Page 53 of Lay Me Down
She pushes the probe onto my abdomen, and the water starts again at the same time. I grit my teeth and ball up my fists, trying to take the pain. I deserve it. Every shock. Every burn. Every tremor caused by the cold—I’ve earned it.
Her face inches closer.
“I wonder if you’re really as tough as they say you are,” she taunts.
The smell of burning flesh and chlorine fills the air, and I glare down at her through the agony. There are a thousand emotions behind my eyes. Hatred. Anguish. Desperation. A silent vow that I will be the last thing she sees before she dies, and her soul will be the ultimate prize. I’ll display it beside my own and present them as an offering to my wife. A gift in exchange for her forgiveness. A promise of my devotion.
DeLuca glares back at me like she accepts my challenge, and something inside me cowers.
“Turn the volume up,Direttrice.”
Without question, Victoria does what she says, and Ashia’s whimpers fill the room as the burning starts again.
Chapter 22
Damien
Three Days Later
‘Nothing’s Gonna Hurt You Baby’ – Cigarettes After Sex
Fuck, I didn’t realize how much I liked to smoke. It’s only been a couple of weeks since I quit, but it feels longer than that. I didn’t smoke much to begin with, but now that we’re up and moving around more, the itch to get back to work is creeping on me. Work means blood, and blood used to trigger the addiction. I suppose my mind is still wired to crave one after a while. It’s the same way I can feel my need to kill when it’s been too long.
The wind whips its way past the balcony doors as I open them, and the heat doesn’t immediately smack me in the face as I step outside. My hair blows across my face, and while the breeze feels nice against my bare chest, it might not be quitecool enough for Ashia. She won’t be able to stand out here for too long without getting sick again. This heat hasn’t made her nausea any better, but I know that within the next couple of weeks, it’ll start to settle down.
Eleven weeks. She’s eleven weeks pregnant tomorrow. I know she doesn’t want to get her hopes up until she’s past the twelve-week mark, but I can’t help it. They’re perfect. I know it. We’re going to go to this appointment next week, and the doctor will tell us how amazing they are. She’ll remind my wife how incredible she is, and if I’m lucky, she’ll convince Ashia to do the blood test. Then, the doctor can confirm that she’s, in fact, carrying my princess. I know that, too. The feeling comes from deep within my bones, but I promised Ashia I would keep the teasing to a minimum. For now. Until thirteen weeks on the fucking dot.
I can tell that she’s near, even before her arms snake around me from behind. One of her palms flattens against my chest, and as her other holds onto my side, she pulls me close. She gently lays her head against my back, and I can’t help but grin as I entangle my fingers with hers.
“It feels nice out here,” she says in a relaxed, innocent tone, like an angel is experiencing life outside heaven for the first time.
“Yeah, it does.” I turn slowly to face her. While I want to stare into her eyes and compare them to the stars above us, she immediately buries her face in my chest, denying my chances. She keeps her arms wrapped around me in an affectionate hold, so I mimic her and pull her close. Her soft hair grazes against my cheek as I rest on top of her head. That intoxicating, warm scent faintly mixes with the breeze and travels up my nose, easing the smoking urge instantly.
“Do you think Ser and Carter are still downstairs arguing?” She giggles softly, and I laugh with her.
“Probably. Those two are more stubborn than an alligator at the dentist.”
She chuckles even louder, but instead of pulling back so I can see that gorgeous smile, she hides her face with her hair and moves to my neck.
“Practicing your dad jokes already, are you?”
“Is it that obvious?” I feign my innocence, and she burrows even further into the spot between my throat and shoulder.
“Just a little.” As her hands start to explore the skin on my back, I can’t help but look past her and into our bedroom, knowing that our baby’s nursery is just on the other side of that wall. I’ve already thought of a thousand things I could do to get it ready for both Ashia and my baby girl, but nothing stuck out more than my initial thought. Everything is already planned out. The only thing I need, as unfortunate as it is, is Serena’s approval. Never did I think that I needed that, but the theme I want to bring to life for them is a little…risky. Considering Ashia’s past, it’ll either go over really well, or really bad. If my assumption is right, though, she’ll fucking love it—and that’s my only concern.
I tighten my grip on her and rake my fingers through her long locks. The silky strands slide perfectly between my digits, and the soft moan she lets out vibrates against the skin on my neck, sending a tingle down my spine.
“If it gets too hot out here, baby, just let me know,” I whisper in her ear.
“Actually, I’m not sure that it’s hot enough…” She presses a soft, hesitant kiss to my throat. A soft groan purrs against my lips, and I bury my nose in her hair. My hand grips the back of her head, forcing her to stay right where she is. She continues to pepper kisses along the column of my neck, and when her teeth graze my collar bone, I let my head fall backward. My cock instantly hardens, and I can’t help but press against her.
“Little wolf… You’re playing a very dangerous game right now.”
“What?” she says between embraces. “Can I not…” She kisses the middle of my chest. “Make my husband…” Her lips move lower and trial down the muscles on my abdomen. “Feel good?”
God, she’s going to be the death of me.
“It should be the other way around, baby. I should be making you feel good…” I moan as her nails graze the sensitive area over my hip bone and dip into my sweatpants.
