The blood-rose piece of silk she is wearing hugs every curve of her body.
“You don’t worry about Alan. When the time is right, it’ll be dealt with,” his words hold a deadly promise.
“Stay in touch,” is all I say before hanging up the phone.
Loretta slowly comes across the room toward the end of the bed. I scan her body, noting her hard nipples and the blush that spreads across her skin with every step she takes.
“You are so fucking beautiful, my Blood Rose,” I say as all the blood rushes to my dick.
Loretta crawls up the bed, her breasts swaying with every move she makes. She moves so that her legs are on the outside of mine, straddling me. When she is close enough that I can get a good grip around her waist, I pick her up and set her on my lap. She gasps as her bare pussy presses down on my cock.
“Goddamn it, I love that sound,” I groan, kissing her neck before nipping her ear with my tongue.
She places her hands on my chest, pushing back slightly. I look up at her, trying to figure out what is wrong, but what I find is her looking at me like she finally sees me.
“I was so angry at the man in the shadows that took everything away from me. I couldn’t understand how it all happened or how I ended up with the lawyer that I did. While in jail and even after, I would rack my brain to figure out why I deserved all of it.” She takes a deep breath, shaking her head before she continues. “I always felt you, just out of reach in the shadows, ever my protector. And then I bumped into you at the diner, and once again the feeling of safety was there. The day that you came to my house and helped me plant flowers once again, taking care of me and keeping me safe. I didn’t understand it then and don’t know if it weren’t for the fact that Alan scares the hell out of me if I would ever allow myself to understand—but now I get it. I know why you did what you did. I’m hurt, yes, but no longer am I angry. Thank you for always protecting me from the shadows.”
A single tear races down her cheek, and I kiss it away before kissing this woman like a man starved and she’s my last meal. She meets me kiss for kiss. I turn us, laying her under me and pull back to look at her, still too shocked to believe she could be mine.
“You have haunted the Shadow Man ever since the night you told me I was in the wrong room. I couldn’t shake you. At first it was because you were a girl that needed to be protected for once, and then it was because you were a woman that wrapped herself around my soul and never let it go. I will always protect you,” I whisper between kisses as I make my way down her body to her soaking pussy.
“I didn’t get to taste you last night. Tonight, I’m going to get my fill,” I tell her just before I swipe my tongue between her folds.
I spend the rest of the night worshipping the woman I would lay my life on the line for. I disobeyed the family and let a witness live. I disobeyed a direct order when I couldn’t turn my back on her. I have always done right by a family that can’t even claim me as one of their own, and I would do it again and again as long as I ended up right here with my Blood Rose in the end.
I wake with a start, reaching out for Loretta as the nightmare fades. Her side of the bed is still warm, but she’s not in it. Sitting up, I swing my legs over the side and stand to go in search of my Blood Rose. I check the closet, finding it empty. Then, the sound of the bathtub faucet catches my attention. I pad to the bathroom and open the door just as Loretta steps into the bathtub. Not wanting to scare her when she can fall and hurt herself, I wait until she is seated before pushing the door open with a bang.
Loretta jumps and screams, and I burst out laughing because there are now bubbles on top of her head. She glares at me for a moment before laughing too.
I walk over to the side of the bathtub and squat down so we’re eye level. “Happy Halloween, my Blood Rose.”
She mock-scowls at me. “You’re an ass. You nearly scared the life out of me.”
“I can think of some things I could do to make up for scaring you,” I say softly, kissing her.
She leans back, smiling. “There is plenty of room for two.”
“Don’t have to tell me twice,” I climb into the tub behind her, pulling her back against my chest.
After a few long moments I ask, “I love the tattoo on your back, but why the blood rose?”
Loretta lays her head back on my shoulder. “It was my mother's favorite. She had one tattooed on her forearm, and on nights I had nightmares, I would lie in her arms and trace it until I fell back asleep. Well, when Asshole killed her, I knew I wanted one to match hers. I decided that if I put it on my back, I could get it as big as I wanted and that my mom would always have my back.”
I wrap my arms around her, pulling her tight to my chest. We soak for a while before I hear my phone ringing in the other room.
As I get out of the tub, I turn to look at Loretta. “You getting out now?”
“Nope, I’m going to put some more hot water in this tub and soak for a bit more. In about two hours I’m supposed to go meet the ladies in Lawson’s room where we’re getting ready for the Halloween Ball tonight.”
I lean down, kissing her first on the lips. “I’ll see you at the party then.”
Seventeen
Loretta
Mia pulls the door open at the same time my stomach growls.
“Well, it’s a great thing we have just had food delivered,” Mia laughs.
