Chapter Thirty-Nine Savannah
| Thirty-Nine |
Savannah
The next morning, Bennett woke her up with a kiss. Her eyes fluttered open, and she smiled at him. He was already dressed.
“Good morning,” she said, sitting up.
“Morning, babe.” He handed her a mug of coffee.
“Thank you.” She took a sip. “Sweet of you.”
“Get dressed, I have a surprise for you. I’ll wait for you downstairs.”
When she got to the kitchen, he was grinning from ear to ear.
“What’s the big surprise?” she asked.
He held out a hand to her. “Come on.” He stopped when they reached the mudroom, pulled down a coat and put it around her shoulders, then opened the door. A gust of wind made her shiver. He led her to the side door next to the garage and opened it.
“You first,” he said, gently pushing her toward the stairs, then following as she climbed.
She got to the top and looked around in wonder. The space was completely transformed. Not a trace of Poppy remained. “Oh, Bennett. It’s perfect. I can’t believe this is all mine.”
The desk and chair she’d ordered were set up, and sitting on the desk was a brand-new iMac with a twenty-four-inch monitor and a printer on a table next to it.
One wall was outfitted with floor-to-ceiling shiny white wood bookshelves just waiting for her to fill them.
The room was painted in a pale yellow, a color she’d told him she loved.
A cozy blue-and-white-striped love seat sat against one wall and a fluffy ottoman next to it.
“This is perfect. It’s all perfect! But how did you get the desk and chairs here so fast?”
“I didn’t want you to have to wait. Now you don’t have to schlep to the coffee shop.
I found a private seller. Cost a little more but it was worth it.
I’ll sell the other ones when they come.
I had it set up while you were at the coffee shop writing yesterday.
Now there’s no reason for you to go there anymore. ”
He must believe in her writing to do all this for her. “You’ve thought of everything. I can’t wait to start writing here.”
She walked over and embraced him. “There’s one more thing I’d like you to do for me.”
He cocked an eyebrow. “What?”
She looked over at the couch. “Get naked.”
He grinned at her. “I think I can make that happen.”
She pulled her shirt over her head and continued undressing until she was naked.
Bennett held her gaze as he unbuttoned his shirt and threw it to the floor.
He came closer and stood before her, his hand grazing her breast as he moved in to kiss her.
She unbuttoned his jeans and yanked them down.
Pushing her onto the sofa, he got on top of her.
As he moved against her, she closed her eyes, relishing the feel of him.
His hands moved up her arms and to her neck.
When she opened her eyes, his were closed.
Suddenly, his hands tightened around her neck until he was squeezing so hard she couldn’t breathe.
She tried to speak but couldn’t. Panic filled her as she tried to pry his hands from her throat, struggling underneath him, but he seemed to be a thousand miles away.
She started getting dizzy, and she mustered every bit of strength she had and pummeled her fists against his arms. Finally, he let go.
She sprang up, tears blinding her eyes and a hoarse cough erupting from her burning throat.
“Are you okay?” he asked, putting an arm around her.
She jerked away and jumped up, throwing her clothes on and running from the room, still coughing. What the hell was wrong with him?
“Savannah, wait!”
She ran into the house and up to the bedroom, slamming the door behind her.
“Savannah,” he called again, coming in and sitting down on the bed next to her. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to go so far. I just wanted to try something new.”
“You were choking me!” she croaked out, her voice barely audible.
“I didn’t mean to. It’s breath play. I thought it would be something new for us.”
“And you didn’t think to ask me about it first?”
“I got carried away. I’m so sorry. It’s something that—”
She jumped up from the bed. “I swear if you say it’s something you and Poppy did—”
He pulled her to him, and she fought him, but he wouldn’t release her. Finally, she collapsed in his arms.
“No, I was going to say it was something I thought we might try. Obviously, I was wrong. It will never happen again.”
“You scared me.”
“I know, babe. Again, I’m so sorry. Please forgive me.”
“That can never happen again.”
“Of course.”
She walked over to the mirror and looked at herself. Ugly red marks encircled her throat. They would fade with time, but she didn’t think her fear ever would.