Page 27 of Affliction
Her head snaps back down to look at me, big, beautiful amber eyes stare at me in disbelief.
“But you didn’t.” I say in a triumphant tone.
“It’s not too late.” She deadpans.
“If you really wanted to shoot me you would have. You can tell yourself all you want that you’re creeped out, scared, or whatever it is youthinkyou should be feeling right now. But the truth is, you feel just as much of a pull to me as I do to you. And you felt it on Cole’s first night at Doc’s when Karson and I came in.” She pulls her bottom lip between her teeth and her eyes drop to the mug in her hands. She sits for a moment lost in thought and then lifts her gaze back to me.
“I did feel it that night.” She says quietly.
“And last night when I sat for a drink. You were comfortable enough to let yourself fall asleep in my arms after I fucked that sweet little cunt of yours with my fingers.” She covers her eyes with her free hand and shakes her head furiously.
“I’ve never done anything like that before in my life.” She says, embarrassment written all over her face when she looks at me again.
“No?”
“Never.” She slowly shakes her head. Her voice is barely above a whisper and her eyes fall back to the damned cup in her lap.
I stand and walk to sit next to her then lift her chin with two fingers. Tears pool in her eyes and I can tell she’s doing everything she can to keep them from falling. Someone has made this beautiful woman feel ashamed. My blood boils at the thought ofanyonemaking her feel anything less than perfect. When I find out who it was, they’ll wish they had never hurt her.
A few tears manage to fall on her cheeks and I swipe them with the thumb of my free hand.
“You don’t need to be embarrassed, Parker. Not about anything.” I say, desperately hoping she believes me.
She gives a small nod and sniffs. I release her chin and give her a moment to regain her composure. She rises off the couch, tossing the blanket to the side and walks into the kitchen to drop her coffee mug into the sink.
“Do you have any plans today?” I ask, already knowing the answer.
She turns to face me and shakes her head. “Not until this evening. Why?”
I look out the living room windows. The sun is shining and it’s in the sixties today. Yesterday’s rain made it so I couldn’t ride and I’m craving the feel of two wheels. Pulling out my phone, I fire off a text to Cole
Mav
My helmet?
Cole
Leaving the store now to bring it to your place.
Mav
I need one more.
The three dots appear, then disappear, then appear again.
Cole
Fine.
Stuffing my phone back in my pocket, I glance over to Parker, who’s watching me inquisitively.
“Want to go for a ride?”
Chapter fifteen
“A ride?” I ask,raising an eyebrow.
“On my motorcycle. It’s a nice day out. Why not?” He shrugs.
