s game whenever she wants; devouring my little Red is a perfect idea.
“Horny with no way to sate that urge is not what I need right now.” she whines turning back to face her friend.
“What do you need?”
“A lock for starters.” Cara picks up the phone and shows Suzy the chair tucked under the door handle that is her current method of safety.
I make a mental note to rectify the lock issue for her.
Being chased down and fucked by me is one thing, allowing others to enter her space, yeah—that’s not happening.
I’ll ask my contact to smuggle one in this week.
All of the locks around here are bulky and have the intention of keeping people in rather than out.
I’ll protect her from here while she sleeps until I get it sorted.
I’m taken off guard how the decision to stay put is such an easy one—the lack of a lock just another excuse I’m telling myself so I don’t have to leave her side.
“Thanks for packing the extra gloves. They’re like tissue paper; this is the third pair this month,” she says as she wraps a plaster around her cut finger, pulling on a fresh pair and bundling a pile of the rest into her top drawer neatly.
“You need to invest in something more durable, or you could go without. No shame in being your true self, Cara.”
“It’s a place like this where my robot fingers would probably be considered a weapon. I already had to smuggle in a razor past security.”
“Do I want to know where you hid it?” Suzy grins with a cocked brow.
With her hand raised, Cara notes off each point with an extended finger, “Sellotaped inside a shoe. This isn’t Jail. And no, I wasn’t strip-searched.”
With a mock pouty expression, her friend stifles a giggle.
“Sounds like you’ve missed out, sometimes a strip-search is exactly what the doctor ordered.
” Before Cara can answer her, Suzy continues, “Although I’m more interested in finding out what this patient/nurse romance is all about.
You didn’t tell me in great enough detail. Who is this Ezra Wolfe?”
“He’s off limits is who he is. Broad shouldered, heavily tattooed, and slightly deranged if the rumours are to be believed—sadly, just my type,” she mopes with a pouty lip that I desperately want to sink my teeth into.
“Even the deranged deserve a stab at true love,” her friend adds.
Pulling the phone closer to her face, Cara whispers into the speaker, “God, the things I’d let that man do to me.”
They both giggle at that like they are gossiping on a random Friday night with pizzas and chick flicks.
I relax back into my chair, raking my hands through my mussed hair with a cocky smile spread across my face.
For the first time in a long time, feeling like a man rather than a beast to be feared.
It’s oddly unnerving. I’m used to being feared.
Should I be this fucking turned on to know my girl here has a thing for me? Would she be this forthcoming if she knew I could hear every word out of that beautiful mouth of hers?
“Don’t frown, it will leave lines,” Suzy orders through the phone, and Cara sighs airily.
Slumping across her mattress on her belly, kicking her legs in the air behind her, she stares down at her friend, stroking the screen with her finger.
I’d love to crawl inside her head and know what she’s thinking.
I’ve never truly had someone I’d call a friend; allowing people in just gave them more chances to fuck you over, so it had never really appealed to me to bother.
A man’s voice comes through the speaker, and Cara climbs off the bed. “If you’re not ready, Doll, I’m happy to do it.”
“Nope, let’s end this,” Suzy replies to the man, twisting back to the camera to face Cara.
“Don’t forget…a happy woman is a woman fucked right.
And if in doubt, ride that psychopath until he starts to taste colours.
All the love, beautiful,” she calls cheerily with a regal hand wave like she’s mother-fucking-Martha-Stewart.
Laughing into her pillow, Cara comes up for air.
“All the love!” she repeats Suzy’s affectionate closing words, beaming through the phone at her friend and the guy behind her, who I’ll assume for the sake of my untapped desire to maim and torture something, is Suzy’s husband.
Her auburn-haired friend hops off her bed and throws an over-the-top kissy face Cara’s way before she cuts off the call.
I watched Cara tell Lenora she had no friends. My little hellcat can keep a secret it seems, even if she can’t seem to lie to me. Her body and her expressions are plenty vocal when Cara is locked in a situation she can’t get herself out of.
I plan to use that knowledge to my advantage.