Hours could have passed before I finally sit up and place Thea’s legs across my lap. Her body is filled with fingerprints and beard scratches, but damn does she look good enough to eat.
“It shouldn’t be this easy, should it?” Thea speaks, and I have no idea what she’s talking about.
“What?”
“Being with you. Sex. This.” She waves her hand between us, and I understand what she’s saying.
Grasping her hand, I pull her up, so we’re eye level. “I have no idea, Thea. But I don’t think anything about how we got here was easy.”
She nods slowly. “I know. It’s just that I was raped.” Her entire body hiccups at the word, and I tense. “Shouldn’t I have been scared? Hesitant? Something? What if there’s something wrong with me that I can just fall into bed with you so easily?”
“Jesus, Thea.” Pulling her across my lap, I grab the blanket off the back of the couch and wrap it around us. “There’s nothing wrong with you, blue eyes. Us, we’re solid. We’re meant to be together. Your trust in me was rapid and born out of a blossoming love that can’t be compared.”
“I don’t want this to bite me on the ass later, you know? What if I’m doing more harm than good to myself by being intimate?” Her fear is palpable.
“Do you want to talk to someone, Thea?” I hate that I can’t reassure her the way she needs, but I’ll do whatever I can to get her the help she needs and should have had years ago.
Chapter 15
Kol
One month. Thirty days. More hours than I care to count have passed since the day Thea was finally able to press charges against Richard Dane for multiple counts of rape and endangerment of a minor.
One long ass month of interviews, testimonies, and tears. Nightmares from the memories being regurgitated through her mind on a consistent basis.
One month since Thea sought treatment to help her cope with what happened in the past, what’s happening now and her feelings towards me, as well as moving ahead.
My girl has been terrified that there is something unequivocally wrong with her because she finds pleasure in my arms. My touch brings her a satisfaction nothing else has. I should feel arrogant about it, but I’m half afraid she’s going to be too scared of her reactions to allow herself the life she deserves.
With me.
There isn’t an inch of my being that isn’t obsessed and completely in love with this girl. I don’t know that I can picture a life without her.
“Kol?” Speak of the angel. I’ve been standing in the doorway to our bedroom watching her for nearly an hour.
“Morning, blue eyes.” She smiles as I walk closer, handing her my now cold coffee.
“Why were you watching me?” The smile in her gaze teases me.
“Because you’re so peaceful when you’re sleeping.” Plus, I have news to share, and I want her as rested as possible.
“You’re too kind, detective.”
Sitting next to her, I brush my hand through her hair lightly, loving that fresh burst of peaches that disperses with every stroke.
“What is it, Kol?”
I’m not surprised she knows I have something to tell her. “Hunter Adams has found Richard’s brother. He disappeared after a confrontation the two had, and he holds the evidence to avoid a messy trial.” I was so fucking relieved to hear that.
“I won’t have to testify?” Relief sags her shoulders.
“I don’t think so, no. If the D.A. can get Richard to accept the deal they’re working on, we can be done with this by the end of the week.” I can only hope I’m not lying to her.
“He’s really going to turn on Richard? Why would he do that?” I know from stories Thea’s told, that she never felt close to Colin and was wary of him. But she never felt she had an actual reason.
“If you get ready, we can go find out. Adams brought him in last night.” Scrambling from the bed, Thea rushes to the dresser I brought in here for her from the spare room, grabs her clothes, and darts to the bathroom.
Since she’s a super showerer and rushes through everything, I’ve got mere minutes to put something on a plate for her, or she’ll be the one rushing me out the door. Experiencing the resurgence of her unfettered personality over the last few weeks has been an enlightening experience.