Chapter 13
DELILAH
Inever want to leave this place. I love being here with Blade. I feel safe, protected, and at peace with myself for what seems like the first time.
As we sit together by the fire, I am content to be here in his arms. I love the tales he tells. The ones of brotherhood, loyalty, and friendship. The Twisted Reapers sound less scary now, and I wonder if I will fit in.
My eyes are heavy, and I drift into sleep, the warmth from Blade’s body keeping the chill away.
Distant voices in my head rumble like background noise, and then a cruel whisper gains volume.
‘Delilah.’
I see him. Standing in my way as I come out of the bathroom. I have a towel wrapped around me and my hair is damp from the shower. Terror strikes me deep as he glares at me from the open doorway. The devil, dressed in a sharp suit, his evil glare pinning me, frozen in fear.
‘You’ve been a naughty girl.’
‘I–I–’
My mind scrambles to remember what I’ve done, but I already know he makes it up as he goes along.
‘Please.’
I fall to my knees, and the towel slips. I’m on all fours, my heart racing as I plead with him.
‘I’m sorry.’
‘You will be.’
His shoe connects with my body, causing a sharp pain to spear me from inside. As I fall to the floor, another kick in my ribs causes me to bite my lip to prevent me from crying out.
He doesn’t stop.
I attempt to curl up into a ball, but the blows rain down on me like a hail of bullets, and when he has enough, he stops.
‘Don’t do it again.’
He turns and leaves me panting on the floor, too scared to groan, too afraid to do anything but be grateful I’m still breathing.
“Delilah.”
A different voice, a safe voice, interrupts my dream, and as my eyes flicker open, Blade whispers, “It’s okay, darlin’, you’re safe here.”
“It was him.”
Blade pulls me closer. “You had a nightmare, darlin’.”
“My life was a nightmare.”
“Do you want to talk about it?”
I really don’t, but for some reason I want to tell him.
“It was Gideon. We were in our bedroom, and I had just gotten out of the shower. He returned home from work and obviously had a bad day because he took it out on me.”
“Fuck!”
Blade’s anger whips around me.
“He used to take pleasure in beating me for no reason. Telling me I had done something bad and deserved my punishment. I remember it all now. The terror I felt when the door slammed. His footsteps on the stone floor, the sound of him approaching. It never ended well for me. That’s all I can remember.
Pain, humiliation, and degradation, but I can’t remember how I got there. ”
I turn to Blade and note the anger in his eyes, and for some reason, I smile. “Don’t be angry, Blade. I escaped. He can’t control me anymore. I just need to figure out a way to fight back in my nightmares. Perhaps I can learn that skill at the Reapers.”
“You’re never going back to him.”
Blade cups my cheek in his huge hand and stares into my eyes with a promise. “You have me now, darlin’, and I don’t rate his chances.”
“Neither do I.”
Our gazes hold, and I’m not certain who moves first, but our lips come together as natural as breathing. Unlike our first kiss on the rock, this one is more sensual, slow, deep, and familiar. I shift on his lap, desperate to be closer to him, his arm reaching for me, pulling me closer.
He is comfort and desire to me; a man I want to be around. To hold him, make him happy. Only him.
I shift closer. My fingers twisting in his hair, kissing him with passion, desperate to be close to him. It feels good, familiar, right, and like home, and I never want this kiss to end.
He pulls away suddenly, almost coldly.
“This ain’t right.”
His words crush me under the weight of their rejection.
“I see.”
I glance down, my heart heavy, and he grips my chin and forces me to look at him.
“I want to kiss you so badly it hurts. But I also know where this will end, and I can’t be that man.”
“I don’t understand.”
“I’m not taking advantage of you when you’re vulnerable. No matter how tempting that is. I’m honorable and promised you would be safe with me.”
His reasons crush me, but I understand them. Of course he won’t take this further. He’s right. His honor is admirable.
“But I wanted it. It was me who initiated the kiss.”
“Was it, darlin?”
He shakes his head, a desperate gleam in his eyes.
“I’ve wanted to kiss you on repeat for the entire time we’re here, but it’s not gonna happen. No matter how much it kills me inside.”
“I understand.”
I breathe deeper, fighting my disappointment.
“I should clean the dishes and head off to bed. We have a big day tomorrow.”
“Good idea. I’ll finish up here.”
I don’t move. Neither does he. We merely stare at one another as if waiting for further instructions.
It’s as if the moment I climb off his lap the spell will break. I don’t want to be the one to disturb this bond we’re forming.
“Darlin’–”
He falters, catching a deep breath as he tightens his hold.
“You wouldn’t want a man like me, anyway?”
“Why not?” I shrug. “You’re honorable, brave, kind and rather hot, if I’m honest.”
He smirks and I smile softly as I reach up and cup his face in my hands and whisper against his lips, “I can wait. I have the rest of my life to wait, and you’re probably right, tomorrow will be a very long day.”
Reluctantly, I shift and make to leave him, and my heart is heavy as I reach my feet to the ground.
“Darlin’–”
I turn, and the intense desire in his eyes stops me in my tracks. He growls softly, “It sucks being honorable.”
I smile. “Yes, it does.”
This time he lets me leave, and as I head toward the cabin, I relish the small smile on my face.
There is something between us for sure, and I wasn’t kidding around back there. I have the rest of my life to make him fall in love with me because I may not know who I am, or where I came from, but my feelings for him are undeniable.