Page 95 of Say You Will

“Can you come one more time, love?”

Her eyelashes flutter, then she’s throwing her head back with her palms planted behind her on my thighs. She rides me as I work her clit. When her orgasm comes, she jerks hard in achingly tight convulsions that latch onto my spine and drag me under in a quaking release of my own.

She collapses over me, and I take her mouth with mine, rolling her beneath me.

One at a time, I collect her hands and draw them over her head. Transferring them to one of mine, I lift my head. “What are you doing to me?” My voice is hoarse.

Her brows come together. “What do you mean?”

I release her hands and roll off her, tucking her against me. I don’t know why I asked her that question. I only know that I’m drowning in a deluge of feeling. I have no intention of fighting it either. I’d sooner cut out my own heart.

She rubs her thumb between my eyebrows. “What upset you?”

Kissing her forehead, I drag the blanket over both of us and soak in the almost overwhelming comfort of holding her in my arms. I carry secrets far beyond her panties in my pocket. In the car, I told her I understood the difference between protecting her and controlling her, but hiding the darkest parts of myself wasn’t about protecting Franki. It was an attempt to protect myself. “I have some things I need to tell you.”

twenty-nine

Franki

Safe & Sound | Kurt Hugo Schneider

Henry sinks into thetub behind me, pulling me back to recline against him.

The hot water soothes, and his body anchors me. Henry’s muscular thighs extend to either side of mine, and his arms wrap around my torso, so that I’m effectively surrounded by the man I love.

Henry’s tension is palpable, and I try to lighten the mood. “I’m ready. Is it worse than carrying my underwear around like a weirdo?”

“Yes.” One firm word. No equivocation or teasing reply.

My heart lurches with a burst of anxiety.

“You’re aware I’m involved in certain activities that are outside of normal legal channels.” He runs a wet hand up my arm. “Would it surprise you to know that we investigated Dean?”

I sit forward, then turn to face him, resting on my knees. “Why? Is he . . . did Dean do something?”

Henry lifts a sardonic eyebrow. “We rarely know anyone is a criminal for certain until we start looking at evidence. But no. Dean is squeaky clean. We investigate anyone with direct access to our family. Anyone who could potentially be bought, coerced, or manipulated.”

It takes a moment for me to understand. When I do, betrayal hits me like a slap to the face. “You’re going to investigate me?”

“I already have.”

The words sink in with claws and teeth. “You said you trusted me.”

What once sounded like praise so faint as to be an insult has taken on greater weight. Trust is hard-earned for Henry.

“I trustyou.” He runs a hand over my hair. “But my family has enemies who could use you.”

“You mean criminals who know the type of work you do.”

“Possibly. Yes.”

“When did you investigate me?” I don’t know why this bothers me so much. It’s not like there was anything terrible for them to find, but it feels like a violation.

He rubs the back of his neck and looks away. “You started coming to our home when you were eight.”

I don’t even realize my mouth has fallen open until I have to shut it to speak. “You investigated a child?”

“I didn’t. I was a child then too. But yes, we did. We investigated your parents and you. And since you remained close to Bronwyn, we’ve always kept eyes on you.”

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