Page 68 of Accepting Fate

Grayson cups my face and lifts it to look at him. “Don’t be. I’m trying to do this right. Now let’s get you out of these clothes.”

Grayson scans my eyes for approval as he reaches for the hem of the sweatshirt. I give him a nod and he gently lifts it up and off.

As soon as I see the look in Grayson’s eyes while he blatantly stares at my tits, I know this is going to be a game of who will crack first.

I watch him as his eyes take in the black bikini top and make their way to my tattoos. Starting at the bundle of sunflowers on my upper arm cascading over my shoulder.

His eyes go to the bouquet of flowers on my ribs. It’s the tattoo Allie and I got one summer break. It’s a combination of our birth flowers, a waterlily and a daisy.

He moves on to my tattoo on the other side of my ribs. His eyes narrow as he tries to read the tiny font.

“It says,strength is what we gain from the madness we survive.”

He clears his throat. “If I haven’t already told you, you are the most beautiful woman I have ever seen.”

His compliment makes me fold my arms around my middle.

Grayson steps so that his body is flush against mine. “Never hide from me. You are beautiful and perfect. You could have scars covering you from head to toe and I would still think you were perfect.

Tears fill my eyes. “Yeah about that.”

Confusion spreads across his face.

I take a small step back, kick off my shoes, and push my sweats down. I brace one hand on Grayson’s arm to step out of the pants, wincing as my back screams at me.

Turning around, I show him my back, which is also my biggest insecurity.

I wish I could see his face to know what he is thinking. I jump when I feel the faint touch of his fingers running along the scars that start at the base of my neck and scatter down my back.

Some are small enough that I was able to cover them with the sunflowers on my shoulder and the crescent moon with my mom’s initials on my shoulder blade. The rest, however, are too deep to cover.

We stand like this for what feels like forever. When he turns me around, I know he wants to ask.

His eyes have somehow shifted to a steel gray. “I assume this is in relation to the nightmares?”

“Yeah,” I say in almost a whisper.

His arms wrap me up into a hug. “And this bruise is from last night?”

Shit, I forgot about that. I was so focused on what he would say about the scars, I didn’t think about the nasty bruise from falling.

“Yup.”

His chest rises then falls as he takes a deep breath. I know he is using all of his strength to not ask me a million questions. “Alright, pretty girl. In you go.” He lifts me and sets me on the edge of the tub.

The warm water instantly relaxes me.

Grayson sets our waters in the cup holders and climbs in. He sinks into the seat next to me and without him having to ask, I climb into his lap.

I rest my head against his shoulder, and he runs his hand up and down my back.

“Thanks for not asking,” I say, breaking the silence.

“Logan, just because I didn’t ask you today, doesn’t mean I won’t find out. I’m not saying this to scare you, but I will find out who did this to you and when I do, they will wish they were dead. No one puts a hand on you and walks away. Even if they are from your past.”

I have no idea what to even say to that, so I don’t say anything. Instead, I snuggle in closer to him. His words mean the world, but I can’t find a way to thank him or warn him about the demon in the shadows.

I’m on the edge of being awake and asleep when I hear the sound of gravel crunching under tires. I sit up and look at Grayson. He’s dialed in on the driveway and waits for whoever is here to drive into the clearing.