Page 59 of Best of Me

“How could I what, Nancy?” I ask, knowing damn well what she’s going to say.

“How could you defile Valorie’s memory by being withher?” She snarls the wordheras if it’s comprised of four-letters.

“By her you mean Mallory?” She’s practically foaming at the mouth as she nods. I step closer to the two of them. “You listen to me right now.” My tone is deadly. “Mallory is an amazing woman. She is kind and caring and so fucking good—no thanks to either of you—and I love her. Do you hear me? I. Love. Her. And I won’t stand for the way you treat her. She deserves nothing but the best and you both are fucking toxic. From here on out you will leave her alone. You will not hurt her again, not ever. Do you hear me?”

Nancy thrashes in her husband’s hold like a wild animal. “You’re dead to me! Dead to me if you choose that waste of space over—”

“Then consider me dead,” I say calmly before I turn and walk away.

chapter thirty-six

Mallory

I blink myself awake, groggy and disoriented, with no memory of getting into my bed—much less falling asleep. A strong, calming presence at my back alerts me to the fact that Duke is here with me. I snuggle back into his warmth, letting the feel of his heart beating against my back soothe me. My body aches and my head pounds; but why?

“Duke,” I call for him, my voice scratchy and small.

“I’m here, baby,” he answers instantly, his hold on me tightening. “Are you okay?”

I wiggle in his grip, despite the pain, rolling to face him. The second my eyes meet his, I remember—visiting Val, my mom, her cruel words, my father restraining her right as she tried to attack me, Duke swooping in like my very own dark knight. “Thank you,” I murmur into the space between us, a single tear cascading down my cheek.

Duke leans down, kissing the droplet away with a tenderness that astounds me. He feathers small, sweet kisses all over my face and my pain lessens with each one.How is this huge, hulking beast of a man able to be so gentle?He moves to pull away but I clasp my hands behind his head and draw his lips to mine. Duke hesitates a moment before slipping his tongue into my mouth, tangling it with mine.

I rake my fingers through the short hair at the nape of his neck and he groans, the sound more erotic than anything I’ve ever heard before—like a thread of pure lust connecting him to me as my back bows, drawing our bodies closer together.

Restlessly, I shift against him, seeking his heat and comfort and love all at once.

“Cricket, baby,” Duke says between thoughtful careful kisses that light me up and make me feel completely cherished all at once. “You have no idea…the things I feel for you.” He shifts back and peers down at me. My breath catches and tears threaten to fall from the way he’s looking at me; with so much love and devotion.For me. Even without the actual words, I canseeit so clearly. The thought would bring me to my knees if I wasn’t already lying down.

“I want you.” I can tell he’s about to argue so I rebut before he has a chance. “Please, Duke. Touch me, make me whole again. You’re the only one who can do that.”

Duke

My heart is pounding, a million beats a minute, damn near coming out of my chest. Here my girl is, bent but not broken, asking me to help take away her pain. I’ve never seen someone more powerful…beautiful…vulnerable than Mallory is in this moment. I can’t fuck this up, and even though I want to slide into her more than I want my next breath, if she isn’t one-thousand percent sure, I’ll back off. Besides, if I have my way, we’ll have an entire lifetime together…to explore and to love and to grow.

“Are you sure?” I run my knuckles under her chin, tilting her stare to mine. “I…I don’t want to hurt you.”

Mallory shimmies out of my embrace and strips off the t-shirt I helped her into when we got home, tossing it carelessly to the floor. “I’m sure.” Her panties quickly follow and my mouth waters at the sight of her. I take my time, devouring every square inch of exposed tanned goodness, from the rosy blush coloring her cheeks and neck down to her tight pebbled nipples. Lower still, past the alluring dip of her waist and the sweet indent of her belly button to the wetness glistening between her legs. There’s no trace of the fragile woman from earlier standing before me but instead a goddess I’m all too happy to worship.

Twin flames dance in her eyes as my gaze moves over her, my mouth practically watering as I guide her back down to the mattress, taking a moment to just be—to appreciate the softness of her curves against the hard lines of my body. “You’re so goddamn beautiful.” I kiss her lips softly, reverently, before working my way down to her jaw, her neck and then farther south, not stopping until I reach the juncture between her thighs.

I brush my lips against her center, never lingering in any one place too long, working Mallory up into a frenzy of want and need. “Please, Duke,” she begs when I graze her sweet spot, her back arching up off the bed. “Oh, God, please.”

I groan, the sound coming from deep within me, content to torture and tease her. “You want more, baby? You gotta speak up—tell me what you need. Don’t be shy, Cricket.”

“I need…” she whimpers, her hips chasing my tongue, desperate for more.

“Tell me,” I urge her as I wrap my hands around her thighs and press them farther apart, giving her a long lick from bottom to top.

Her entire body vibrates with need as I suck on her clit until she’s on the brink. “I need you to make love to me.”

Drawing away, I lick my lips, savoring the taste of her. “Happy to, baby.” I push up from the bed, shucking off my clothes before re-situating myself between Mallory’s parted thighs. Thrusting against her, I coat myself with her desire. Mallory meets me move-for-move until we’re both panting and delirious with need.

When I finally push into her, it’s like I’ve found paradise. I feel complete in a way I never knew was possible, like I’m finally home. Being inside her is unlike anything else I’ve ever experienced—nirvana, pure and perfect, meant only for me. Mallory’s hands rove and explore, leaving no patch of skin untouched as I move within her. My lips blaze a trail up and down her neck, licking and sucking and biting.

“You feel so good,” I moan the words against her sweat-slicked skin. “You feel like…mine.”

My proclamation unleashes something inside of Mallory. Her eyes clench shut and her stomach quivers as her fingers clutch at me and her ankles lock around my back. Her breathy moans turn to blissful cries as she tips over the edge and into oblivion, with my name on her lips. The sound so utterly sexy that I follow right after with a hoarse cry.

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