Follow the River (River of Rain, #1)

by C.E. Ricci

“It fucking kills me, knowing you went through that, baby. With no one to fight for you, to stand up for you,” he tells me between kisses across my pecs. “And while I might be too late to keep the nine-year-old Rain safe, I’m here now. I’ve found you.”

“I’ve found you and I’m here, and I promise I will always be your safe place for as long as you need one.”

Humans were built to find pleasure in sex, but for victims of assault, they question the ecstasy that comes with it. They can feel guilt over their enjoyment.

A love like ours will never be perfect. Putting in the work won’t always be easy. Sometimes we won’t work quite right and others we will have to take a step back and try to see what the other sees. And there will be times when people think it’s wrong. But I have no doubt it will always be intense and passionate.

“You have me. You will always have me. Until every star in the night sky burns out. And maybe even then.”

Being in love is a daily battle, not only fighting for the other person, but for yourself. It’s finding the common ground, the parts of your souls that speak to each other, strengthening them in ways no one else’s ever could. It’s knowing your worth and not only telling the other person you won’t accept anything less than what you deserve, but trusting them to provide that for you. It’s giving the darkest parts of yourself to another human, saying this is who I am in all my fucked up glory, and not asking them to fix you, but to give you what you need to mend yourself.