Page 158 of Bride By Initiation

I bury my head in his neck, inhaling his scent.

"Are you all right?" he asks, walking into the bedroom. He pulls the covers back and sets me down.

"I don't know," I admit.

Concern fills his expression. "What's going on?" He sits next to me and unbuttons my blouse.

I sniffle. "I don't want to get into it. Not now, please."

He studies me for a minute. "Okay."

He helps me undress, then orders, "Scoot down."

I slide under the sheets.

He takes his clothes off and gets in next to me. He pulls me to him, spooning me and kissing the back of my neck.

I soon fall asleep, but I'm haunted all night by dreams of both my father and I killing people.

Every time I scream in my sleep,Sean's there, trying to find out what's wrong. But I can't talk about it. I'm too ashamed and confused.

He doesn't push, comforting me until I fall back asleep, then he holds me tighter the next time I wake up screaming.

When morning comes, we've barely gotten any sleep. Sean still wants answers, but I give him nothing, not wanting to talk about my sins or my father's.

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25

Sean

Two Months Later

"Can you go to work a little bit late this morning?" I ask Zara.

She puts her lipstick down. "I suppose. What's going on?"

Excitement and a bit of anxiety fill me. I lean closer and declare, "I can't tell you."

Her lips twitch. She tilts her head and squints. "What are you up to, Sean O'Malley?"

I chuckle. "You'll see. Hurry up and finish getting ready."

She glances at her reflection in the mirror, shakes out her curls, then chirps, "I'm ready."

I pat her ass. "Good. I'll drop you off at work later." I grab her hand and lead her into the other room.

She giggles. "Where are we going?"

"It's a surprise, Mrs. O'Malley." I wiggle my eyebrows.

"The suspense is killing me," she admits, and grabs her purse off thetable.

I guide her out of the apartment, through the building, and into the SUV.

As soon as we get inside, she questions, "Tell me again where we're going?"

I wiggle my finger in front of her. "Uh-uh-uh. I'm not spilling."

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