Page 34 of Creature's Vengeance
“Oh, God. I’m so sorry, Balen. That’s horrific.” She gripped my fingers tight. “Is your dad alive?”
I couldn’t hold back a smile. “Yeah. He’s too stubborn to go anywhere. Even when his doctor diagnosed him with MD, he got around in that wheelchair of his. It’s almost scary.”
A tiny laugh followed. “I bet.”
“So when I say I get it, I want you to know I mean it. I walked in the darkness, too, after my mom died. It fucking gutted me. Things were never the same.”
“The abrupt change and loss are brutal.”
“They are. We have to adapt, and that takes courage. It’s a mental toll that wreaks havoc. Grief is a fucking ravenous beast. It almost destroyed me.”
“Me too.” She stared at her wrists before lifting her gaze to mine again. “My parents and younger brother were killed in a car accident. A teenager who lost control during a winter storm on the highway. It’s one of those freak things that happen, and no one can explain it. There’s no comfort. No one to blame. The girl driver didn’t take drugs or drink. She just slid on the ice, spun my parents’ car when she hit the rear end, and they slammed into a semi.”
“Oh, fuck. I’m sorry, Blair.”
“She walked away with a few scratches. My family died on impact.”
Jesus fucking Christ. My heart ached for her.
I could tell she still struggled with the loss and the anger it left behind.
“You were pissed,” I guessed. “That’s understandable.”
“I was livid,” she spat. “I hated that there was no one to blame, and I was all alone. I didn’t have many family members and no one close. It felt like I lost everyone and everything I knew in an instant.”
I pulled her from the chair and onto my lap. “Fuck, baby. I’m so sorry that happened to you.”
“I loved my mother and brother, Balen, but my dad? He was my champion and protector, my rock, everything.” She shook her head. “Losing him completely destroyed me.”
“So you tried to escape from reality.” I did, too. But Drake wouldn’t let me. He made me throw up the pills I swallowed. I couldn’t slice my wrists. It was too much to put my dad through; he would have lost it. I gave up on suicide.
Drake became my companion after that. We settled into a routine. I took control on most days. When something happened to trigger extreme pain or trauma, he took over. When violence was needed, he became the monster. It was fitting that he earned the nickname Creature.
“I battled depression, rage, and grief all at the same time. My friendship with Bells saved me from trying it again.”
Suicide. I understood.
We almost lost her before we found her.
“Come here.” I hugged her close and then leaned back, tipping her chin up so I could stare into those perfect, pretty eyes. I’m going to kiss you. Is that okay?”
She blinked before her eyes dilated. I could tell she wanted it. Her desire was plainly written on her face. “Yes.”
My hand slid up her back, cupping the back of her neck and angling her head for better access. Her eyes closed as I watched the emotion flicker over her features, and then I pressed my lips to hers.So fucking soft.I never met a woman with smoother skin or a softer, sweeter mouth.
My tongue plunged past her lips, dipping inside, warm and wet. The thought went straight to my cock. I grew hard so fucking fast that I almost groaned. Blair’s chest butted against mine as my tongue circled around hers, naturally deepening the kiss.
I tightened my hold around her nape as my thumb feathered across her pulse. It raced beneath, and I almost broke the kiss with a grin. Her fingers gripped the front of my shirt and bunched the material of my tee. And that was when my growing erection dug into her core because she straddled my hips, grinding down once on my cock.
Fuck me.
She’s into this. Blair wants us.
I fucking wanted her too.
Her tongue swept inside my mouth, and I tugged her against me, removing the last couple of inches that separated us. My hand speared into her hair, and the kiss turned rougher, wilder. . .until she winced in pain.
Shit! I forgot she was injured.
