Page 24 of No Fear
“Rach?”
“I wanted to make sure you were done before you cut me off again.”
He chuckled, “Sorry babe, like I said, I wanted to be clear and up front with you about what I want. I want you. All of you.”
“Now it’s my turn to be clear then… Nobody’s ever said anything like that to me before, Remy. Nobody has ever wanted me, not just like that but in any way. So, yes, I think it’s clear that I want you but I want you to know that I want you in every way too.”
“God, it feels like I’ve waited forever to hear you say that.” Remy groaned, “I know it’s only really been a month since we met but I’ve been waiting for you forever, baby.”
“I feel the same way.”
Remy stroked his fingers over her racing pulse where their hands were joined, “I’m not gonna push you. I promise I’m not. I know extenuating circumstances sent you running to me last night but I’m not letting you go, Rach.”
“You’re going to let me stay here?” She blinked in surprise.
“As long as you want. Forever, if you want.” He smiled, flashing dimples when she only blinked at him, “Now, since I’ve answered your questions. Do me a favor and answer one of mine. Why are you making breakfast?”
“What?”
He’d just told her that he wanted to be with her in every way. That if she decided to be with him that he wouldn’t ever let her go. And then he’d asked about breakfast.
“Why are you making breakfast?” He repeated easily.
“Oh…” She cleared her throat and tried to follow his lead, “I uh, I wanted to thank you for last night.”
His dark brows furrowed, “Thank me? For what?”
“For bringing me here. For getting me out of there. For stopping Craig from…”
When her words trailed off, Remy sighed, “Rach, you’re gonna have to talk to me about him. I’ve got questions, a lot of questions. I need to know what the deal is with your brother.”
“Half-brother.”
“Half-brother.” He agreed, “You’re scared of him?”
It wasn’t really a question but she nodded, “He’s not a good guy. He… He threatens me. He’s got in in his head that he’s the boss of me. Most of the time I can ignore him or avoid him but…”
“But not yesterday?” He asked when she trailed off again.
She wasn’t sure how much to tell him. Everything he’d told her said that he wouldn’t send her away but how could she be sure? Telling him just why she was so scared of Craig would change everything, again. She didn’t want to lose Remy when she’d only just found him.
“Y-yesterday was a really bad day and I-I don’t want to go home. I’m scared of what he might do.”
“You think he’ll hurt you?”
She nodded.
Remy scowled, “Has he hurt you before?”
She chewed her bottom lip. She couldn’t answer that. Not honestly. If she answered it honestly, Remy was going to freak out. She knew he would because any decent person would. She couldn’t tell him. She’d never told anyone and no matter how much she trusted Remy, she couldn’t put it into words.
Not now. Not yet. Maybe not ever.
Remy squeezed her hand to pull her attention back to him, “Is he the reason you’re scared of men?”
She winced at the knowing look in his dark eyes, “It’s not that I’m scared of all men… I’m not scared of you.”
“I don’t think that’s entirely true.”
