AllFreeNovel
Share Us
By the time that she has stopped crying it is well into the afternoon. Rome knew better than to follow us into the house. He wanted to give her space to feel safe which is why he is my best friend and right hand man. Brushing the hair out of her face, I can see that she needs to be taken care of but she also needs a safe space to speak about what she went through. She needs to talk through the experiences so that she can work through them, not for me but for her. I would take her as she is without asking a single question but she doesn’t want to feel this way. I stand up and walk us to my en-suite bathroom before sitting her on the counter.
Opening the cupboard under the bathroom counter, I see that it is full of things for a bath, including lavender epsom salts and bubble baths. My housekeeper often knows what I need before I do and this is one of those moments where I add a special bonus for her to her standard pay for going above and beyond. Being a killer does not prevent me from treating the people closest to me with the kindness and respect that they deserve. I take the step over to the bath and add the salt before turning on water to the tub and adding the bubbles. Facing mybride once more, I stand in front of where she sits and using my right hand I tilt her chin up to make direct eye contact with her.
“Would you prefer to bathe alone or do you want company? Either way I am following your lead,” My eyes search hers as I ask, hoping to see a hint of what she wants to make sure that she is speaking up for herself. It is important to me that she knows that the word “No” is law in this house. It is a complete sentence and requires no explanation before it is accepted.
“That bath is big enough for two, I want you to join me if you are comfortable,” She whispers with an undertone of fear in her voice.
“Of course, anything for you,” I answer.
Chapter Seventeen
LEO
“Manliness is not defined by avoiding girly things but by keeping your word and understanding when to put another person’s needs before your own.”
While I typically would not lock the internal doors between my bathroom and bedroom, I wanted to provide her that extra layer of security. Rome would never invade her privacy, but I will send him a message update before I climb into the bath with her to avoid any interruptions. The tub is more than half full when I turn off the water, enjoying the relaxing smells and bubbles for us to sink into together. She uses my arm to climb into the bath and sinks into the water. I reach under the sink for the tea candles and lighter I saw and begin setting them around the room. Shooting off a quick text to Rome, I set my phone to ‘do not disturb’ so we can have some alone time.
Leo:
Won’t be back out anytime soon. Sorry to leave like that but she needs me right now. Please let me know if you get any updates.
Rome:
Okay, forbidden fruit. I made pasta salad and an anti pasta plate for you both when you're done. I’ll let you know when we know more. Don’t do anything I would do. xoxo
Setting the candles up around the tub and bathroom, I unbutton my shirt and let it fall to the floor. Relying on the candles for light I turn off the recessed lighting in the bathroom leaving only the floor running lights and candles. Removing the rest of my clothes, I stride to the tub and step inside. The warmth of the water is nothing compared to our bare skin touching in the tub. Looking to her for a reaction, I find her eyes closed and a look of serenity on her face for the first time all day. While the bubbles may obstruct my view of her incredibly naked body, this bath is not about getting my dick wet, but relaxing her and making sure that she knows how safe she is with me.
“Butterfly, can I ask you something?” I inquire, hoping that she won’t be mad at me.
“Technically, you just did, but I will do my best to answer you,” She answers me with a smirk of playfulness coming back into her tone.
“If I could guarantee anonymity and safety, would you consider seeing a therapist? This person is someone I trust and grew up with that is not part of our world but has a firm understanding of what happens. They got their degree, but are sworn to secrecy outside of patient confidentiality and will not report anything they are told. Her hard limit is that if she thinksyou are going to hurt yourself she will tell the contact you designate in your first session,.” I ask earnestly, hoping that she takes me up on it.
“Why should I see someone?” She asks me with trepidation in her voice.
“Butterfly, I will be your constant, your rock, and your husband, but you have been through serious trauma; some of which you may not be comfortable sharing with me. If you keep it bottled up it will eat you alive from the inside. I would be a bad partner if I did not provide you a safe and neutral third party to share and discuss things with to get an unbiased opinion,” I answer her knowingly. I have spent hours of my life in the chair with Rose processing what I do and who I am. She knows my darkest secrets; because not even theAngel of Deathcan keep everything bottled up.
“Are you sure she won’t judge my weakness for what I let happen to me? My scars are more than skin deep, Leo, and I haven’t shared their origins with a single soul walking this earth,” My Butterfly nervously questioned me without making eye contact. To reassure her, I reach out to hold her hand. The intimacy of the act is not lost on me, when I never touch a women like this outside of sexual relations and necessary aftercare until her. She has changed everything by just existing in my life, and even if she never changed or healed I would still stand proudly by her side. Healing is a self driven and difficult journey that no person can be forced to do but I will support whatever decision she makes and if she changes her mind. I might be the future leader of my family but she will lead me to the man I am supposed to be.
“Every person has their demons but Rose does not flinch. She remained stoic and unwavering when I talked through my first murder spree and losing my mom. Claire talks to her regularly about what she had to see when her mom died. If you meetsomeone in this life that insists they have no scars they are either lying or trying to sell you drugs,” I state clearly. This might not be the answer that she wanted, but it was the most earnest I could be for her. She deserves my authenticity, especially after today.
“I heard about what happened to your mom. It shook things up in our world, but I am sure the version that I heard differs from the reality of the situation. I won’t ask you to dredge it up but I would like to know the real story someday. That day changed your life and if I understand it, then maybe we can have a deeper understanding for this marriage,” She spoke softly, apprehensive and avoiding my eyes. I squeeze her hand gently to get her attention to have her look at me without using my words.
Even in the bubbles and the glow of the candles her eyes are mesmerizing. I am not sure who came up with the lie that brown eyes are boring, because eyes like hers make me want to get lost in their depths. After all that she has endured you would expect her eyes to be glassy or vacant, but instead they are filled with layers reflecting each of her emotions. The soft white bubbles are touching her in ways that make me wish I was made of bubbles to caress her skin. Her soft smile lights up the room more than any of the fire dancing around us and I feel the axis of my life’s purpose shifting one smile at a time to her. I know that I should fight it and keep the professional distance between us but the idea of that makes me viscerally ill.
With a gentle tug, I give her the silent option to get closer to me. She leans forward letting my tug pull her to my side. The feeling of her skin touching mine so completely has me almost coming undone.
“I would pull you onto my lap, but I refuse for my first time inside of you to be when you are coming back to reality after a panic attack,” I chuckle, glad that the bubbles hide just how hard I am for her. She doesn’t need me to sexualize the situation nomatter what my dick would like to say. The way her head turns away from me sparks concern where my laughter just was.
“If you don’t want me because of my past, that's okay. I understand how my history could make me seem... dirty and undesirable,” She mutters in a wavering voice without making eye contact with me. Instead of answering, I clasp the hand that is nearest to me and place it on my rock hard cock. She is looking at me now while I bite down my moan at the sensation of her hand on my dick for the first time.
“My desire for you has done nothing but intensify with every conversation we have had. I don’t blame you for your hesitation, but feel how much I want you,” I answer her with a stifled groan as she tightens her hold on me. It is taking every ounce of self control that I have not to come undone. She may not be the first person to caress me but every faceless woman before her pales in comparison to my Butterfly.
“Then why haven’t you taken me yet?” She asks breathily as she slides her hand up and down my shaft. The guttural moan that escapes me ignites a different kind of fire in her eyes. My carefully crafted control starts to crack, and I take my hand and curl it around the back of her neck, entangling my fingers in her hair before pulling her face centimeters away from me.
“Tell me to stop, Butterfly. Tell me to stop and I will give you the space you deserve to heal from the life you have lived,” I instruct her, knowing that her telling me to stop is the only chance of me reigning in the hunger for her now. Her answering smirk is all I need to confirm that she is going to push me more than anyone before her. I am thriving on her fire.
“What if I don’t want you to stop?” Ella asks, and that is all the invitation I need. Like a rubber band, my control snaps. Pulling her onto my lap, our lips meet and everything else fades away. She tastes of salvation and sin. Both of her hands cup my cheek and deepen feeding the fire between us. Releasingher hair, my hands caress her body landing on her hips. Sliding her clit against my erection, she releases a moan. That sound vibrates straight through my body to my balls. The small separation between our lips lets me breathe her in.
