“Interpret it as you wish,” he remarked, as his hands ascended her thighs and elevated her short nightgown to her hips.
Molly whispered as she caressed his short, unruly hair. She had always desired to experience the sensation of running her fingers through his black hair, a seemingly trivial act that caused his eyes to darken with l**t when he paused to gaze down at her.
It was peculiar to recline beneath him and relinquish her anxieties. He descended her body and ripped through her nightgown, leaving her nearly unclothed for his gratification. She tightened her thighs in response to her arousal, but he pried them apart as his lips traversed her body, bestowing kisses and bites as if to assert ownership.
Molly gasped as his mouth made contact with her breasts. His hand persisted in its descent along her body, playfully engaging with the edge of her panties. “Jayce,” she lamented.
“Articulate it with greater volume-”
Molly!
Someone was vociferously reprimanding her—why? The bed began to tremble beneath them, and Jayce vanished as the room plunged into darkness.
“Jayce?” she enquired, patting the bed in search of him.
“Molly, awaken!”
The room trembled violently. She heard glass shattering and books tumbling, yet she could not perceive any of it.
Frigid water roused her from her feverish reverie. She sat upright, panting, as someone grasped her firmly while she attempted to regain her breath. What transpired? She had returned to the cabin, unscathed and in good health. It appeared to be nighttime, yet she was uncertain of the number of hours or days that had elapsed since she had fallen asleep.
“Molly,” Jayce expressed relief as she glanced at him; he was seated on her bed, his arms securely enveloping her. Her nightmares returned in fragments to torment her shortly after her escape.
The dimly lit chamber, the individual in the woodland, Colton and the outlaws, and-
Her entire body became warm, unrelated to any fever. She swiftly averted her gaze from Jayce and clutched her sheets to conceal herself further. She abruptly desired to escape this room and distance herself from him until she could erase all memories of his actions in her dreams.
His hands on her body, his kisses on her neck and décolletage-
“What did you dream?” he enquired, attempting to read her expression, but she evaded his gaze. “I heard you summon.”
Oh… Negative. Molly desired to strike her head against a wall. Had he perceived her utterance of his name? She certainly wished otherwise; that was more dreadful than any of the nightmares.
Possibly not the one featuring Colton, but the remainder.
“I… envisioned committing murder,” she murmured. Jayce caressed her hair in a soothing manner, yet she desired that he refrain from making contact. At a minimum… not in a close manner.
A knock resonated at the door; Naomi entered moments later, carrying towels and trays of food. Upon observing their expressions, she faltered. “I shall return later,” she remarked, casting a lingering glance at both of them before placing the trays down and departing swiftly.
Jayce growled. “She is unaware of the meaning of privacy.”
Molly welcomed the interruption with great enthusiasm. “It is acceptable; I believe I require sustenance regardless.”
Jayce liberated her and proceeded to collect the food. She endeavoured to avoid gazing at his physique while he did so, yet she observed that he was attired in different garments than those he had worn prior to her slumber. Upon his return, she averted her gaze to the fire, hoping he would not discern her blush.
“What are your current feelings?” he enquired. Molly concentrated on the meal before her. She felt as though she could consume a week’s worth of food due to her emptiness.
“I feel… fine,” Molly stated cautiously, as though she feared that the acknowledgement would provoke her pain to resurface.
“The blood aids in expelling the toxin. You were unconscious for several days this time.”
Molly halted abruptly while chewing. “Several days?”
Jayce acquiesced and gazed out the window. “I believe it is time for you to exit this room.”
Molly was exceedingly willing to comply. Following her meal, she rested for several additional hours before donning warm attire and meeting Jayce outside the cabin door. The ambiance resembled the depths of night, yet the brisk air was invigorating. She desired to consume it rapidly and never re-enter again.
Jayce averted his gaze from her as they traversed a snow-covered path. He thrust his hands deep into his pockets, and she followed suit. “The weather is delightful,” Molly remarked as she inhaled deeply once more. Her breath condensed before her, and the sight elicited a sense of joy. She may have simply been content to be alive.
He remained unresponsive, and she was met solely with the sound of their feet crunching through the snow. Molly embraced herself and exhaled deeply to produce additional fog. It was acceptable; he preferred not to engage in conversation. She did not anticipate his transformation merely due to his days spent by her side during her illness.
“Were the men I killed the ones who kidnapped you?” he enquired abruptly. The inquiry was so sudden that her pace diminished. He halted entirely and turned to face her. His gaze was nearly disarming; she was at a loss for words.
“No,” Molly articulated slowly. Jayce’s expression soured, and she recognised his desire for her to proceed. “They attempted to harm me upon my arrival after Colton brought me here. Following the initial incident, Colton severed one of their tongues, but his associates participated in the subsequent attack.”
She anticipated the inquiry reflected in his lethal demeanour before he articulated it. “Did they?”
