A Memory in Rain and Flesh

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My roommate's uncle, River Wilde, had retired from the military. Word was he'd suffered nerve damage and would be wheelchair-bound for life.

Most critically, he was impotent.

But five years ago, on that stormy night, it was him. The man who'd left me so exhausted I could barely walk.

I went to pick him up from the airport, terrified he'd recognize me.

Until he saw my four-and-a-half-year-old son.

That scar through his eyebrow, identical to River's, was glaring under the lights.

The man stared at this miniature version of himself and suddenly smiled.

"Miss Sullivan, five years ago, the woman who slept with me, left two hundred dollars on the nightstand, and disappeared... that was you, wasn't it?"

Chloe POV

My roommate's uncle had retired from the military.

They said he'd injured his nerves during peacekeeping operations overseas and would be wheelchair-bound for the rest of his life.

Most critically, he was impotent.

My roommate Madison was sobbing hysterically on the phone.

"Our family line is finished! Chloe, can you pick him up from the airport tonight? I'll cover your rent for the whole year!"

I gripped my phone, frozen in place.

River Wilde? No heir?

Impossible!

Five years ago, on that stormy night, the man who went at me like a rabid dog until I nearly fell apart, his stamina was unreal!

Back then I'd blacked out drunk, slept with him thinking he was a male escort, left two hundred dollars as payment, and fled in the middle of the night.

And then I got pregnant!

I glanced instinctively at my son on the carpet.

His eyes, his nose, and that naturally scarred eyebrow above his left eye-he was a miniature replica of that man!

I'd been raising his son for four and a half years, and he didn't have an heir?

But...

For Madison's promise of free rent, I gritted my teeth and agreed.

"Fine, I'll go."

I took a deep breath, clinging to hope.

After all, five years had passed. I'd gone from heavy makeup to bare-faced, and he was dysfunctional now-his memory should be fuzzy, right?

Before leaving, I pinched my son's cheek.

"Sweetheart, I'm picking up a friend."

Liam blinked his eyes, so similar to River's, and cut straight to the point.

"Mom, your heart's racing. Are you lying?"

...This damned genetic dominance.

10 PM. Torrential rain.

I parked my red Wrangler at the airport curb, my calves still cramping.

Someone knocked on the window.

A tall shadow stood in the rain.

The man wore a black tactical jacket, rainwater sliding down his buzz cut and along his sharp jawline.

This was supposed to be a broken man?

This was clearly a wolf in his prime!

Madison's intel had never been reliable!

I fumbled to unlock the door. The instant it opened, an aggressive wave of masculine pheromones flooded the car.

The man slid into the passenger seat, his long legs cramped with nowhere to go.

He turned his head, those pitch-black eyes sweeping emotionlessly across my face.

His gaze felt tangible, like a blade scraping my skin.

I held my breath, my heart nearly jumping out of my throat.

"Hello, I'm Madison's roommate, Chloe Sullivan."

Three seconds of dead silence.

He suddenly quirked his lips, his voice low and teasing.

"Why are your hands shaking? Am I that scary?"

I gripped the steering wheel tighter.

This voice was identical to the one that had whispered in my ear five years ago, forcing me to moan his name.

He suddenly leaned in close, forcing me to lean back.

Seeing me startled, he curved his lips in an ambiguous smile.

"Why are you dodging? I'm just fastening your seatbelt."

His long fingers reached across me to click the buckle, but his gaze dropped to the collarbone visible at my neckline, his eyes darkening abruptly.

"Though, Miss Sullivan, your scent... seems familiar."

Chloe POV

Those two words shot through me like an electric current.

I went rigid, one thought consuming my mind.

I'm done for. He recognized me.

Five years ago that night, I'd used this exact custom body wash.

It was a special blend from our studio, completely unavailable on the market.

I clutched the steering wheel, my brain racing for an excuse.

"R-really?"

I forced a dry laugh, trying to kill the conversation.

"Madison uses this body wash too. You probably smelled it on her."

River leaned back in his seat, his posture relaxed yet radiating inexplicable pressure.

"Drive."

I exhaled in relief and hit the gas.

The car fell into suffocating silence.

His deep voice suddenly broke it.

"Madison said I'm a man with no reproductive ability?"

I nearly ran a red light, jerking my head toward him in alarm, meeting his sardonic gaze.

His fingertips tapped his knee.

"She said my nerves are damaged, I'm in a wheelchair, sexually dysfunctional... do you believe that?"

I couldn't answer.

Believe it or not, the key point was I'd experienced otherwise!

That night had nearly broken my back. If that counted as dysfunctional, every man on earth would need ICU admission.

But I didn't dare say it.

I could only play dumb.

"Madison was just worried about you..."

Just then, the car's Bluetooth rang, the screen flashing "Ex-Husband".

That was the name I'd saved Madison as.

My hand slipped and I answered the call.

Madison's booming voice immediately filled the car.

"Chloe! Did you pick up that old cripple? Don't provoke him! He might be impotent, but those hands are military-trained. He could crush you with one hand!"

Deathly silence.

The air pressure in the passenger seat plummeted to freezing.

River narrowed his eyes, tongue pressing his cheek, laughing in disbelief.

"Impotent?"

He spoke coldly into the microphone.

"Madison, is this how you introduce me to people?"

A scream erupted from the other end, followed by an instant disconnect.

I wanted to cry. I'd completely offended him now.

River turned sideways, his large hand suddenly settling on my headrest, caging me in.

He leaned in close, so close I could see the fine hairs on his scarred eyebrow.

"Do you also think I'm impotent?"

This was truly a life-or-death question.

I improvised desperately.

"No! I admire you! And I have no right to judge-my ex-husband had those same problems, which is why I divorced him and took the kid!"

River paused, his expression strange.

"You were married? You have a child?"

"Divorced! The kid's four and a half, has my last name."

He fell silent for a moment, his gaze roaming my face as if assessing truth from lies.

After a long pause, he withdrew his hand and sat up straight.

That aggressive pressure eased slightly, though his tone remained sharp.

"That man was defective too?"

I nodded frantically.

"Yes, yes! He was tiny down there, and he used to hit me all the time! That's why I left!"

Insult away. I was cursing a nonexistent person anyway..

River snorted coldly, looking out the window, his voice emotionless.

"That kind of trash deserves to die."

I quietly sighed in relief.

At least I'd gotten through this round.

But I didn't notice-

Reflected in the car window, the man's expression wasn't one of understanding.

It was... excitement?

Chloe POV

The car stopped outside Madison's house.

River didn't move, his gaze landing on my phone screen that had just lit up.

It showed a photo of me and my son Liam, his expression eerily similar to River's.

His slender fingers picked up the phone.

"This is your son?"

My scalp prickled as I snatched it back.

"Yes! Just a random shot!"

He didn't dodge, his eyes narrowing.

"Handsome kid. Doesn't look like your ex?"

"Not at all! Must be a genetic throwback or a mutation!"

My guilty conscience made my volume spike.

River scoffed and pushed open the door, tossing out an cryptic comment.

"Let me take you to dinner sometime. I'd like to meet this genetically mutated little guy."

I watched him disappear, collapsing into the driver's seat drenched in cold sweat.

Meet Liam?

Absolutely not! That scarred eyebrow would expose everything!

When I got home, Liam was sprawled on the carpet drawing, looking up seriously.

"Miss Sullivan, you're forty-five minutes late."

I pulled him into a tight hug.

"Sorry, I ran into a big monster."

Liam pushed me away, looking thoroughly unimpressed.

"Mom, you smell like smoke. It's gross."

I sniffed my sleeve. It had indeed absorbed River's sharp, domineering scent.

In the shower, my thoughts drifted uncontrollably to five years ago.

That night, the bathroom water had sounded just like this.

That man had pinned me against the foggy mirror, his movements fierce, demanding over and over if I felt good.

"Damn it!"

I slapped my flushed face. This could never happen a second time!

The next morning, Madison's phone call woke me.

"Chloe! Save me, Chloe!"

Madison's voice sounded near tears.

"That psycho! First thing this morning he removed every lock in my house! Said it was for security checks!"

"Worst part-he insists I take him to our studio! Says he wants clothes made!"

My brain exploded with a bang.

"Clothes? What clothes? We make women's clothing!"

"He says he wants men's clothes! And he specifically wants you to take his measurements personally!"

Madison was whimpering on the other end.

"Chloe, for the sake of my life, I already agreed. We'll be at the shop in ten minutes!"

Ten minutes?!

I looked at Liam still rubbing his eyes in bed.

It was Saturday-no kindergarten!

I'd planned to take Liam to the studio!

If River ran into Liam at the shop...

I didn't dare imagine.

"Quick! Liam, get dressed!"

I yanked off the covers and frantically dressed my son.

"Where are we going?"

Liam looked confused.

"Running for our lives!"

I grabbed my son and rushed out, hitting the down button just as-

Ding.

The elevator doors slowly opened.

Two people stood inside.

One was a resigned-looking Madison.

The other wore a black dress shirt with sleeves rolled to his elbows, revealing muscular forearms.

River Wilde.

He stood there in the elevator, his gaze piercing through the opening doors, landing precisely on me and Liam in my arms.

In that moment, the world seemed to freeze.

Liam blinked, then suddenly pointed at River and asked the ultimate question.

"Mom, why does this Mr. Monster have a broken eyebrow just like mine?"

Chloe POV

Madison's jaw dropped.

River's pupils contracted sharply as he stepped out of the elevator in one stride, his presence overwhelming.

I backed up with my son until I hit the wall.

"Broken eyebrow?"

River looked down at Liam, his voice light as a feather yet heavy as a hammer, his rough fingertip reaching toward Liam's eyebrow.

Every alarm in my head went off!

I slapped his hand away hard.

"Don't touch my son!"

A red mark bloomed on River's hand.

He didn't get angry. Instead, he raised an eyebrow with an ambiguous smile.

"Such a strong reaction? Afraid I'll eat the kid?"

I forced myself to stay calm.

"This was... from when he was little! Right, Liam? He fell when he was two!"

I blinked frantically, signaling him.

Liam, who'd inherited his father's intelligence, nodded calmly.

"Yeah, Mom said I fell."

River withdrew his hand and tucked it in his pocket, his gaze glued to Liam's face, scoffing.

"Quite the technical fall-looks exactly like my natural one."

I laughed dryly.

"It's just fate, fate..."

Madison quickly intervened.

"Okay, enough about eyebrows! Let's go!"

I made an excuse about getting something and shoved Liam at Madison.

"You two go to the car first!"

River watched the little figure being led away.

That swagger in his walk was a carbon copy of his own.

He laughed softly.

"What's the kid's name?"

I was guarded.

"Liam."

River gave me a disdainful look.

"Like your ex-husband. No taste."

After that insult, he finally turned to follow Madison.

I leaned against the doorframe, exhaling deeply.

My legs were so weak I could barely stand.

Just now, I really thought he was going to drag Liam off for a DNA test.

But the crisis wasn't over.

The car ride ahead would be even more terrifying.

One big, one small, sitting side by side-the atmosphere eerily harmonious.

Liam suddenly pointed at River's forearm.

"Did your gunshot wound heal?"

My hand jerked and I nearly drove into a ditch.

River's eyes flashed with appreciation.

"How do you know?"

That's a special forces soldier's badge of honor-why are you asking about everything!

River didn't seem angry though.

He glanced down at his arm, asking casually.

"How do you know it's a gunshot wound?"

"I saw it on TV."

Liam looked serious.

"Only bullet wounds leave this kind of round scar."

River smiled.

"Good observation skills."

He pulled out a mint and offered it.

Liam shook his head.

"Mom says don't take things from strangers, especially ones who look like bad guys."

I choked on my own saliva.

River's face darkened, yet he remained patient.

"I'm related to your mom's roommate. You should call me..."

Liam innocently finished the sentence.

"Uncle?"

Madison burst out laughing.

"Told you you're old!"

A vein bulged at River's temple as he gritted his teeth and pinched Liam's cheek.

"Fine."

The gesture looked fierce, but the pressure was gentle as a tickle.

If you ignored the complicated history, they really did look like father and son.

At the studio.

Madison pushed River into the fitting room.

"Chloe, go! You're the measurement expert!"

The door closed, leaving just him and me in the cramped space.

Cool fragrance mixed with testosterone.

River spread his arms in front of the mirror, watching my trembling form with amusement.

"Miss Sullivan, let's begin. I don't like tight clothes-they're constricting."

I took a deep breath and approached with the measuring tape.

When measuring his shoulders, I had to press against his chest.

Through the thin shirt, I could feel the hard planes of his pectorals and his powerful heartbeat.

"Chloe."

He suddenly spoke my name.

Warm breath washed over the top of my head, carrying a tingling sensation.

"Don't you feel like this position..."

"Is a bit like five years ago?"

Chloe POV

I jerked my head up, crashing right into his bottomless dark eyes.

In that instant, I felt transported back to that stormy night five years ago.

"Don't understand?"

River chuckled softly, not moving, letting me crouch at his feet.

My line of sight directly faced his straight legs and... that supposedly dysfunctional area.

My face exploded in heat as I grabbed the measuring tape and stood up-too quickly. My vision went black and I fell straight into a hard embrace.

His arm tightened around my waist, a scorching palm locking me in place.

"Throwing yourself at me?"

The teasing voice exploded above my head.

My palm pressed against his taut abs-even through the shirt I could feel the explosive power.

This was a broken man?

"Let go!"

I struggled like a frightened rabbit.

River only tightened his grip, forcing me closer until our noses nearly touched, his presence suffocating.

"Chloe, your hands kept shaking when measuring my waist. Afraid of me? Or reminiscing?"

He was testing me!

I closed my eyes and deflected.

"I have trauma! My ex used to hold me like this too, then hit me!"

The air froze.

River's large hand stiffened for a moment, his expression shifting from playful to shocked, finally settling on disgust.

"Hit you? That waste even beat women?"

He released me, straightening my wrinkled shirt, his tone cold.

"Terrible taste. That kind of garbage should be buried at sea."

I silently lit a candle for the nonexistent man while verbally agreeing.

"Yes,you're absolutely right. I've got the measurements, I'll go select fabric!"

I fled the fitting room to find Madison pressed against the door grinning. Just as she opened her mouth to ask, the main door suddenly slammed open.

Liam, playing with blocks in the corner, jumped in fright.

Three thugs in garish shirts swaggered in.

The leader had bleached yellow hair, a cigarette dangling from his lips, his eyes sweeping the shop shamelessly before landing on me.

"Miss Sullivan, business looks good."

The thug blew a smoke ring, looking completely shameless.

"So? How about that protection fee we discussed last time?"

My heart sank.

These were local punks who'd been harassing businesses on this street.

We'd called the police before, but since they never got physical, just came to be annoying every day, the cops couldn't do anything.

"I told you, we don't need protection."

I pulled Liam behind me, face cold.

"Please leave, or I'm calling the police."

"Police?"

The thug sneered, stepping forward and reaching out to shove me.

"Don't want to cooperate, huh? Believe me, I'll smash this dump today!"

That dirty hand never reached my shoulder-a long, powerful hand shot out and caught his wrist mid-air.

"Crack."

A crisp snap of bone.

The thug let out a pig-like squeal, his whole body instantly contorting like a shrimp.

River had appeared at my side without warning.

One hand in his pocket, the other casually gripping the thug's wrist-it looked effortless.

But the expression on his face was cold, like something that had crawled straight out of hell.

"Smash the shop?"

He tilted his head, looking at the yellow-haired thug breaking out in cold sweat with detached eyes.

His voice wasn't loud, but it made everyone present shiver.

"Who gave you the balls to touch my wo-my niece's shop?"

I stared blankly at his profile.

In that moment, his tall frame blocked everything in front of me.

That damned sense of security washed over me again.

I was falling for him again.

But...