Chapter 19
Ryven
Rory’s limp body sits silently in my lap on her bed.
When I arrived a little while ago and noticed her front door stood wide open, I rushed inside.
The scene I was greeted with was shocking.
Thomas lies dead beneath a naked Ro—triggering a storm of questions in my head.
Rage threatened to boil over. Then fear settled deep in my bones as her eyes met mine.
The spiral threatening to make her crumble pierces my heart.
She’s not okay. Then she collapsed into my arms.
I came here to check on her and ensure she was okay after our primal play from earlier. I wasn’t expecting to find what I did.
By the looks of things, Rory was in the tub when Thomas came in.
Judging by the fact her door was open when I arrived, that means she didn’t let him in.
Anger burns under the surface. Unless she let him in and they were too enthralled with each other they forgot to shut the front door.
I shake my head, attempting to stop the racing thoughts as my body shakes from the fury.
She groans and stretches her body in my arms.
I swallow my feelings and move her hair from her face. “Well, hello.” I smile at her.
Her eyes widen as she shuffles away from me, holding the sheet around her for safety, like I’m the one who just violated her. That shouldn’t sting, but it does.
I raise my brow. “You okay?” The question feels useless the second it leaves my mouth.
She bites her lip and glances behind her into the bathroom. Thomas’ body still lies on the floor. I had intentions of getting rid of it, but I couldn’t stand the thought of leaving her alone after she collapsed in my arms.
She groans and squeezes her eyes shut. “I was hoping that was a fucking dream.” Her hands tremble as she masks it by tightening her grip on the sheet.
I place my head against her headboard, keeping myself from reaching out toward her. “Want to tell me what happened?”
She shakes her head, then sighs. “Men are idiots. That is what happened. I almost died.” She throws her hand in the air.
“Just because I won't give up my body to this asshole, he felt the need to take it for himself.” She’s eerily nonchalant about the entire thing.
This was her friend, her partner, and yet, she hasn’t even batted an eye over his death.
Nor has she said a word about being the one to kill him.
I try to temper my anger over hearing what I assumed, but it did little to lessen the blow. How fucking dare he touch what is mine? Right after I had her. Touched her. Claimed her. I grit my teeth. “Start from the beginning.” My voice comes out tighter than I expect.
She fixes me with a look and shuts me down instantly. Her eyes darken, warning me not to interrupt, before going into every detail of exactly what happened. By the end of it, my hands are shaking from the need to kill something.
The thought of Thomas taking anything from my sweet Ro makes my blood boil.
I’m proud of her for keeping herself alive, though.
With the world we live in, there are no repercussions for rape or murder.
She lives in the slums. No one gives a damn what happens out here.
And the only ones with the power to help her are the cult. The cult would never help a rebel.
I lift my chin, telling her to come to me, and she hesitates a moment before climbing onto the bed. She settles too far away.
I shake my head. “Closer, Rabbit.”
She huffs and edges near enough for me to do what I want to do.
I shouldn’t ask this, not now. Not after what she’s been through. But I need to know. “Show me exactly where he touched you, so I know where to erase him,” I say, growling the last part.
Her shaking hands travel down her body slowly before she reaches between her legs. Then she brings her other hand to the back of her neck. I groan, spreading her legs wider for easier access and dip my head between her legs.
She presses against my head. I can feel the tremble in her hand when she touches my skin. “What are you doing?” Panic laces her voice.
I still, lifting my gaze to hers, licking my lips. “Tell me to stop and I will, I mean it,” I say quietly. “Or tell me what you want me to do.”
Her breath stutters. The panic in her eyes flickers for a moment before she slides her hands back in my hair. Her fingers tightening this time instead of pushing me away.
She shakes her head. “Don’t,” she whispers, her breath catching in her throat. “Don’t stop. Please.”
That’s all it takes.
When my tongue finally darts between her folds, it’s because she’s holding me there. Hips lifting to meet me. Her moan spills free, as I lap at her clit. This isn’t about taking something else from her, it’s about giving it back.
I slide a finger inside her as I work her clit with my tongue, following every hitch of her breath, every tremor in her thighs. She breaks apart with a cry, soaking my chin as she screams my name. Her body goes slack beneath me. Exhausted and shaken. But she’s alive. She’s here.
“Mine,” I growl, the word slipping out before I can stop them. But I don’t take them back, licking her again as her legs shake. “Always, mine.”
She meets my gaze through hooded eyes, but she doesn’t speak. I nip her inner thigh, drawing a sharp gasp from her lips.
“Say it so I know you’re still here.”
She tilts her head to the side in question, but I don’t give up that easily.
I suck her sensitive clit back into my mouth, forcing her to squirm underneath me. “Say it, baby. Tell me what I want to hear.”
She moans out, “I don’t want to remember him.” She whispers, “I want to remember you.”
I climb off of her, settling into her bed and for the first time tonight, I let myself breathe. “Good. Now be a good girl and come lie with your master.” I give her a wicked smirk.
Thomas can wait until morning. It’s not like he is going anywhere.
She chuckles as she climbs up her bed to lay on my chest. “You’re not my fucking master, Ryven. I just let you think you are when it suits me.” She lifts her head. “Who the hell said you could sleep in my bed?”
I poke her on the tip of her nose. “I did. Now cover us so we can sleep. We have an early morning.”
She sighs and tosses the blanket over us like I asked her to, making herself comfortable in the crook of my arm.
Heaven. This must be it. I am at peace. This is where I want to be every night, with her head on my chest, and her smells taking over my senses.
This is it. My purpose. Her, in my arms—always.