Chapter 16
-BEA-
Bea leaned against the closed door as she cried silently, her shoulders shaking from the force of her silent sobs.
She’d not truly allowed herself to think of her life before Rebecca’s ever since that first night with the pigs at Visca’s. Her back had been on fire from the lashing she got from Rebecca’s head slaver and the floor was covered in pig shit since the pen had no full–time keeper. She’d tried to pull up warm nights by the hearth with her mom brushing her hair and her father sitting in his big red chair, reading one of his old books.
But the memory wouldn’t pull up. The only thing she could see was darkness inside her and darkness around her.
Taking a deep breath, she stepped away from the door and swiped her arm across her eyes. Just like that night, she would not let the darkness around her sully her soul, and she would continue walking and working and proving that she was exactly the type of wife Dax needed. He may never truly want her, but he could come to see that he needed her. 2
She decided right then that she would begin tending to any of the household chores that had to do with Dax. She’d care for his every need. On top of that, she’d dry some flowers from the garden and take a few of Savonnuh’s dresses to create some pillows and light blankets for him.
That’s how her days were spent. Breakfast with Dax, caring for his wounds, his room, and his bedding. Around noon, she’d feed him bone broth and then retreat to her flowers and sew until dinner. And she did it all in silence. Days turned into weeks, and still she refused to meet his eyes.
She’d refused to talk with him, period. She didn’t know what to say to him, and he wouldn’t be able to deny her again if she didn’t ask. She was the only person who knew he was mentally present. So, she avoided eye contact with him even though he’d blinked frantically the first hour she’d gone back to the room after their…. Fight?
Did we have a fight? Like a married couple?
She was in Dax’s room for his lunch feeding, and she had her hand raised up to his mouth with a spoonful of broth. He’d opened it, but she’d paused, and he stayed like that for about five seconds before saying, “Bea?”
So startled by his voice that she flicked the spoon, and it flipped the broth up onto Dax’s face.
Aghast, all she could do was stare as it dripped from his bangs and trailed down his cheeks.
Only to be startled further by Dax’s booming laughter. His face brightened into a large smile as he guffawed. His eyes lifted, and laugh lines creased the edges. Their color was bright and shone in the midday sun. He was beautiful.
Then realization set in. “You said my name!”
“Yes.” His smooth voice lilted the word, making it longer somehow. She felt heated from the inside out as warmth bloomed from her core, and her heart danced.
Then, embarrassment overcame her, and the heat moved up into her cheeks, and she thought she might go up in
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Chapter 16
flames at any minute.
She didn’t know what to say. She had so many questions and things she wanted to say, but none would come forward. So instead of saying anything, she grabbed the napkin on the serving tray and wiped down his still very expressive face. His smile was obviously contagious because she couldn’t stop her own grin from spreading across her face.
When she finished cleaning him, she began feeding him again. The silence finally breaking with her words, “I’ll not leave you.” Her smile faltered and eventually fell completely.
“I know.” He said through his beautiful smiling mouth. He was so confident and self–assured. She wanted to punch him.
Only now she couldn’t stop watching his lips as they held the same smile, while sliding around the spoon. The thought of those same lips touching her neck or lips came unbidden and so she spent the next few minutes speed feeding Dax while fighting off all the emotions of the damn rainbow. Embarrassment, anger, frustration, and attraction warred inside her.
When he finished the broth, she swiftly stood and made it to the door before she heard Dax say, “See you at dinner, wife.”
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