Page 56 of Beautifully Shattered
Fuck.
Carrying her down the dark trail that weaves through a tree-lined path before opening up to a small clearing, I find the row of shipping containers that have been converted into small bungalows with two double beds and a tiny bathroom in each.
Climbing the steps of bungalow number three, the one JD and I share when we’re on the compound, I gently lower my wife to her feet.
She stiffens a little, like she’s only just noticed we’re somewhere new, and I reach over her head, my fingers feeling along the top of the door frame until I find the key. I quickly unlock the door, putting the key back before I push the door open and reach in to flick on the light. She doesn’t say a word, stepping over the threshold, her eyes tracking everything from the two beds, only a few feet apart, to the open door at the other end that leads into the bathroom.
“This is where you were staying,” she says quietly, moving further in, recognising the familiar space I showed her on one of our video calls.
“It is, yes.” I shut and latch the door behind me before shrugging out of my cut and hanging it on the hook by the door.
Abbey’s eyes fall to the two beds, and she studies them for a moment before pointing to the far one by the bathroom entrance. “That one is yours?”
“It is,” I rasp, toeing off my boots, and her eyes find me over her shoulder before she frowns.
“I can’t have sex yet.”
I smirk. “I know, Angel.”
Her frown deepens as she turns to me.
“Then what’s my punishment?”
“There’ll be no punishment tonight.” I start lifting my shirt, watching her track the motion.
“But…” her voice wavers slightly, her caramel eyes flicking up to mine. “Why?”
Pulling my shirt over my head, I toss it to the side, enjoying her eyes on me as they track down my bare chest, and even after everything we’ve been through, how her cheeks still flush like it’s the first time she’s seen me this way.
“Because, Angel.” I step closer, my voice dropping low. “When I punish you, I need you strong. I need you healthy. I need you to be able to take it.”
She visibly gulps.
“Now, be a good girl and strip for me.”
She shakes her head, worry flickering over her face. “But Ican’t—”
“You’re covered in blood, Angel.” I cut her off, and her lips part in an O as the realisation hits. “We’re going to clean you up.”
Her eyes widen, flicking towards the open door of the bathroom, worrying her lower lip between her teeth.
“I can wash myself.” She glances back at me with a half-arse smile.
“I’m not asking for permission, Abbey. I want to washmywife clean. That’s all there is to it.”
“But…” she trails off, her eyes darting past me, towards the door.
Is she seriously thinking about running? Surely we’re past that bullshit now.
“But what?” I growl, and her caramel eyes snap back to mine.
“Well, for one… I’m still bleeding.” She gestures between her legs, and I shrug.
“I’m not afraid of blood, Angel.”
She shoots me a ‘really’ look, brows raised, eyes glaring at me like I’m talking shit.
“It’smenstrualblood. Or whatever you call it when you’ve pushed a baby out of your hooha.”
