Chapter 15 - Rowen
She was so sexy.
Dancing just for me.
In the middle of the club.
Each sway of her hips matched the beat of the music.
She was smiling at me as her hands roamed over the red lace lingerie set she wore. Her fingers flirted with the hem, teasing me.
“Do you love me, Rowen?” she asked.
Before I could answer, Avery stopped dancing, freezing in the middle of the dance floor, arms at her sides, expressionless.
Then, he appeared.
The goddamn man from the bar.
I tried to stand, walk over to her, but I was stuck, unable to move or even yell.
My heart wrenched when his hands wrapped around her waist, trailing up to squeeze her tits before pulling her hair to the side so he could kiss her neck.
The worst part?
She fucking moaned.
Avery closed her eyes as the man kissed her neck then up to her ear and jaw. She turned her head and pressed her lips to his.
I wanted to throw up, watching his tongue enter her mouth.
It had to be a dream—a nightmare—but I couldn’t convince myself to wake up. I couldn’t do anything. I was trapped.
The man pulled the red lace over her head, leaving her naked, then bent her over the couch.
He looked right at me as he said, “Did you really think a woman like her would stay with a man like you? You’re not good enough for her. She deserves so much better.”
He grabbed her hair and pulled her head up so she was looking right at me. Her lips were parted on a gasp, eyes heavy-lidded and full of desire.
Please don’t let him do it, Av. Don’t do this to me. Don’t make me watch this.
I tried to talk to her, ask her why she was torturing me, why she was letting another man have her, but I couldn’t.
The man thrusted forward, and she groaned erotically. Her eyes squeezed shut, and her face pinched with pleasure.
“Fuck! Yes!” she continued to cry out as he slammed into her. “I’m com—”
I shot up, covered in sweat.
Avery stirred beside me, still sleeping, looking absolutely breathtaking. Her hair had fallen into her face, covering half of it. Her eyelids twitched like she was dreaming. Her slightly parted lips held a small smile.
So peaceful.
My chest was still tight, my lungs refusing to function as the dream still rattled my brain. It felt so real. Too fucking real.
He touched her, made her moan, all while she looked me in the eyes.
And I was powerless to do anything. I could only watch.
I wiped a hand down my face and sighed, wishing I could scrub the image from my mind. The sound of her screaming for him still played in my ears, making my stomach twist until I felt sick.
Avery shifted again, murmuring something softly in her sleep.
I froze, afraid she’d wake up and see what a mess I was, that she’d finally figure out I wasn’t good enough for her. In that tiny, dark corner of my mind, I knew she deserved better. She just hadn’t realized it yet.
I moved to sit on the edge of the bed, elbows resting on my knees, wishing my fears weren’t so fucking loud. My jaw clenched tight like it always did when my mind spiraled.
I knew I was intense. I was too much. Not what she should want.
But she was in my bed.
Willingly.
My chest ached with emotion. I loved her. God, I loved this woman so much, it made me a little unhinged. So much so that I knew if she ever walked away, I’d burn the fucking world to ash just to find her and drag her back with me.
But those three little words hadn’t left her lips. Not once.
I’d given them to her again and again, but every time I told her how I felt, she got quiet, like she didn't hear me.
We both knew she did.
I brushed my knuckles down her arm, savoring the touch, no matter how light.
I needed more time with her, just like this.
Silence. Us. Uninterrupted by the world.
I grabbed my phone off the nightstand and walked from the room, hating to leave her for even one second, but I had to know if James had any news for me.
He picked up after four rings. “Hello?” he answered in a sleepy voice.
“Did you get it?” I asked him.
“Good morning to you too,” he muttered.
“James…” I didn’t have time for his bullshit. I needed answers.
“Let me check my emails,” he grumbled.
I walked back to the room silently, peeking around the doorframe to make sure she was still in bed. She hadn’t moved.
“They accepted your offer,” James said as I moved down the hall to avoid waking Avery. “Said they could be out by the end of the w—”
“Do what it takes to get them out by the end of the day,” I snapped.
“I doubt—”
“Whatever it takes, James. Pay for the movers and everything. Avery and I will leave after she wakes up. Make sure they’re gone by the time we arrive.”
“Got it, boss.”
I hung up and then logged onto my laptop to send some emails out, needing everything in order before she woke up.
She wasn’t going to be happy about what I’d done, not at first, but she’d eventually understand I only did what was necessary to protect us.