Page 37 of Quake
Easing out, I collapsed onto the mattress beside her, coaxing her close. Juliette came without complaint. She laid her cheek on my chest and wrapped her leg around mine.
“I can hear your heartbeat,” she murmured, her fingers playing with my nipple. She rubbed idle circles, the intimate gesture feeling natural.
“Yeah? I have one?”
She laughed softly. “Of course, you do.”
This felt so fucking right it was unbelievable. Juliette in my arms was like…it was like nothing I’d ever experienced.
The more I thought about it, the more I realized if I wanted things to continue, I’d have to open up to her. At some point, it would have to go both ways, but if I was able to show her trust, maybe she would confide in me. If she saw I intended to stick around, maybe she would allow me to help her through the next steps of her own healing.
I’d fucked her now, so it was all in. No going back. Like I’d be able to anyway. I was pretty damn sure I was past the point of no return the moment I stood by that notice board and attempted to get her to come to self-defense classes. That very first day, her eyes had spoken to me, her fear, her uncertainty… Her understated beauty.
“Jules…” I began, my forehead creasing.
“Huh?” she murmured, raising her head. Her sleepy gaze met mine, and she tensed when she saw the wrinkle in my brow. “What’s wrong?”
“I just want to…” I began, not sure how to broach the subject or if I even should while she was still naked in my bed.
“Do you want me to go?” she asked, some of the fear returning to her features.
She began to pull away, and I tightened my grip on her. “No. Stay. I just want to talk. That’s all.”
“About?”
I sighed in relief as she settled back into my arms, using my body as a giant pillow.
“My back,” I began, wanting to tell her everything. That was how pussy-whipped she had me after two orgasms.
“Shh,” she whispered. “You don’t have to explain.”
“It was a title fight,” I said, rubbing my palm over her ass before settling on her waist. “My second. I was defending, and the challenger… He’s got a nasty reputation. Dirty tactics, constantly toeing the line. A real shit face. Third round, I was up, the bell had rung, and he turned and struck me from behind. I’d already begun walking to my corner, so my back was to the guy…” I closed my eyes, remembering the shock that had sunk its claws into me the moment I hit the ground. “He landed a heel straight into the base of my spine.”
“Caleb…” Juliette murmured, her eyes locked on mine.
“I crumpled to the ground like a fucking rag doll. It took six months before I was well enough to walk out of the hospital on my own two feet. The doctors told me it was a miracle I was even able to stand.” I tightened my grip on her waist and pressed my forehead against hers. “An unlucky hit like that in the wrong spot and it ended me. Can you believe it? I can’t fight again. If I do, I risk never walking again. One hit the wrong way…”
“Fuck,” she hissed. “The guy… What happened to him?”
“Disqualified and banned for life.”
Her fingers caressed any piece of skin she could find. “Good.”
“The day you first came in here…” I began, letting my fingers idly trace up and down her spine. “I looked into your eyes and saw how afraid you were, and I knew I had to try to help you.”
Her eyes widened, and her body tensed again, this time from something close to panic rather than an imminent orgasm.
“You’ll tell me when you’re ready,” I said, cradling her against my chest.
“I better go home,” she said after a moment, and my heart sank. “It’s late…”
“You’re welcome to stay here. I insist, actually,” I murmured, hoping my stupid confession hadn’t put her off. “They say third time’s lucky…”
Juliette laughed, burying her face into the pillow, her reaction squashing any misgivings I had that she was trying to hide away.
“But I don’t have a change of clothes or any makeup,” she complained. “And I’ve got work…”
“Aren’t you forgetting that you live like two seconds away?” I asked, nipping at her shoulder. “We’ll get up early, and I’ll take you for breakfast at this little place around the corner. They open at six thirty and have the best breakfast menu. All fresh and organic. Then you’ll have plenty of time to go home and get changed. Promise. Besides, don’t you want to shower with me?”
