Page 65 of The Devil's Wrath

She turned off the water and reached for a towel, gently patting me dry. She led me back to the bedroom, easing me down onto the mattress, and then climbed in beside me, pulling the covers over our naked bodies. I gathered her into my arms, holding her close as she rested her head on my chest, directly over my heart.

I closed my eyes, feeling the steady rise and fall of her chest against mine. The warmth of her skin seeped into my bones. Her love, her light, chased away the shadows that lurked in the recesses of my mind and the demons that threatened to drag me back into the abyss. In her arms, I found a respite from the nightmares of his torture, a sanctuary from the horrors he’d inflicted on me. She was my salvation and my redemption.

And yet, even as I clung to her, I knew I was damning her with every breath.

TWENTY-TWO

WRENLY

The shrill ringing of my phone pulled me from dreams of being fucked rather deliciously by Theo. I fumbled for it on the nightstand, my eyes still blurry with sleep. The glowing screen displayed the number from the hospital.

“Hello?” I answered groggily.

“Wren, Rachel called in sick, and we need someone to cover her shift.”

I groaned and looked at the time.

6:07 p.m.

Holy shit. Did we sleep all day?

“Yeah, sure. I’ll be there in thirty,” I replied, trying to sound more awake than I felt.

“Thanks. You’re a lifesaver.”

I hung up and turned to see Theo stirring beside me. His tousled hair and sleepy eyes made my heart skip a beat. He truly was a beautiful human.

He reached for me, pulling me back into his warm embrace. “Who was that?” he murmured, his voice thick with sleep.

“The hospital.” I sighed. “They need me to cover a shift tonight.”

He blinked a few times, slowly coming out of his slumber. “Mmm,do you have to?” he mumbled. He snaked an arm around my waist, pulling me closer. “Can’t they find someone else?”

“I wish.” I’d much rather stay in my warm bed with him.

He sat up. “Okay, I’ll drive you.”

I leaned in and kissed him softly, savoring the feel of his lips against mine. “Thank you. I appreciate it.”

We reluctantly dragged ourselves out of bed and got ready. The whole time, I couldn’t help but steal glances at him as he pulled on his clothes. The way his muscles flexed as he moved and the intensity in his eyes when he caught me looking. I threw on my scrubs, pulled my hair into a bun, and we went downstairs to clean up the glass from last night. Theo scooped up the shards while I held the dustpan steady.

“I’m sorry about last night,” Theo said softly, breaking the stillness. He leaned on the broom handle, watching my response.

I dumped the dustpan, set it on the counter, and approached him. When I looked at the man I loved, I saw the scars on his skin and the brokenness he’d shown me last night, and I knew it had taken a lot of courage to reveal the depths of his darkness to me—the ghosts that still haunted him.

I placed my hand on his cheek, feeling the roughness of his stubble under my palm. “You have nothing to apologize for, Theo. Sharing your pain, your past, with me took incredible strength. I’m here for you, always.”

He leaned into my touch as his eyes searched mine. A shaky breath escaped his lips before he said, “I don’t deserve you. You know that?”

“Shhh,” I hushed him and brushed my thumb over his cheekbone. “We all have our demons, our regrets, but they don’t define us. The heart that beats in your chest and the soul you showed me, that’s what matters. And I see the dark beauty in you, even if all you see are broken pieces.”

His arms encircled my waist, pulling me closer. He rested his forehead against mine, our breaths mingling in the small space between us. “I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

I smiled softly as my fingers gently threaded through the hair at the nape of his neck. “Good thing you’ll never have to find out.”

He captured my lips in a tender kiss and then buried his face in my neck. We stayed like that for a moment before I hesitantly pulled away.

“Come on, Devil,” I said, taking his hand and leading him toward the front door. “Drive me to work.”

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