By the time I left the nursery, my face hurt from grinning. The worry I’d felt about not being able to purchase the things I’d need for the baby vanished, melting away with the stress it had created. Most of what he bought for Bullet was unnecessary, but the huge relief of not having to worry about it was significant for my mental health.
Of everything I’d dared to imagine from Rhys, it hadn’t been this. He’d secured everything Bullet needed. If that hadn’t been enough, he’d ensured I had everything I’d craved during this pregnancy on hand. He’d ensured I had books to read while he protected me from the murderous bastards seeking to exploit our unborn child.
Rhys had told me he didn’t want to be close to me. He’d also informed me he wouldn’t allow me to leave, either. It left me uncertain where we stood with one another. Could I forgive him? Yes, even though it wouldn’t be easy. He’d taught me a broken heart could physically hurt.
Being apart from Rhys had left me fragmented. Nyota had told me it had to do with our pact, tethering our souls together on a level so viscerally, deeply intertwined, that being away from one another felt more as if we lost limbs. It was terrifying, even if I’d attempted to reassure everyone that I was fine without him.
I hadn’t been fine, though. In the time since he’d brought me back here, I’d started feeling whole again. Though apart, our connection persisted.
Ensuring Bullet’s well-being and security was paramount in my choice. Our child had to be my priority. It was something my mother hadn’t understood. I didn’t intend to be a better parent than my mother. She didn’t even deserve to be called one. No, I planned to put my child’s needs first, even before my own.
Learning I was pregnant with Rhys’ child altered my entire life. I’d done a lot of petty, insane shit between then and now, but it hadn’t felt real. Not until today, when I’d stepped into the nursery. Before then, it was merely spoken of or about. There hadn’t ever been anything to see or touch other than the slight curve of my belly.
I had to figure out where Rhys and I stood. If he wanted me, he’d need to prove it wasn’t merely a physical attraction. He didn’t connect sex with emotions, but I did. I needed more than sex. Though, I wouldn’t be opposed to getting pinned against the nearest hard surface and being fucked into a boneless, drooling stupor right about now.
I merely had to make him know how it felt to crave something so viscerally but never be able to satisfy the ravenous hunger within. If Rhys wanted a battle, I’d give him one. He planned to fight dirty, so I didn’t have to fight fair.
A smile spread over my lips as I entered the bedroom, then moved straight to his closet. Once inside, I ran my fingertips over the shirts hanging within, softly humming as I put my plans into action.
First and foremost, I needed to figure out how Nyx and Nyota were. I needed my girls with me if I was to survive this. One of the Van Helsing brothers wanted me dead. Until I figured out who that was, I needed to tread carefully.
Rhys wouldn’t harm me. I was certain he hadn’t brought me here to hurt me. He’d brought me here to torture me and chisel past my defenses. He wanted me to be laid bare before him with no barriers between us. Not because he wanted to discover all my secrets. Rhys Van Helsing wanted me on my knees, obedient and defenseless.
I may be at his mercy, but I’d crawl on my knees for no man. There were plenty of things I wanted to do for him. That was something I’d never do. Not even for him.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Dressedinnothingmorethan Rhys’ oversized shirt I’d changed into after exploring, I sank into the cushions of the sofa. Closing my eyes, I wondered if it was night outside the mansion or if it was already morning. There were no clocks that I’d found inside the apartment. It was almost as if Rhys hadn’t wanted me to know how much time passed while he held me here in this lovely, gilded prison he’d built for me.
Was the night filled with dark, sultry hues of midnight encompassing the world?
Closing my eyes, I painted an image inside my mind. Stars scattered throughout the silkiness of the night sky. The moon shone high over the mountain tops, bathing the estate in a pale, soothing light. Lightning bugs floated over the thick, green flora flooding the night in earthy undertones with a hint of night blooming jasmine perfuming the air.
An otherworldly full moon sat high in the darkening skies above the mansion. A mixture of silver and lavender bathed the world in its illuminating light, revealing the beauty of night.
A smile curved over my lips as the scent of Rhys’ aftershave took control of my senses. As if he were within the room, I started conjuring an entirely new scene to play out in my mind.
Rhys’ earthy scent of masculinity danced in my nose. A soft undertone of bergamot and dark smoke wrapped around me, enveloping my mind in his powerful allure.
Lips touched against my forehead a moment before the pressure caused the cushions to sink from the weight of his form as he settled on the sofa beside me.
“You’re wearing my shirt.” He pointed out with a smoldering look simmering his azure abysses.
I couldn’t make my thoughts shut off. Not when he was this close at hand. Sitting beside Rhys was like being drunk with lust. He created a maelstrom of emotions that pressed down against my chest. Words eluded me as I licked my lips, ravenous with the need to taste his.
“I like it better on you, Love.” Leaning back, he slowly trailed his index finger over my collarbone. It caused a violent shiver to threaten to expose how greatly it affected me.
Rhys was entirely too sexual without even trying to be. The incubus side created an allure of need, one that promised to chew me up and spit me out. Rhys had a way of caressing every atom within me, charging them.
Sometimes it felt like I was standing beside a power line. One that created a palpable hum of energy in the air around me. It jarred my equilibrium and left me teetering on uneven ground. He knew exactly how to bypass my defenses. Rhys went straight for the kill without fucking around.
His touch was sure and confident. There was zero hesitation on his part. He knew if he continued touching me, I’d cave to my baser needs. He wasn’t wrong, either. One finger caused goosebumps to spread over my flesh as Rhys drew an imaginary infinity symbol on my exposed shoulder.
“What were you thinking about just now?” The raspiness of his voice caused a pulse to start throbbing between my thighs. His darkened eyes closed as his nostrils flared.
Inhaling his scent, I drank it into my lungs deeply. My breathing turned ragged, forcing me to work on suppressing the sultry moan seeking escape from my lips. The clenching of my thighs was threatening to give me away as he destroyed my decorum.
“I was wondering what time of the day it was. I couldn’t find a clock. When I didn’t find one, I painted an image of the sun setting inside my mind.”
