Page 13 of Unbroken

His hand grips the back of my neck, holding me in place as he works himself over me. His tongue sweeping inside and stealing my strength. I stagger in my footing, and he grabs onto my waist, pressing me hard against the side of the trailer… then he’s like a wrecking ball. A man who’s just been let out of his cage.

His hands are everywhere, rough and demanding as he takes what he wants. No regard for sweetness. He nips and sucks, ravenously destroying my senses. A ferocious hunter, a dangerous predator— and my body is eager to feed him. He grips my hips and lifts, wrapping me around his waist, then his hard cock is pressed between my legs, thrusting up against me, pumping hard. His mouth starts traveling lower down my neck, leaving little marks across my skin.

“God, you’re still just as innocent and sweet. Still my good little girl.”

It’s like being drenched with ice water. The reminder of why he broke up with me. What the hell am I doing? He just got out of prison. Of course, he’s horny. He’d probably fuck anyone right now, and I just happen to be the one standing in front of him. An easy pussy for him to get his fix with. A quick fuck for old time’s sake. And when he’s done, he’s going to get back into that little red car and drive off to his new life.

I shove against his chest, making him stumble back. “Stop, Kayden. I can’t do this.”

He presses back in with a look in his eyes that I’ve never seen before. Prison has obviously hardened him—in many ways. His dick felt like steel. And is somehow even bigger now.

“You can’t tell me that you don’t fucking want it, Wren. Felt how wet you are between those legs.”

There’s no denying that. But that doesn’t change anything. All I’m feeling now is anger at myself for falling prey so easily. And disappointment. He’s not in love with me, so he can fuck me till the sun sets and then walk away without giving it another thought. Me? I’m going to be taking a six-year emotional step back. Just from this hookup alone, I’m already slipping back into the pain.

“Why’d you come, Kayden?”

It’s the question burning a hole in my gut. I don’t understand why I was his first stop out of the slammer. He could’ve gone anywhere.

“Because I needed to see you more than I needed my next breath.”

My chest constricts making it impossible to breathe. Once again, I’m completely confused.

“We need to talk, babe. I have some explaining to do. Can I come inside, or is your fella gonna give you hell about being alone with me?”

God, how quickly I forgot. He still thinks I’m engaged. And yet, he had no problem making his advances on me. Seems like his morality stayed locked behind bars too.

“It’s best if we chat out here.” Because if he comes inside, he’ll call my bluff. He’ll see right away that there isn’t a single scrap of evidence of a man living inside my pink girly home.

“I needed to tell you why I sent that letter, Wren.” We really don’t need to rehash this. He made it very clear in many words why he sent the thing. He didn’t want me clinging to a lie. His good conscience couldn’t handle it. “I needed you to hate me, baby.”

The words skit across my thoughts, pricking my arms with goosebumps.

“It was the only way, Wren.”

My confusion isn’t processing everything fast enough. His eyes are filled with guilt and regret. The wordhateis cycling through my thoughts again and again.

“You were going to give up your dreams, baby. You were going to give up everything to work on my case and I couldn’t let that happen. I’d never be able to live with myself if you did that.”

It suddenly feels like the cool, fresh air has grown hot and suffocating. The forest seems to be closing in on me. The darkness trying to consume my thoughts. Everything feels tight.

“So, I did what I had to. I said what I needed in order to get you to hate me.” His features scrunch in pain. Nose. Eyes. The crease of his brow. All tortured with regret. “I needed you to move on.”

It feels like sharp nails going down my throat. His horrid confession dragging across my lungs, slicing me open. He lied. That’s what he’s telling me, isn’t it? He lied to me. All these years. All the suffering. All the tears. The lonely nights. The insecurities over not being enough. The rejection and pure fucking depression I felt from the moment my eyes opened until sleep took me, then to be faced with nightmares of sadness. It was all for a fucking lie.

I loved him. I would’ve done anything for him. It wouldn’t have been a sacrifice. It wouldn’t have been giving up a dream. I just needed to know that he loved me. The fight for his freedom kept me going. It kept me distracted from the loneliness. And when I no longer had that, I had nothing. I had no will to live. I didn’t know how to keep breathing. I didn’t want to wake up because I didn’t want to face another miserable day of being gut-wrenchingly heartbroken.

“Go!” I shout, unable to look at him anymore. All the pain flooding in is too much to handle. “Get the fuck out of my sight.”

I can’t believe he did that. He promised me he’d never lie to me. He promised to never intentionally hurt me. But he destroyed me. He had me believing that he was never in love with me. He had me believing that I was nothing to him, that we were done. That truth devastated me. It’s all too much. I need him to leave. I can’t even breathe.

“Baby, please.” He reaches out, but I shove his hand away. How dare he thinks he can touch me.

“You have no idea, Kayden. You have no fucking clue.” I shake my head, the panic tightening around my chest. Years ofpain are rushing back in. If he doesn’t get out of my sight I’m going to hyperventilate.

“You destroyed me. That letter…” I struggle to force the words out, “broke me. Now…” I turn to the side and pick up my gun. “Before I put a bullet in your fucking heart and give you a firsthand taste of what I’ve been feeling for the last five years, I suggest you get back in that fucking obnoxious car and get the fuck out of my life.”

I point the gun at his chest, meeting his guilt-pained eyes with a warning glare. If he wants to call my bluff, he can try me. My sanity is severed, and there’s no telling what I’ll do if he doesn’t leave now.