Chapter 16
Chapter Sixteen
Daphne
I stretch in the soft sheets of our bed, in our home, and feel my husband next to me. He won’t leave my side. I wonder how long it will take him to go back to work. My parents and sister are here too, staying in the guest rooms. No one wants to leave me.
I carefully sit up. A nightlight is on across the room because I’m afraid of the darkness. Looking out the windows, I watch the sun rise across the valley and think about the fact I thought I’d never see this view again.
My hand slides across my belly, where our baby is still safely growing.
Dare told me what Thatcher said, that I’d lost the baby.
I told him it wasn’t true. At the hospital, where I stayed for one night, they gave me fluids and monitored the baby.
We had an ultrasound done. I’m far enough along for a heartbeat to be heard. I’m due in June of next year.
Police wanted to know what happened. I told them what I could. Because Cronus pulled some strings, Thompson and Winslow are both gone for good. Dare assured me Thatcher Winslow is dead. I’m glad I never have to worry about him again.
I slide from the bed and walk to the closet to grab a large weighted hoodie along with some sweatpants. I take a pair of Dare’s thick socks, slip them on, and walk down the hall through the living room and out onto the deck. The chilly early November air hits my face, and I pause, closing my eyes.
I take in the feeling of fresh air on my skin and walk over to the swing chair. I sit down and look out over the valley from here.
“You okay, baby?” Darrell asks as he walks over and lifts me out of the chair. He sits down, and we swing for a bit.
“I’m afraid I’ll wake up and be in that room again.”
“Won’t ever happen. I destroyed it. I’m never letting you get away from me again.”
I turn in his arms and take his face in my hands.
“Honey, you can’t keep me from living my life. Things can happen. Maybe we should go see a counselor. Together.”
“I agree with that,” my dad says as he steps out onto the deck. “Have I told you before this house is amazing?”
“Yeah, numerous times. No, I don’t want to sell, not unless Daphne doesn’t want to live here.”
“I love it here,” I say.
“There’s your answer,” Dare says as he holds me.
We just sit in the quiet. Birds are chirping, and I can hear my girls as they run up the path from going for a walk. Delphi walks up with them, and she moves to the sofa to sit down.
“I’m going to have to head back to Nashville in a couple of days.”
“I know you all can’t stay here. I love you all being here for me, but I swear I’m going to get better, and it will be okay,” I tell them.
“Your mom and I can stay for as long as you want.”
“Okay.”
“Stay as long as you like,” Dare offers. “We can even think about building you your own place nearby. I have enough acreage.”
“Sounds like a good idea,” my dad says.
It’s going to take all of us a long time to get over this.
I look down at my ring, so glad I got it back.
I thought I would never see it again when Thatcher took it off my finger.
The brand-new necklace Darrell got me that day was still at home.
I had forgotten to put it on with everything I was doing. I’m glad he didn’t get that.
I’m on leave from work for a bit. Lyla called and said the board decided to give me an extended time off for everything I went through. I want to go back and hope I can.
I don’t want Thatcher to ruin the life I had. I’m not going to let what happened to me dictate the rest of it. I’ll get a counselor to work through everything, but I’m not going to dwell on it anymore.
The rest of the day is spent with my sister and family. She decides to head home the next day. She doesn’t tell me much about her and Hades, except that it’s over. She slept with him, and now he’s out of her system.
I doubt it, but we’ll see.
Darrell
Every night, just like tonight, I hold her against my body as tightly as I can, afraid she’s going to be taken from me again. I can’t get the fear to subside.
“Dare?”
“Yeah, little girl.” I almost choke on her nickname, the emotions so strong.
She sits up in bed, breaking from my grip, and pushes me back to the mattress when I try to sit up too.
She lifts her nightgown over her head, baring herself to me, and my eyes trace her body.
She doesn’t have any visible marks from her ordeal, except for a small lump on her head.
Everything is internal. She insists on a light being kept on, and I don’t blame her after seeing the darkness he left her in.
When we captured him, he had been out to get her some more food and left the lights off. She was in the darkness for over twenty-four hours while we interrogated him and Titan found the farmhouse.
I watch her as she slides a leg over my body and pushes my sleep pants down. My cock is erect and ready for her.
“We don’t have to, baby.” I give her an out.
She leans over, her breasts pressing into my chest. “I want to. I want my husband.”
That’s all she has to say. I roll us, putting her under me, and slide my cock through her folds. She moans and arches her back. I penetrate her, and it’s like finally coming home. We both sigh at the contact, and I hold there, needing to just feel her.
She presses a hand against me, and I roll us again, putting her on top. I slide deeper inside her, and she starts to rock on me. I watch her breasts move, and when I grip them, she moans.
“Sensitive?” I ask her, and she nods. “Words.”
“So very sensitive. It’s like pain and pleasure in one.”
I pinch them and cup them gently before I lean up and take a nipple into my mouth. She moans louder, and her pussy flutters along my length.
“I might have to keep you pregnant if you’re this responsive.” I chuckle, and she starts moving faster and harder.
As she comes the first time, I roll us and take over control. I give her the deep thrusts I know she loves, and for the first time in a week, I feel like we’re going to be okay.
When we both come together, her a second time, I hold her to me, bracing her under my body. Protecting her from the world around us. I’ll always do that. I don’t regret anything I did to get her back and save her. I’d do worse to protect her and any kids we have.
Finally, I slide from her body and cup her stomach.
“I love you both with everything in my heart.”
Daphne reaches for me, her hand sliding against my cheek, cupping my face. “I love you more than anything in this world.”