Chapter 8 #2
I continue my path, eventually trailing down to his chest. My touch remains soft and smooth as I caress him in the way I’ve desired for weeks.
Even beyond the cuts and bruises, it’s skin I’ve touched a thousand times.
It may belong on his body, but it’s my skin.
His natural shield lays over the heart he gave me long ago.
I let the water drip down his chest, watching the drops fall over his latest offering.
The tattoo is more than a picture. It’s more than my name.
This collection of ink is his devotion etched into eternity.
He made sure that wherever our forever leads us, his commitment to me is there for everyone to see—even our enemies.
His promise to love me has survived even the harshest conditions.
This gift came through the other side practically unscathed, and I know it’s not by coincidence.
Damien’s love for me is not something they could take away or destroy.
Our devoutness to each other is not a connection they could ever waver.
He leans down to nudge his nose into mine, making the shower feel even warmer.
His grip around me remains strong, and when I lift my other hand to cup his face, he manages to hold me tighter.
“I’m right here, Damien. I’m not going anywhere,” I whisper again.
As I reach my wet hand out towards the shower controls, I nudge my face into his just a little more—solidifying my statement.
I don’t know if I should warn him first…
but I feel like his mind is finally at a place where he’s found some type of reprieve.
So, without caution, I turn one of the knobs just a little.
It’s enough to just barely turn on the waterfall head of the shower, creating a light mist while still allowing a mild stream to flow from the main head.
When it turns on, he tenses just a little more, but then he releases a sigh that carries more weight than I ever thought possible.
He relaxes under my palm and leans into me further.
I pull him, as softly as I can, fully into the shower, not giving a single damn if my pants are still on.
He follows me without any hesitation and finally removes his hand from the sprayer.
It’s still pointed away from us, and I don’t dare reach for it.
This small mist might be all I have to work with right now, but I don’t care if it takes me hours to wash him.
I’ll take however long he needs. I’d use nothing but this drizzle and my hands if that’s what he needs.
He moves his now-free arm to join the other around me, and latches on tight.
Our bodies are completely pressed against each other, and the feeling is electric.
His warmth seeps into my skin, sending a crackle of our connection surging through me.
My belly is pressed up against him, and as his stubble lightly scrapes against my palm, I can’t help but plant a small kiss to his nose.
He moves his face to the crook of my neck, and I don’t resist snaking my arms around his—holding him so close that there isn’t a space left between us.
“We’re at the lake…” he murmurs, and my heart does that conflicting stutter in endearment and sadness.
I caress his head as I hold him close, knowing that the movement is one that soothes him the most. My own thoughts drift back to our small getaway, and I can’t help but recall when I envisioned that moment as well.
I think about it all the time. That’s where my mind went in one of the worst moments of my life.
I shouldn’t be surprised that he did the same.
That time away meant so much to us both.
If that’s where his mind rests, if that’s where he sees our eternity, then that’s where we’ll hide.
I’ll keep him there forever. Even if it is an illusion, I’m happy to reside in limbo if it keeps him close to me.
“Yeah, baby. We’re at the lake…”
Light shakes force me awake, and by the time I register the movement, my entire body jerks into action.
I instantly think Damien is hallucinating or having a nightmare, but I’m only met with soft hushes and my brother’s green eyes.
His hair is tussled, as if he had just woken up as well, and the only thing he’s wearing is sweatpants.
“Hey, it’s okay. Alex called, he’s pulling up with the shrink,” Zeke whispers.
After my heart rate slows down, I nod and turn my head, making sure Damien is still asleep.
The shower earlier took about an hour, and almost all of his strength.
He finally sat down to eat a real meal afterward, and by the time he was done, he was completely exhausted.
I’m not sure I’ll ever forget the way he almost dozed off at the table.
It broke my heart to see him so utterly drained.
Once I saw him like that, I took him back here to the guest bedroom, where we fell asleep.
I probably shouldn’t have laid next to him, just in case he woke up in a panic, but I couldn’t tell him no.
When he reached his arm out to drag me closer, I just couldn’t resist.
Being in his arms again felt like the sun coming out after a storm.
Everything in the world was right again, even if it was only temporary.
I breathed easier. For the first time in weeks, the room felt the right temperature, and when his natural scent hit my nose, it was somniferous.
I felt so comfortable that it almost immediately knocked me out.
His breath fanned across my face just before I fell asleep, proving that heaven is real.
Unfortunately, I woke up on earth once again, and it’s time to get back to business, but I already feel the urge to close my eyes once again.
My body aches as I sit up, but I do it as softly as I can manage.
I told Damien about Dr. Von before dinner.
He didn’t seem very receptive to the news, but he was too tired to argue.
Once he ate, he seemed more alert, but I didn't want to force the conversation on him again.
Now that he's sound asleep, and seemingly undisturbed, I'm certainly not waking him to greet her.
Once he wakes up on his own, maybe we can have a smooth, uneventful morning, so I can ease him into the possibility of speaking with her.
The arm that was wrapped around me before is now laying limp in my lap, making me even more reluctant to get up.
“What time is it?” I ask quietly.
“It’s like two in the morning, but I know you wanted to be awake when they got here.”
“Yeah, thanks.” I stand up smoothly and stretch, and Daisy rises to attention.
She slept beside the bed this time instead of on top of it with us.
Her paws tap against the floor, like she’s ready to go wherever I am, but I don’t want her to bark and wake Damien up.
So I hold my hand out, silently commanding her to stay.
Her face scrunches a little, like she doesn’t necessarily agree, but she listens and lays back down anyway.
“Good girl, Daisy.” I give her praise and pat her head before we move.
I shuffle behind Zeke, following him into the living room.
The house is still and eerily quiet. As we walk into the kitchen, I see the bags piled up on the island counter from Serena’s shopping trip.
They’re clearly filled with clothes for Victoria, like I had asked, but the most obvious thing she bought lies across the entire granite top, sticking out like a sore thumb.
It’s a damn pregnancy pillow. While I am appreciative of it, I can’t help but roll my eyes, because once again, she bought something I had asked her not to.
Carter is waiting in one of the armchairs, half asleep.
His eyes slowly droop closed, and then he jolts back up.
I can’t help but shake my head at him. Shockingly, John is sitting on the couch closest to him.
I didn’t know he wanted to welcome Dr. Von, but I suppose his past relationship with her mentor could warrant that.
“I told you not to wake her,” he practically growls at Zeke.
“And I told you she asked me to, old man.”
I groan tiredly and step over to the fridge for a bottle of water.
“Please, for the love of God, don’t start arguing,” I beg.
The garage door opens quietly, and Alex walks back in with an unfamiliar woman in tow.
I feel bad for asking him to pick her up, but he said he was going to be taking Trina to the airport anyway.
Apparently, she’s going to visit her sister in Ohio for a few weeks—just to give everything time to settle down—so he said he’s free to help out.
Alex puts some luggage down beside the couch and walks over to me. He also looks a little tired, but at least he’s more alert than the rest of us.
“Morning.” He greets me and puts his arm around my shoulder in a small hug.
“Morning.” I return the gesture, then pull away and look at the woman: Dr. Von.
She has darker brown hair that’s neatly tied in a bun, and even though it’s insanely early, she looks extremely put together in her pressed dress and coat.
She steps up to me without hesitation, and while her confidence doesn’t come off as arrogant, it’s still a little intimidating.
“You must be Ashia. I’m Doctor Meredith Von.” She reaches her hand out for me to shake, so I accept it. “It’s a pleasure.”
“Thanks, you too.”
“I understand it’s early, but I wanted to make sure I arrived as soon as possible.”
“No, no worries. We appreciate it. John and Leanne had good things to say about you,” I admit.
“Where should I set up?” she asks and looks around. Zeke steps forward a little and sticks his hand out as well, expecting her to shake it, too. If he means it in a friendly way, he doesn’t do a very good job. He stands tense and rigid, almost like he’s trying to intimidate her.