Page 71 of Fragments
“Can I tell you something true?” he whispers, and my face tilts in his direction. “Iwasworried.”
My lips quirk. “You don’t say…”
“I couldn’t stand the idea of something happening to you,” he murmurs as we all herd through the doorway to the row.
Joy opens his cell, and we stop in front of it, giving her the puppy dog eyes. She glares at us, but gives up quickly and proceeds to walk everyone else to their cells, leaving us alone for a second.
Hesitantly, my gaze returns to Ren’s face as he growls, “If anyone even tries to hurt you, Lexington, I’ll burn this fucking place to the ground.”
My brow arches slowly. “That’s… hypocritical.”
The blue in his eyes shimmers, falling to my lips, making me instantly uncomfortable. His hand reaches for mine, slowly threading our fingers. I try to yank it away, but he only squeezes tighter.
“Let go,” I grunt.
“Youdolike when it hurts.” He tugs me until I stumble into him. “I know you… You hate to admit it, but having me around hurtsso goodfor you.”
Our chests press together, my heart jumping wildly into his muscle.
“Fuck off,” I hiss, backing up. But his left hand slides onto my lower back and he pulls me closer, holding us together, hips and abs sealed. “Ren… stop.” Breathless, I struggle against his grip. “You’re being crazy.”
“Tell me I’m wrong,” he urges, using his strength to keep our bodies pressed. His fingers untangle from mine, gliding up my arm. And I don’t feel like I’m trying to get away anymore… Not as hard as I should be. “You’ve missed me, haven’t you? I can see it in your eyes… You don’twantme to stay away.”
God-fucking-damnit, this insufferable asshole. He always knows…
I can’t stop picturing my dream last night; that salacious mixture of needy sensation and nostalgic shit I could’ve sworn I left behind.
Swallowing a lump in my throat, I gaze at him with little bits of fight slipping away. “But you have…You disappear so easily, Ren. Where did you go?”
My voice is barely audible, because I can’tbelieveI’m falling back into this…
I can’t believe how easy it is to forget the pain he’s caused.
His fingertips move up my shoulder, grazing my neck until I shiver. “I’ve been trying to keep my promise, Lex… But it’s far from easy. It’s reallyhard.”
The way his deep voice almost moans out the wordhardhas me sweating inside my clothes. Standing still with him touching me, I know I should move. I shouldstopthis, the way I should’ve stopped it back then.
But he’s right… I hate it so fucking much, but he is.
I’m a goddamn moron, but I think I really like it when he hurts me…
His hands are possessive, just like they always were… One resting just above my ass, the other brushing my jawline.
And the words rise up in my throat like bile…
“H-have you been hooking up with Dash?” I stammer, easing my stiff muscles. Leaning on him, because surrendering to the way he holds me always feelssofucking good.
Ren smiles; straight white teeth, dimples…Beautiful. Always looking like a fucking model, even inprison.
A little chuckle rumbles within his chest, and he hums, “God, baby, I want you so bad.”
“That’s not an answer,” I croak, and he purrs teasingly.
He’s seconds away from kissing me, I can feel it. Just like that first time, his lips a mere breath from mine. I hadn’t even noticed my eyes closing…
Stop this… You have to stop it.
You’re too smart for this.
