CHAPTER NINE
Iron
After I caught my breath, I slid away from Petra. It wasn’t an easy thing to do but I knew I had to take care of the condom.
She was out by the time I came back into the room. I stood there for a long fuckin’ minute just watching her. Sexiest fuckin’ thing I’d ever seen, I tell you. Her nearly white hair was fanned out in a mess all around her. There were faint mascara streaks down her face. And those beautiful lips were swollen as hell.
Yeah, hot as all get out.
And all mine, too.
But the best thing was the relaxed, sated smile that was barely kissing her lips. Even in her sleep, it was clear what I’d done to her. And that wasn’t all I had to give, either. I hoped she understood that shit. I guessed it didn’t matter if she did because I was hell-bent on making sure she got it.
My eyes lazily roamed over her naked form. I’d never seen this much of her before because she kept it hidden away.
I figured there had to be more to it than it being part of her shield.
And I’d been right.
I didn’t let my gaze linger too long on all the scars that marred her perfect skin. Though to me, she was still pretty damn perfect even with them. I imagined that was how it was when you loved someone. I didn’t look too hard because though she was asleep, I knew she’d be uncomfortable with me seeing them and staring. We were going to have a talk about it, that was for damn sure, and if she didn’t get that I still thought she was beautiful afterword, then I’d just have to show her.
The things I would do for this woman here in front of me…
The list was damn endless.
With a sigh, I walked over and undid my belt from the headboard. I carefully set it on the nightstand before undoing the insane ball of knots that I had made out of her dress. Don’t ask me what I did, because I had no clue. I wasn’t sure it would’ve really worked and I was really surprised when she didn’t test it more than she did. Maybe she got it then, that it didn’t matter if she was tied up or not, I had the upper hand. That didn’t mean that she was under me, though she had been quite literally. I think she got it now. The tears had been a big indicator of that.
I lifted her up and she was completely out. Like dead weight in my arms, out. It wasn’t easy, but I managed to get us tucked under the sheets.
I held her close and felt her tits press harder into my chest with every deep rise of her chest.
Yeah, I had a smile on my face.
I was worn the hell out but I couldn’t find sleep. I was a light sleeper, kind of had to be, but I didn’t want to even take the chance that she’d wake and slip out on me.
We weren’t done tonight.
I’d just barely broken through the ice.
What came next I knew wasn’t going to be easy, not for me and not for her. But I’d push through and get my way under the surface. I’d show her that I wasn’t going anywhere and I sure as hell wasn’t going to give up.
We were both adults and there was no need to play games. Petra was good at talking when she needed me to understand something. Now I just needed to show her the things that I wanted to understand were the things she kept buried deep inside. I wasn’t sure how I was going to go about it, but by the way she was breathing, I figured I had a while to make a plan of action.
Hours later she stirred in my arms. I tilted my head so that I could see her eyes the moment she opened them.
“I slept?” she asked like she couldn’t believe that she had.
“Yeah, babe. Slept real good on me,” I told her with a smirk.
“I need to go.” Her hand pushed against my chest as she sat up.
Her movements weren’t hurried which told me that she wasn’t running. That was good, at least. It had to be something else but I couldn’t even begin to figure it out.
“Why’s that?” I asked as I propped myself up on one elbow.
She didn’t answer right away. Her eyes were looking down at the ground, no doubt taking in her ruined dress.
“Because I’m hungry,” she finally answered, her head turning to look at me over her shoulder. The look on her face was to the point. She wasn’t making an excuse and there was a hint there that told me she thought my question was dumb. Like I somehow should have known the answer was something along those lines.
