Total pages in book: 44
Estimated words: 40566 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 203(@200wpm)___ 162(@250wpm)___ 135(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 40566 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 203(@200wpm)___ 162(@250wpm)___ 135(@300wpm)
“Where do you want me?” she asks once her hair is nice and wet, along with the rest of her body.
“I’ll come to you. Tell me if this hurts at any point.” I grab the bottle, pouring more than I’m sure she’d usually use. I’ve got no experience in this department. Case being a boy, having short hair, we just take care of business, and then we’re done. A woman is another story entirely.
“You won’t hurt me, Ryland. You never have.” Her head tips back, and my hands get to work, wishing they were everywhere instead of just in her long blonde locks.
“I hate that I’ll look like this when Case gets home.” I walk into the bathroom after leaving her to finish the rest of her routine. The loose clothes Mom brought her plastered to her skin the minute water hit her body. My eyes had a hard time staying on the task at hand. The light pink fabric turned to sheer in a matter of seconds. The only thing holding me back were the bruises that mottled her body. Sutton’s stomach, face, arms, and thighs took the brunt of Shane’s anger. And he’s damn fucking lucky his ass is sitting behind bars, or he’d be buried six feet in the ground. I toss one of my shirts and a pair of sweats on the counter for her to change into.
“Babe.” My hands go to the outside of her arms, holding her gently. She’s only in a towel, and her hair is wet, soaking down the length of her back. Sutton’s lip is split, there’s bruising around both her eyes, you can see some of the other marks traveling up her chest, and when my eyes slide down her body, there are even more on her legs and thighs. A part of me wants to rip the towel off her body and kiss every mark on her skin, to get on my knees and worship her like she deserves. “The only thing our boy is going to see is that you’re here, you’re a fighter, and that you’re strong. Even when people try to beat you down, you still get back up swinging. Not a lot of people in this world can say the same.” I place a kiss on the crown of her head.
“Ryland, you give me entirely too much credit, but I’m going to take it, just this once.” She rocks back on her heels, giving me the weight of her body. I wrap my arms around her chest, holding the woman I know is only mine to touch. I need to get her hair dried off. There’s a chill to the air, and I’ve yet to adjust the thermostat or start a fire. The last thing Sutton needs is a cold on top of all of this.
“Take it, always. You need help getting dressed?” I offer.
“No, I think I’ve got it. Keep the door open, please,” she asked the same thing when I stepped out of the shower after washing her hair.
“I will. I’ll be right here when you’re done. We’ll get your hair dry, your feet propped up, some medicine in you, and watch some television until Case gets home.” I tighten my hold around her one last time before heading for the bedroom.
THIRTEEN
SUTTON
“My Sutty!” Case barrels through the door, running a million miles an hour, or as much as his little legs let him. I’m in the recliner, my feet propped up, a pillow in my lap, and a blanket on top. The rehashing of events, the drive home, and even the shower wore me out. Though, there is something to be said about feeling Ryland’s hands in my hair, how he ignored the way my body was more than ready to go further, the clothes he gave me, and the comfort I needed when he held me while I took a good long look at myself in the mirror. Ryland is my anchor in the darkest of storms.
“Careful, bud, remember what we talked about,” I hear Russell trying to cajole him before he hits the living room. A big smile stretches my face when he rounds the corner, and Case stops short. This is what I was afraid of, that he’d be scared to see me, to touch me, and to be around me.
“She’s okay, just a couple of bumps and bruises.” Ryland squats down, tugging him until they’re at eye level. I can see the crocodile tears rolling down his cheeks. My heart clenches inside my chest. “You can lie with her, just be careful. Our Sutty needs lots of love and rest, okay?” I hear Ry explain to him, along with a few other things, and instead of Case walking to me, Ryland chooses to pick his little body up and hold him to his chest, hugging him so tightly, it almost feels like I’m intruding on the father-son moment. One of the things I miss most about my mom are her hugs. When she wrapped her arms around you, she held on. She also instilled in me her love. It didn’t matter if she was walking outside to work in the yard or heading into work, she told me I love you. Religiously.