“See? We fit.” Her tone is smug, with a hint of tiredness as she slowly rests her weight against me. “I knew we would.”
I press my legs inward so I’m completely surrounding her. My own little captive who can’t escape from my grip. “You scared the hell out of me, wife.”
I angle my head, just in time to witness her eyes falling shut, a soft sigh leaving her. “I’m sorry. I was stupid.”
Definitely wouldn’t call her stupid. Just—careless. Not that I would say it out loud.
“Don’t apologize. Though you should’ve had your phone.” My tone is firm.
Another sigh leaves her. “I know.”
“You also should’ve let Jasper accompany you to the lobby.”
Her eyes open and she tilts her head back, her gaze meeting mine. “I know that too. But let’s be real—Jasper isn’t much of a threat.”
“He might’ve been enough to deter that sleazebag from trying to make off with you.” I squeeze her tighter, careful not to hit the spot where her bruises are. “I can’t lose you like that again, wife.”
The admission leaves me feeling vulnerable and I swallow down the rest of the words I want to say to her.
Like how much she means to me. More than anyone else in the world.
We’re quiet, the only sound is the sloshing water as our bodies move and shift. I’m getting hotter thanks to the steam wafting upwards from the water and I rest my cheek against her soft hair, closing my eyes.
“Why?”
Her softly spoken question has my eyes cracking open. “Why what?”
“Why can’t you lose me?”
Carefully I lift my head away from her and run my fingers through her hair, letting the strands fall onto her shoulders, the ends trailing in the warm water. “It killed me, knowing you were with him.”
“Why?”
Damn it, she’s going to make me say it, isn’t she?
“Because I care about you, Charlotte.”
She faces straight ahead, her back still to me, bending her knees and wrapping her arms around them. “Nothing about our relationship is normal, Perry. There is no reason for you to care about me or worry when I’ve been abducted by my former—lover.”
I slip my arms around her waist and pull her into me, the water splashing, my mouth at her ear when I murmur, “Don’t call him that.”
“It’s true. Calling him my ex-boyfriend sounds so… wrong. We weren’t ever together, not like that.”
I cup her breasts, running my thumbs over her hardening nipples. “I thought for a while maybe you went with him—willingly.”
She slowly shakes her head. “I would never do that.”
I’m quiet for a moment, considering what she said—and how quickly she said it. “Why?”
“Because I said vows to you and promised to be a faithful wife. I’m a lot of things, but I’m not a liar, Perry. We’re married. I won’t leave you for someone else. I—I care about you, too.” She hesitates and I swear I can feel her sadness. “I hate that he had me first.”
“But I’ll keep you forever.” The words fall from my mouth without thought and for a split second, I regret them.
Then again, I don’t. I mean what I say. I will keep her forever. That asshole can’t have her back, despite his trying. He’ll never try again. I won’t give him the chance.
I’ll chop off his hands and his dick if I have to.
“You don’t mean it,” Charlotte says, her voice so soft, I almost don’t hear her. “You’ll get tired of me, just like everyone else.”