10. Jordan
JORDAN
T he ride up the mountain is a total blur. I’m barely aware of parking in front of the cabin and having Huxley carry me inside. My head is spinning, and not only from being slapped around by my dad.
My dad… That man I interacted with today was not my father. Or, at least, I don’t recognize him as the person who raised me. Was he always this possessive? This paranoid?
And then there’s Huxley. He found me, saved me, even though I was trying to prove to him I could do things on my own. I guess I can’t.
“Hey,” Huxley says, sitting me in front of the shower. His voice is heartbreakingly gentle, and more tears form and fall down my cheeks. It feels like an endless waterfall at this point. Huxley turns the water on hot, then returns all his attention to me. “Here, let me clean you up.”
He grabs a washcloth and wets it with the warm water. Cupping my face with one hand, he begins cleaning the blood and tears off of my skin. He ghosts his fingers over the bruise on my cheek and the bump on my head, taking inventory of every injury and applying bandages where necessary.
Silently, Huxley undresses me, his touch gentle and reassuring. Once he’s stripped off his clothes, he guides me into the shower. We stand there, staring at each other while the water beats down on our bare skin, burning away the last few hours.
Huxley’s eyes roam up and down my naked body, followed by the very tips of his fingers. He traces my curves, outlining every peak and valley. It’s not a heated touch; it’s a reverent touch. A reassuring touch. Like he’s making sure I’m real.
I reach out and place my hand on his chest, suddenly needing to feel him, too. The steady beat of his heart pulses through me and draws me closer until I’m pressed against his body and crying into his chest.
He doesn't say anything; he just holds me. One massive hand cups the back of my head, keeping me close, while the other strokes up and down my back. My quiet whimpers turn into full-on sobs that wrack my body. Huxley holds me through it all.
When the tears run dry and I can breathe normally again, Huxley reaches for the soap and carefully cleans every inch of me, scrubbing away everything we went through today.
I spin in his arms and begin washing him the same way, slowly, silently, somberly, making sure he’s real and right here with me. Huxley cups my face in his hands, resting his forehead against mine. We stay like that for long moments, sharing breaths and heartbeats.
Eventually, Huxley shuts the water off and wraps me in a towel before carrying me to the bed. We don’t bother getting dressed; we just crawl under the covers, finding each other beneath the blankets and holding each other close.
“Can you tell me why you left this morning?” Huxley asks, his voice calm and soothing. There’s no judgment. I know he wants to understand.
“I woke up to a bunch of awful texts from my dad,” I start. “He came home early and was livid that I wasn’t home. He said he knew I was out with you and…” I pause, unsure how much I should share.
“And?” Huxley presses. He’s already told me that he wants all of me, even the scared, broken, shameful pieces. So, I decide to give them all.
“He said I was a… a whore .” I whisper the word. It feels so awful saying it out loud. “He said my mother would be so disappointed…”
“Jordan,” Huxley coos, tracing my cheek and jawbone with his fingertips. “None of that is true. I’m so sorry he spoke to you that way. The fact that he would use your mother against you…” He trails off, taking a deep breath.
I can tell he’s all worked up, and it’s hard to comprehend that he’s angry on my behalf. He wants to defend and protect me in the truest sense of the words.
“I knew I needed to finally stand up to my dad if I had any chance of a future with you. I wanted to show you that I can take care of myself and my problems, but… well, that didn’t go so well.
I barely made it in the door before he grabbed me, assaulted me, and threw me in my room. Maybe my father was right.”
“No, baby. Being independent and taking care of yourself doesn’t mean you can’t ask for help.
This was a huge thing you did, and while I wish you’d let me come with you, I understand your thought process.
I just…” He breaks off, closing his eyes and taking another calming breath.
“I don’t know what the fuck I would do without you,” he breathes.
“I don’t want to suffocate you or clip your wings the way your father has your whole life.
But God, if you’re in danger, in real danger, I want to be the one you come to. It’s not weak to ask for help.”
I curl up against Huxley and tuck my head into his shoulder, needing to be as close to him as possible.
“Thank you,” I tell him, unsure what else to say.
“I know you’re not like my dad. In the last week, I’ve had more fun, more adventures, and more experiences than I’ve had in my whole life.
I felt safe and seen and lo–” I cut myself off, not wanting to say the last part. Is it too soon for that?
“Safe, seen, and…?” Huxley prompts.
“Loved,” I whisper.
Huxley smiles down at me, rubbing his nose against mine. “You are, my sweet Jordan. I love you with everything in me. All I want is for you to be happy and free.”
“I love you, too,” I reply, happy tears gathering at the corners of my eyes. “Thank you for this beautiful life you’ve shown me. All I want is to share it with you.”
Huxley presses his lips to mine in a soft, slow kiss before tucking my head under his chin. “Rest now. I’ve got you, love. I’m not letting go.”
Huxley's whispered words are the last thing I hear before sleep claims me, body and soul.
Hours pass, though I don’t remember quite when I fell asleep or how long I’ve been out.
“Wake up, sweetheart. It’s okay. It’s just a nightmare. You’re safe now.”
The words filter through my subconscious and rip me from the depths of sleep. Fragments of memories distorted by fear swirl through my mind and evaporate. My heart pounds almost painfully. I can’t seem to breathe, and my eyes are swollen with fresh tears.
“Look at me, Jordan.”
I turn my head toward the voice, finally recognizing it as Huxley’s.
He brushes some of my hair out of my face and cups the side of my neck, stroking my jaw with his thumb. “That’s it. Look at me and breathe. Breathe, love, just breathe.”
Even in the dark, I can see his face painted with worry, his eyes pleading with mine to trust him. Huxley props himself up on one elbow, looking down at me and wiping my tears away. I can’t seem to find my voice, but we don’t need words. We just need each other.
I reach out for him, winding my hand around the back of his neck and pulling him down until he’s hovering over me, our lips millimeters apart. “Please?” I whisper into his mouth right before he closes the distance between us.
He doesn’t ask what I need. He knows because he needs it, too.
Huxley’s tongue slips in between my lips, caressing my mouth in soft, slow strokes while his hand glides down my naked body. He cups my breast and gently massages it, running his thumb over my nipple before continuing on his path. My body arches, meeting his hand as it wanders down my torso.
When he dips two fingers into my slit, I gasp quietly, breaking our kiss. I spread my legs, opening myself up for him, letting him know exactly where I need him.
Huxley climbs on top of me, pushing my thighs farther apart so he can settle his hips in between them. He rests his forehead on mine as he enters me slowly. I stretch around him, every single inch bringing us closer together until he’s home, right where he belongs.
He stays still, both of us needing this, right here, this moment, this connection.
Huxley kisses his way down my jaw and neck, then nuzzles into my shoulder as he pulls his cock out and pushes back in.
I wrap my arms around his back, lightly dragging my nails down his skin.
He drops to his forearms, one on either side of my head, pressing more of his weight down on me.
Each time he hits the end of me, my hips jerk, and my thighs squeeze him tighter. He groans so quietly I almost don't hear him, but his cock twitches deep, so deep inside me, while he continues his torturously slow pace.
“Huxley…” I gasp, lifting my hips to meet his.
He hooks one hand under my knee to draw my leg toward my chest. At this angle, he hits my most sensitive spot with each steady, measured stroke.
I whimper, but he drowns out my sounds with a searing kiss. My heartbeat throbs in my clit, forming a tight ball of pressure that radiates outward in time with Huxley’s thrusts. I’m completely wrapped up in the ocean of his muscles as they tense around my trembling body.
“Jordan,” he murmurs, kissing the side of my neck. “I’ve got you. You’re safe with me. Let go, love.”
I nod and cup his cheeks, staring into those beautiful brown eyes that stole my heart with one look. “Come with me,” I whisper.
The words barely leave my lips before my orgasm washes over me, gently at first, then more intensely as wave after wave of sharp, biting pleasure breaks over my body.
I open my mouth in a silent scream, each ragged breath somehow making me come again, harder, faster, over and over, until Huxley grunts and fills me with his seed.
We tense and shake together, and then Huxley collapses, rolling to the side so he doesn’t crush me. I scoot closer to him, but I’m not fast enough because he reaches out and drapes me across his chest, kissing my forehead while playing with my hair.
“I love you so much, Jordan,” he says softly, reverently.
“I love you, too,” I murmur, finally relaxing fully into his embrace. We fall into a deep sleep, knowing when we wake up, we’ll both be right here, where we belong.