Carved in Her Bones

NOW - Peter

She was ignoring me. It had been an hour since I sent her my usual "Good morning," but no reply. My chest tightened as I sat in the meeting with the technical writers, pretending to focus on the documentation we needed to submit for scientific advice.

I slogged through another mind-numbing meeting on design, barely keeping my focus with Rhian still ignoring my texts. I could feel my patience fraying, each unanswered message eating away at me. By the time I was trapped in the endless supply chain meeting, it felt impossible to keep up the act.

Finally, I'd had enough. Midway through , I stood up, muttered an excuse, and stormed out, phone already in hand as I dialed her once more, the frustration boiling over. I hated these meetings, hated the way I had to sit there and be part of a tradition my mom had started  and i honestly didn't care for.

I stared at my phone, waiting for it to buzz. It didn't.

 I dialed her number. Again. For the fourth time today.

I waited, my pulse pounding in my ears.

She finally answered, but the background noise frustrated me instantly—it sounded like she was in a pub or something, voices and music blaring. I could almost see her sitting there, talking about "space" and whatever other nonsense Tadgh had fed her.

Fuck.

This space she wanted, this distance — I couldn't do it. I hated it. And I hated that fucking Tadgh for planting these stupid ideas in her head. How dare he tell her she needed space from me?

I cursed under my breath, storming down the hallway toward my office and calling for Clarissa to get in there stat. My phone was in my hand as I typed out a message to Rhian, only to delete it halfway through. The irritation was like an itch I couldn't scratch. Clarissa cleared her throught as she looked up at me and narrowed her eyes. Fuck i had forgetten she was there.

"If you're not currently texting me about why you called me in here, you're rude."

I shot her a quick glance and rolled my eyes, trying to regain some semblance of control.

"What do you need, Peter?" She snapped, keeping her voice low not bothering to. Clarissa had a way of talking to me like no one else dared. I liked it. I apprecieated thst in an assistant. "What to i have next week, it there anything i can do remotely.?"

"You have the gala next week. You haven't responded. But You're going. You gave them millions last year," she said without looking up. "Also, you've got the auditors coming in for a three-day mock audit. You're technically free for the audit, but you still have to show up for the gala."

I let out a heavy sigh. "How many meetings can I get out of without  looking like an incompetetant dick?"

She paused, looking at me for the first time. "You don't need to be here for any of this. Meg's handling it. But the gala? You can't dodge that."

"Perfect. I'll take anything remotely. Zoom, not Teams." I smiled, but it didn't reach my eyes. "Make sure I get the gala details. And, uh, I'm going to be in Berlin for a week."

Clarissa raised an eyebrow, but didn't ask questions. "Anything else?"

I shook my head. " get me a plus one for the gala if i dont already have one. I'm on my phone. Get me remote meetings for this week. I'll be in Berlin. And don't bother me unless it's absolutely urgent."

I stormed out of the office and jumped into my car, making my way through the hellish evening traffic in Krakow. I didn't need space. I didn't want space. I just wanted her.

By the time I got to Berlin, the frustration had been simmering inside me all day. I had to see her. Talk to her. The drive to the apartment felt like it took forever. When I finally stepped inside, the clock said it was past midnight.

She was asleep in the center of the bed, sprawled out and small against the dark sheets. For a moment, I just stood there, watching her. The anger, the frustration melted away when I saw her. She was here. She was here. And that was enough to settle my spiraling thoughts.

I discarded my clothes without a second thought and slid into bed beside her, my body aching to be close to her. Even in her sleep, she moved toward me, her hand instinctively resting on my chest. I could feel her warmth, her presence pulling me in, and I thought for a moment that maybe I could just close my eyes  and let her sleep.

But no. I needed to hear her voice. I needed her.

"Rhian," I whispered softly, just above a breath. I didn't want to scare her. I just wanted to feel her again.

Her eyes fluttered open slowly, and then all at once. The smile that stretched across her face made my chest tighten.

"You're here," she said, her voice thick with sleep, but still laced with relief.

"Yeah, baby, I'm here," I murmured, pulling her closer.

Without warning, she climbed on top of me, kissing me with a hunger that mirrored mine. My body reacted instantly, desperate for her, and I couldn't hold back anymore. I slid into her without hesitation, feeling the perfect rhythm we'd always shared. She gasped, her body arching against mine, and I groaned in response.

"Look at me, baby," I breathed, my hands gripping her tighter, my voice raw with need. "I don't want space. I want to  live inside you, Rhian. You're everything to me. Y"

She moaned, her fingers digging into my skin as she clung to me. I kissed her harder, deeper, my hands everywhere, holding onto her  as i buried myselft deeper inside her ,as if I might lose her if I didn't.

I fucked her with a recklessness and roughness that matched the frustration i was feeling all day. And she took it. I spin her round so she was under me. and i drove intO her like a mad man. i needed her to feel me tomorrow and the day after. It hit me like a wave, sudden and overwhelming. My body went tense, every nerve igniting with pure heat. The pleasure exploded inside me, deep and intense,  she moaned my name breathelessly. Her hands soft on myass pushing me further inside her ,she was squeezing me so tight, she felt fo fucking good  and everything else disappeared.  My whole body shook, as i drained myself inside her.

Breathless and tangled with her on the bed, the realization hit me.

"Fuck, baby, we didn't use protection," I murmured, feeling a surge of panic.

She lifted her head, her expression calm, and brushed it off with a soft smile. "It's okay," she whispered, nestling back against my chest. "We'll get a morning-after pill tomorrow."

Her nonchalance settled me, and as she nestled in, her warmth and trust had a way of quieting my mind.

We fell asleep that way. No chatter just calm and together as it ought to be