Page 10 of Sweet Possession
And hell would freeze over before I let her go back to her shitty excuse of a father.
Her entire body was still as tight as a coiled spring drapedin my huge jacket. She shifted nervously from one foot to the other as her gaze once again roamed around the foyer, and I was certainthatif I didn’t have herhand still clasped in mine, her knees would have buckled. She needed to take those fucking shoes off.
Dropping to my knees in front of her, I gently reached out and tookhold of her ankle. She flinched when my fingers brushed over her soft skin, but I didn’t let go, swiftly unbuckling the strap.
As soon as it was undone, I slipped her foot out of the shoe, and asshe placed her foot back on the floor, I looked up her body, realizing for the first timejusthow small she was.
She was pint-sized, barely over five feet. Once I undone the othershoe, I stood to my full height, towering over her. No wonder she was so damn scared of me, I must have looked like a giant to her.
“I’ll show you to your room so you can shower and get out of thoseclothes,”I said, instantly regretting my choice of words when she took a step away from me, and wrapped her arms tighter around her body. Fuck, I was getting this so damn wrong.“I didn’t mean get you out of your clothes, Cora. What I meant was, you can get changed into something more comfortable.”
It was too late to backtrack though, the damage was already done.
Resignation washed through me. It wasn’t like I was expecting toearn her trust immediately, I knew it was going to take time. But I’d be lying if I said there wasn’t a little part of methathoped now she was away from the hellhole she’d been in, she’d seethatI wasn’t a monster.
Refraining from letting out a heavy sigh, I turned and silently led herthrough the house and up the stairs to the biggest guest bedroom. Cora trailed behind me, her bare feet scuffing against the marble floor, and her head bowed as if she was walking to her execution.
When we reached the bedroom, I opened the door for her, steppingback so she could go in first. Hesitantly, she stepped inside, and like she’d done when she first walked into the house, her gaze darted around the room.
Although this was one of the guest bedrooms, I kept some of myclothes in here. Leaving Cora to take in the room, I grabbed a t-shirt and a pair of sweats from the wardrobe, before laying them on the bed. They would swamp her, but they had to be better than what she currently had on.
“There’s a bathroom throughthatdoor,”I said pointing to the doorleading to the ensuite.“You can shower if you want, andthenyou can change into these. They’ll probably be huge on you, but it’s the best I can give you for now.”Her eyes fell to the pile of clothes, and the tightness in her body eased fractionally at finding somethingthatwould cover her.“I didn’t have time to get you some clothes sorted, but I’ll make sure to have a selection delivered tomorrow.”
I was met with a wall of silence.
Trying to not let the frustration show, I crossed back to the door,feeling like I’d bitten off more than I could chew. I was way out of my depth with this. What the hell had I been thinking, swooping in like a fucking white knight?
Deep down, I knew the answer tothatquestion though.
“There’s a lock on the door,”I continued as I reached the door. Coraspun to face me, her brows furrowed in confusion.“You can lock the door from the inside, I won’t be able to get in. If it makes you feel more comfortable,thatis,thenlock the door.”
The smallest of smiles crossed her lips, and her shouldersslumped in relief. Takingthatas my cue to go, I stepped out of her room, pausing to add,“Take as long as you need, Cora.Evenif that’s a few days, there’s no rush. Ijustwant you to feel safe here.”
I gave her a reassuring smile before closing the door behind me andfinally letting out the sigh I’d been holding in. As much as I wanted to take back my words and insist she showered andthencame downstairs so I could feed her, I reluctantly walked away.
Making my way to the kitchen, I grabbed a well-needed beer from thefridge before pulling my phone from my pocket.
I needed help.
Nash didn’t answer the first time I called him. After six or seven rings,his phone diverted to voicemail, and instead of leaving a message, I hung up and redialled.
My best friend and I had a rule. If neither of us answered the firsttime, it was because we were either busy at work or getting our dicks wet, and we’d call the other back when we had time. But we’d agreed, if ever there was an emergency, we would call again, and no matter what we were doing, we’d answer.
“What’s up?”Nash answered after three rings, a hint of urgency in hisvoice.
I paused as hesitation passed through me. In days gone by, I wouldnever have hesitated to ask Nash for help, but he was a happily married man now, and what I was about to ask him could ruin everything he’d worked hard to create.
But Nash was my best friend, and the only person I trusted to helpme do what needed to be done. He knew my deepest, darkest secrets, and I knew his.
“Nash, I need help.”
“I’m on my way.”
I smiled to myself. No matter what, he always had my back.“Can youbring Sav as well?”
My request was met with a silent pause before Nash chuckled darkly.“What the fuck have you gotten yourself into?”
Where to start?
