Chapter 17: The morning after the fall

Bronte’s POV

The first thing I noticed when I woke up was the soreness.

It was everywhere, deep in my muscles, between my legs, even in my jaw. My body felt used in the best and worst ways possible.

I blinked slowly, trying to piece together where I was. I was in Rufus’s bed, naked under the soft sheets and the necklace still around my neck.

Rufus was already awake, sitting up against the bed headboard, watching me with that quiet look he sometimes got.

His fingers were gently tracing circles on my bare shoulder.

“Morning,” he said softly.

I didn’t answer right away, the memories from last night all came back to me. The men, their hands, their mouths, the way Rufus had watched me fall apart over and over.

The shame hit me like a wave, but so did something else. The warm satisfaction that made me hate myself even more.

“Chloe” I whispered, suddenly remembering.

“She’s still asleep in your room,” Rufus said.

“I checked on her earlier. She didn’t wake up.”

I let out a shaky breath and sat up, pulling the sheet around myself.

“What did I do?” I said more to myself than to him.

My voice cracked. “I let them.. I wanted..”

Rufus pulled me into his chest, wrapping his arms around me. For once there was no hunger in the way he held me.

It just felt lovely.

“You were incredible, so beautiful and honest. I’ve never been prouder of you.” he murmured into my hair.

His words didn’t really make me feel better, instead, they made the tears come.

I cried quietly against his chest, shoulders shaking. He just held me tighter, stroking my back, letting me fall apart without judgment.

After a while, I pulled back and wiped my face. “I feel disgusting.”

“You’re not, you’re human, you’re mine. And you’re finally starting to accept what you need.” He kissed my forehead.

“That’s not disgusting, that’s freedom.”

We showered together, he was gentle, washing my body with careful hands, kissing every mark the other men had left on me.

By the time we finished, I felt a little more better. And less broken.

Downstairs, Chloe was just waking up when I walked into the kitchen.

She looked sleepy and hungover, smiling at me as she poured herself coffee.

“Last night was fun,” she said, yawning.

“Though I don’t remember much after the second bottle, did I pass out early?”

“Yeah,” I said, forcing a laugh. “You were out cold.”

Rufus walked in then, looking perfectly normal. He greeted Chloe casually and started making breakfast for all of us.

Watching them talk, Chloe laughing at something he said. It all made my stomach twist. She had no idea what had happened just a few rooms away while she slept.

After breakfast, Chloe hugged me tight before leaving.

“Call me if you need anything, okay?” she said quietly.

“I’m serious. I’m worried about you.”

“I will,” I promised, hugging her back harder than I meant to.

When she was gone, Rufus came up behind me and wrapped his arms around my waist.

“You did well,” he whispered, kissing my neck.

I turned in his arms and looked up at him. “What if she finds out? What if Mom finds out?”

“Then we deal with it together ” he said simply.

He kissed me then, slow and deep, and for a moment I let myself sink into it.

I Let myself forget everything else.

But in my mind, a new fear was growing because no matter how good it felt.

I knew this couldn’t last, something was going to break.

And when it did, I wasn’t sure any of us would survive it.