Ari nodded.
“That’s it?” I asked, anxious. Those bruises looked horrible. I wanted to be sure that she was okay. “Nothing else.”
“Nope, she’s good.” Roxy grinned.
I didn’t need to hear anything else. Scooping her into my arms, as she squealed, hugging my neck. “Come on baby, let’s get you to bed.”
“No fucking Ghost!” I heard Healer shout as I ascended the stairs.
Twenty-Eight
Aariaani
I was home. I still couldn’t believe it. I dreamt of this moment for months, never thinking that it would actually happen. When Ghost stormed into that house, I’d never seen anything more beautiful and scarier at the same time. He came in like some avenging angel, hell-bent on destruction. Yet when his eyes saw mine, all that fire and brimstone vanished as his love shone through. I would have run to him if it weren’t for his brother.
I’d never been more scared before when Jekyll handed me over to Grimm. I knew he didn’t like me, but I never imagined the depth of his hatred. I didn’t know what I did to cause such anger, but he made it crystal clear how he felt.
Over and over again.
I could still feel his anger as he punched, kicked, and beat me repeatedly. I thought my time with the Vultures was terrible enough, but Grimm ensured that my time with them was a pleasant vacation. The reality was indeed different when faced with my own mortality, and I was sure I wasn’t going to walk out of that house alive.
I grinned when I realized that I actually didn’t.
Ghost carried me. Though my body ached all over, I didn’t care. I was in his arms.
I was home.
Sitting on the toilet, I watched as he fumbled with the nobs as water started to fill the tub. Then he grabbed a box and sprinkled a good amount of powder into the water. Instantly the bathroom filled with a fragrant aroma of lavender and vanilla. It smelled like heaven.
The enormous cast iron tub with clawed feet stood on a small, raised floor, steam rising lazily in the warm air from the hot water and mound of bubbles.
“Come on, baby, let’s get you settled.”
Saying nothing, I stood and carefully removed my clothes. My body ached something fierce. This was definitely worse than when my Uncle punished me. I stepped up the three steps leading to the tub. Glancing over my shoulder, I watched Balthazar’s expression as I raised my leg to step in. The sudden darkening of his eyes made my breath catch in my chest, and I had to tear my eyes away to climb in. The feeling of his eyes on me as I slipped down into the mass of fragrant bubbles warmed me far more than the water ever could.
I leaned against the far end of the tube, closing my eyes and soaking in the peace that the bath wrought in me. I felt rather than saw Balthazar approach and waited breathlessly to find out what he would do. I didn’t have long to wait as he came up behind me, sliding his hands along my face, down my neck, and began massaging my shoulders gently.
“God, baby. Tell me I’m not dreaming right now?”
“You’re not dreaming,” I whispered as I tilted my head back. My hair lay soft and wild against his cheek as he nuzzled my ear as his hands worked on my shoulders.
“That feels so good,” I sighed, wishing he would dip his hands lower into the bubbles and caress my hardening nipples. Did he feel the tension in me? My desire was building white-hot at the feel of his hands on my skin. Such a simple thing, a touch, and yet it wielded a magical power over me. I softly whimpered as he suckled my earlobe, trailing his tongue down the length of my neck, a promise of things to come. His fingers dipped lower and as the very tips of his fingers brushed against my breasts. I gasped and pushed my breasts up into his hands. “I need you, Balthazar. Please touch me.”
“I can’t, baby. You’re hurt.”
“Then come take a bath with me,” I said, turning to look at him as he dipped his head to kiss me lustfully. I lifted my hands from the bubbles, caressing the back of his hands as they stroked my breasts. Against his warm lips, I murmured, “I need you.”
He looked at me, and with no hesitation, he nodded. After removing his clothes, he climbed in behind me. The water lapped against the both of us as he settled down into the hot water, his long legs sliding against mine. He laced his finger thru mine and pulled me back towards him, the water making my skin slick as I slid across his body.
“Balthazar,” I moaned as he captured my lips once more. I ran my hands along his arms as I floated lightly against him.
He growled, pulling me hard against him. My breasts rubbed his arms as my legs fell open against his. “God, I thought I lost you, Ari. I missed you so much.”
“I’m home now, and I’m not going anywhere.”
As we lay there wrapped in each other’s arms, letting the hot water soothe our souls, I wished for the day to come when he didn’t feel guilty as he currently was. I could see the agony in his eyes. The regret for not finding me sooner. The fear of what possibly happened. It wasn’t his fault. None of it was. I knew he was punishing himself for what happened as if he could have controlled the outcome.
The funny thing was, I believed that I was destined to go through what I did for a reason. I needed to see the world for what it was. Not some big magical, wonderful place. It was all that, but there was darkness too.