Page 41 of Christmas Wish
“Does it make you feel better to think that?”
“Not really. If I do find out who you’re fucking, I’ll take care of him so he’ll be singing in the boys’ choir.”
“I’m not cheating. Unlike you, I was raised to honor my wedding vows.” She tried to pull away. “Let me go. Your touch is making me sick!”
“You’re the one who fucked up our marriage, and you wantmeto honor my wedding vows?” He jerked her close to him and pressed his mouth against hers. She twisted in his grip, but he held her steadfast while pulling her to the ground.
“Stop it, Bret. Stop!” she yelled, but he ignored her; instead, anger plastered across his face as he pinned her to the cold floor. The hollow sensation in the pit of her stomach coiled into a lump of fear. “Please, let me up.”
He hiked up her skirt and roughly pushed aside her panties before brutally shoving into her. Pain shot through her as he grunted.
“You’re so damn dry, and loose as hell because of the fucking brat.” More grunts, more thrusts. “Your skin’s not young and firm like Zoe’s. She’s so much sexier than you are, and you’re wondering how I could bring her to our bed. How the fuck could I resist?” He laughed wryly.
Savannah tried to push him off but his arm was a crowbar across her chest. He grunted like a pig a few more times then shot his load inside her, his contorted face reminding her of a demonic troll she’d seen in a horror film back when she was in high school. Without a word, he pulled out, straightened his boxers, and walked up the stairs, leaving her spread eagle and dripping on the marble floor—humiliation burning through her.
Several minutes later, she heard the thud of his shoes on the marble stairs and scrambled to get up, but her hand slipped and she fell back on her elbow. “Shit,” she muttered under her breath then froze when the scent of his expensive cologne assaulted her nostrils.
Bending down on one knee, Bret brought his lips to her ear. “Don’t wait up for me tonight—I’ll be home late. He stood up.
Still dazed from what had happened, Savannah avoided looking at him. She heard the jangle of keys and the heels of his thousand dollar shoes.
“On second thought, I may not be back until morning.” There was a low chuckle, then the footfalls started up again until she couldn’t hear them anymore.
Savannah crawled over to the banister and heaved herself up. Shock still held her, along with a plunging sadness. She had to get out of there right away. The thought of spending another minute in the house she loved with the husband who had become a monster disgusted her.
The first sexual contact she’d had with her husband in over five years had been a brutal rape and he didn’t even think he’d done anything wrong.
A loud knock on the door.
“Savannah? Are you all right?”
She heard the knob jingle, and for a moment she wasn’t sure where she was.
“If you don’t open this damn door, I’m gonna break it down.” Concern laced Ryder’s voice.
“I’ll be right there.” Savannah pushed back the hair from her face then took several deep breaths before walking over to the door and opening it.
“What’s wrong?” Ryder asked, his dark eyes panning her face.
“Just tired.”
“Bullshit.” He pulled her to him and embraced her, resting her head against his chest. The beating of his heart was comforting, and she tightened her arms around him. “Do you want to talk about it?”
Savannah shook her head. “Not now.”
“Okay.” Ryder kissed the top of her head.
They stood in the hallway clinging to each other, and it felt so right. This bitter and broken man had taken a hold of her heart when she wasn’t even looking.
“Do you want to get a tree after dinner at Hawk’s?”
Savannah tilted her head up and locked her gaze with his. “We’re eating over there too?”
Ryder kissed the tip of her nose and smiled. “Yeah. Afterward, we can go to the tree lot with Timmy, and he can pick one out.”
“But you hate Christmas,” she said, swallowing past the lump in her throat.
“You don’t though, and neither does Timmy. Who knows, I may end up liking the damn thing once it’s up.”
A warm glow spread through her, and she drew his head down. “Thank you,” she whispered before pressing her lips against his. His noble act of selflessness touched her deeply.
Brave. Modest. Sexy. Maybe my wish for the best Christmas ever will come true.
Savannah tucked her hand into his as they walked into the family room.
