Page 121 of Criminally Yours

She collapsed against the floor. He undid her handcuffs and rubbed her wrists. “Are you okay? That wasn’t too much?”

“I want more next time,” she whispered. “Never hold back again.”

He smiled as he lifted her into his arms. “I promise.” He signed the inside of her thigh. “Let’s get you cleaned up and cared for.”

CHAPTER 50

Millie

Millie gasped for breath as Strike carried her to their bathroom. Slowly, he cleaned her with a warm cloth and moisturised her wrists and bum before wrapping her in a blanket.

“That was okay?” he asked once she’d cuddled up to him. “Not too rough?”

“It was perfect. How are you feeling?”

“I’ve been too scared to try something like that. I worried I’d go too far, but when it was you bent over in front of me, the anger left me. Not so much because of what we did, but because I stopped hiding myself. It’s like I can accept myself a bit better. Don’t get me wrong, I know the anxiety and other things will return, but I want to be someone who can live with the light as well as the darkness. I sound fucked up and cheesy.”

“Fucked up and cheesy works for me. Embracing your wants is healthy and fucking hot. How do you feel about needing to control everyone?”

He sighed as he stroked her hair. “It’s still part of me, butmaybe I can release it sometimes and let people in more as well. I’m not the robot people think I am.”

She kissed him slowly. “You’re also not as scary as you think you are.”

“Is that right?” He smirked as she settled against him.

“Yes, baby. The masked men in my books do a lot worse,” she teased as he stroked her hair.

“Do you want me to be like them?”

She shook her head. “I want you to be you. There are things I want to try, but maybe when my life isn’t at risk.”

He yawned, stretching his arms. “But first, sleep. Cuddle me like I’m yours. You ain’t getting away now.”

She sighed happily as he drifted off against her.

The next couple of days settled into a rhythm of meals, sex, and Strike working and preparing for their visit to the Dankworth’s.

Sometimes, she’d demand his dominance, and other times, they’d relish the gentle sex both of them needed.

He’d unleashed a part of her that she’d hidden for so long, but everything felt right together.

Each night, they sat on the outdoor sofa, which wasn’t big enough for both of them. Strike cradled Millie in his arms as the sun dropped.

Merryn, Elsie, and Joyce visited Millie daily and updated her on who asked after her. She mediated between the mum and daughter. This was the longest she’d not counselled people properly, and she missed it.

No one searched for her, because Randolph was scared of their promise to go to the press. The visit to the Dankworth’s loomed, and there was no update on the video.

The victim had woken, but he wasn’t talking. Bear thought he’d already been paid off. The only way she’d return to her life was if Hugo owned up to what he’d done, and based on the anonymous threats texted to Strike, that seemed impossible.

They must make Hugo see sense.

Millie ran up from the sea and across the beach to the sounds of children playing. Sneaking through the garden gate, she grabbed the hoodie and joggers she’d left on the decking, throwing them on before snapping a photo of the sea for Rylee.

Her phone rang as she removed her bikini top from under her hoodie. She undid the strings of her bottoms before pulling them off.

“Hey, Mills, how’s it going?” Liss asked as Millie rinsed her wet swimmers and hung them up. Liss’s calls were a daily joy, as were the photos and views Millie sent to Rylee of the area. “It’s just me today. Stal and Cam are busy, so they won’t be sharing their problems.”

Millie smiled. “I’m glad they don’t need me all the time. I’m good. I spent the morning with Joyce, tending to her rose bush. She misses having her family around but said Strike and I have brought her temporary joy.”