Page 3 of Bad Man

“Michael,” I say after a moment, his name tasting like honey in my mouth. I keep myself pressed against him for a few more seconds before I pull away just enough to look at him once again. “Sorry. I just… I’m not used to the sounds here yet. It’susually so quiet, any little noise just feels so much louder. I’ll be okay.”

“Of course you will,” he says with so much conviction that I have no choice but to believe him. “Blackwood Falls is safe. I told you that.”

“I know…” I reply, feeling silly for my outburst.

Still, I can’t seem to extract myself from Michael’s hold. His touch, his strength, seems to quiet the voices in my head that have been a constant for the last year and a half of my life. Letting go of him would mean the chatter telling me I’m unsafe, that I’m being watched, will come back with a vengeance.

Michael senses my hesitancy, because his arms get even tighter around me. He makes me feel like he’s the one that doesn’t want to let go. It’s like I’m the thing keeping him steady rather than the other way around.

“How about I stay?” he asks after a moment, his voice close to a whisper. “I’ll make sure you feel safe.”

“I’d like that,” I say, even though I know I’ll be okay alone. I have my cameras now. My phone is always in my hand. There isn’t anything to worry about, not really. Yet, I want him here. “That would make me feel a lot better.”

“Good,” he says as one of his arms drifts up my back to cradle the back of my head. “I would do anything to keep you safe. I swear.”

“I know,” I say, more truth in those words than has been in anything else I’ve said. “I know you will.”

Then, Michael’s leaning in, his intent clear. I should run. I’m not ready for something like this, not after what happened before. I’m damaged goods. I’m afraid of men. But I’m not afraid of Michael. I want him. I want all of him.

So, I stand on my tiptoes, meeting him halfway. Our lips brush together softly at first. His mouth is sure, confident, like everything he does, while mine is more hesitant. I smile into the kiss, feeling silly for doubting myself. Then, I’m returning his attention with fervor.

Chapter Three

Michael

I’ve been half-hard the entire time I’ve been in Ella’s presence, and the touch of our lips against each other, even though it’s chaste, makes me throb with desire. She tastes just as sweet as she looks, like candy, and I need even more. So, I deepen the kiss, licking into her mouth greedily and swallowing the sound she makes in response.

Ella opens up to me obediently, her mouth parting as she allows me to take what I want. And I do. I’m unrepentant in the way I explore her mouth.

All it took was one kiss, and I know without a doubt in my mind that she’s mine.

I’m going to take care of her in every sense of the phrase. She’s never going to be afraid again, I’ll make sure of that. I’ll make sure that bastard never bothers her or anyone else ever again. I don’t have his name yet; I guess the journalist who wrote the article I read wasn’t about to expose a prosecutor’s son, even if they had no problem mentioning Ella by name. That doesn’t matter, though; all it’ll take is one call to my buddy – Blackwood Falls’ sheriff – and I’ll have my hands on it.

My touch drifts over Ella’s body. The fingers I have threaded through her hair tighten, and the hand that’s been resting on her back starts to drift lower. I’m less than an inchaway from her ass when she pulls away, her cheeks bright red and an almost apologetic look on my face.

Dammit. I should have known better than to move so fast. My poor girl has been through hell. I’m probably scaring her.

“What is it?” I ask, gritting my teeth to keep from leaning in and nipping at the swell of her spit-slick bottom lip.

“Nothing,” she giggles nervously, averting her eyes. “It’s just…”

“Tell me,” I urge her, grabbing her chin between two of my fingers. When her eyes meet mine again, they’re blown with lust.

“I’ve never…” she starts again, breath hitching when I squeeze her hip. “I’ve never done anything like this before.”

Fuck. She’s a virgin. Not only that, there’s a pretty damn high probability that this was her first kiss. My cock aches with need, and I know I’m a fucked up man. The idea of being the only one to touch her makes my body scream for her, a glob of precum escaping the tip of my dick.

“But, um,” she says, shifting awkwardly in response to my silence. “I still… I still want this. As long as it doesn’t bother you.”

“Oh, it doesn’t bother me, sweetheart,” I say, leaning in to kiss her again. I want to bend her over and take her right here, but my girl deserves better. “Now, tell me. Where’s your bedroom? I want to kiss that tight, virgin pussy.”

Ella shivers at my words, her chest heaving with desire. I can see the gears of her brain turning, gummed up by my vulgarity. After a moment, she manages to say, “Across the hall.”

Using her directions, I burst out of the office and kick the partially-open door of her bedroom wide open to allow us entry.This room, like the rest of the house, is still mostly in boxes. There are floral sheets on the well-made bed, almost like her mattress is welcoming the two of us.

I put her down on top of the comforter gently despite the way every fiber of my being is telling me to throw her onto the bed, hold her down, and breed her. I have to remind myself that she’s never been with anyone before. There will be time for that later, as long as I don’t scare her off now.

“You’re beautiful,” I say, letting my hands drift up her sides as I lean down to kiss her again.

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