Somewhere Between the Depths

Chapter Ten

Silas

Three days later

Three days spent on my ass is enough healing for those little slices the prince left on me. Bastard probably thought he got the best of me, but I was going to hit him back even harder. I was going to rip him to pieces and deliver his head to the king personally, but today I needed to get back to the job site. I know Cash and Matty have handled it while I've been down, but I hate not being useful. Plus, I know the guys are swamped down at the shop. It's got me feeling like a long-tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs, my whole body vibrating with a need to move and get things done. 

But even as the need to get moving is overwhelming me, I'd be lying if I said it wasn't hard not to stay deep within these covers. I know when I pry my eyes open, the spell in this room will be broken and having Nora curled against me like a lazy house cat right now is as close to heaven as I'll ever get. 

The sun streams through the large bay windows in my room, warming my skin and I allow myself the slightest of movements, snaking my hand up her bare thigh to cup her hip through the cotton sleep shorts she's wearing. She moans in her sleep, sending shudders through my body. The taste of our last kiss still heavy on my tongue, the sweet flavor of her toothpaste lingering in my mouth. I slide my hand further up her side, goosebumps rising along her skin. She stirs, throwing her leg over my hip, sending a hiss of air through my teeth as she nudges the tender place on my side. 

I finally open my eyes, taking in how peaceful she looks in her sleep. Her hair is fanned out behind her across my pillows, a slight flush to her cheeks as she breathes in steadily. Her body is the most precious piece of art I've ever seen, her curves enough to bring me to my knees. Her skin is silky smooth beneath my fingers, her long eyelashes fanned out over her cheeks. God, how can she be so beautiful? Looking at her now, it's obvious I never stood a chance, but somehow, I'm okay with that. 

A shiny white scar below her collarbone catches my attention, and once the fog of sleep fully lifts from my eyes, I realize that she has a lot of scars. I see more of them on the exposed skin of her stomach where her tank-top rides up, and along the tops of her arms. I sit up as gently as I can to not wake her, checking over her like a madman, anger brewing deep in my chest. Where the fuck did these scars come from? Who was responsible? 

I lean over her, following one long scar along her side and freeze. My hand shaking as I slowly pull her shirt up her back, my fingers lightly caressing the scarred flesh there. I blink and blink again, trying to process what I'm seeing. Her entire back is covered in whip lashes. Some so deep the skin is permanently puffy and raised, some wrapping around her sides, up along the back of her neck. There are so many, there's hardly any unmarred skin left. Rage licks up from my fingertips, flickering through my bloodstream until all I can see is red. Nora slowly blinks, yawning and stretching before laying back against the pillows and gracing me with a sleepy smile. 

"Morning." 

I'm trying to keep my anger in check, but I'm already trembling with it. She studies my face, reaching out to run her soft fingers over my jaw, her brow furrowing. 

"Silas? Are you okay?" Her voice is still adorably thick with sleep, but her eyes are wide awake and vibrant in the noon sun. 

"What happened to you, Nora?" I keep my tone gentle, but I know she can see the pure murder in my eyes. I don't know and don't care who the fuck it is, when I find them, they're fucking dead. 

Her brows furrow again as she tries to figure out what I'm referring to, but her eyes catch on the long scar on her side, now visible due to her lifted shirt, and she sighs. "Just let it go." She waves her hand dismissively, straightening her clothes and running her hands through her hair.