Page 104 of Painted Scars
“One step at a time.” She pats her knees with both palms and accepts the food. “Thank you for taking it off, even if I can’t see all of you.”
The hollow ache in my chest ramps up. She’s not asking for more. Not pushing. Just letting me sit with the shadows I call home. The part of me that’s been holding back frays and snaps. I pull her onto my lap, and my mouth finds hers in a kiss that burns.
I pull away and trace the curve of her knuckle and lift the food to her lips. “You okay? What do you need? Comfort and cuddles? Silly anecdotes and jokes about penises?”
She chews and swallows. “I’m better than okay. I’ll never turn down the latter.”
That’s what I like about her. She doesn’t let the darkness smother her for long. Even when it’s wrapped around her ankles, she kicks it aside. Sunshine emerges from the clouds in the form of her humor.
Her smile falters, not in doubt or despair, but in what looks like sympathy. “I kept replaying what Sally-Anne said over in my head.” She plays with the strings on her yellow hoodie, pulling them back and forth through the eyes like they’re threads securing her to something solid. “She impressed me with how she rebuilt from the rubble.”
I abandon the pizza to squeeze her knee, grounding us both. Hearing the stories of the victims never gets easier, I just learned to live with it as a cop.
“Having second thoughts?” I ask gently, giving her the out if she wants it. “It’s okay to want to pull out. It won’t change things between us.”
She stares into the depths of my silhouette with the same fire I’ve met before. “Nice try, Grumpy. I’m scared shitless, but I don’t give in easily. If anything, her story reinforces my will.”
“That’s my little bulldog.” I shift the pizza box to the floor and curl my arm over her, her sunlight warmth thawing the frozen parts of me.
She leans against my shoulder, the scent of her shampoo and perfume filling my lungs. Familiar. Real. Addictive.
After a minute of silence and comfort, she twists to face me. “Feed me, Grumpy.”
I chuckle and tip another bite to my dark romance princess’ mouth, watching her lips close over the crust with a hum. Every groan of pleasure and cute smile while she chews carves something raw inside me. I take a bite after hers, sharing more than food, savoring her.
“You’re mine, Glitter Bomb,” I whisper hoarsely. “I’m never letting you go.”
I fucked up before and broke my beautiful diamond into a thousand pieces when I left. I’m not screwing this up this time. She wears this facade because she doesn’t feel safe to be herself. I’ll pick up every shard and fit them back together until she doesn’t need a mask, bright colors, or glitter to shine.
“Good. I don’t want you to let me go.” She clings to me, fisting my jacket, kissing me back with equal fire and heat.
My cock pulses in my riding pants, and I want to take this further. But her mental well-being trumps my libido, and I finish feeding her, rubbing large circles on her back, erasing all her hurt with every stroke of my hands.
When she polishes off three slices, and me five, I’m content she’s almost at one hundred percent Kate. Now it’s time for fun after the heavy traumatic crap. I think we’ve earned some downtime. We’re staying for the weekend, and I’m going to make the most of it with her.
“Show me what you’ve got, Glitter Bomb.” I slap my helmet back on, lift her and grab a basketball from the adjacent Pop-A-Shot game. “One kiss per basket. Land three, and I’ll sweeten the deal with a nipple pinch.” I tease her by pinching mine.
Her giggle is my favorite fucking song.
“You’re on, hotshot. I’ll probably lose this bet, given the amount of time you spent at this place.” She lobs the ball from palm to palm.
I love that she’s up for the challenge.
She wriggles her ass, then launches the ball, and it bounces off the rim with a hollow clang. Miss Sunshine cheers anyway, spinning toward me with her arms raised. I cover her eyes and lift my helmet off to give her a reward kiss before pulling it back on. I spin a ball on my finger and sink a shot without effort.
She pouts. “Show off.”
“Nipple pinches weren’t enough motivation for you?” I pass her a new ball and move her into position. “Rack up one ball, and I’ll tell you a secret I’ve never told anyone.”
“My own personal Grumpy Daddy trivia.” The way she grins up at me, cheeks flushed, eyes gleaming with mischief, erases the bruise on my heart I’ve carried since the day I left her.
She tries over and over until she gets the shot, and I pat her backside.
“Good girl.” I pull her back to me and rock her from side to side. “I got in trouble for skipping class. Dad didn’t care as long as I knew how to build a fire, bait a hook, memorized every hiking trail, and could shoot game with a clean shot.”
She spins in my hold and brushes my helmet, and fuck, I want this thing off and for nothing to stand between us. “I love learning about you.”
I give her a helmet kiss to her forehead. “Let me guess. You were the top of your class?”
