Page 38 of One Eye Open (The BlackWater)

He got up and pulled her into his arms and she tried to shove him off even though a part of her wanted to feel him, to feel his arms, to feel his body against hers.

“I will tell you, I will let you know my secrets, just not now, not today.” He said kissing her head.

“Why not?” She asked before she could stop herself.

“Because you’re not ready and neither am I.” He replied.

He pulled her back onto the couch, forcing her back to lie beside him.

“Can you at least tell me why you reacted the way you did about that sex worker?” She asked because for some reason that stuck in her head more than anything else.

“I told you. I work hard for what I have. You’re a part of that. Whether you admit it or not you belong to me. And no one has a right to touch you but me.” He said as his arms tightened around her almost as though he was trying to emphasise his point. There was something else there, she thought, she just knew it, something about her being touched, something that set him on edge, though he wasn’t admitting it.

“Does it bother you then…?” She asked. “My past?”

He froze, narrowing his eyes. “Which bit?” He said.

“You know which bit.” She stated. They both did, she thought.

“It only bothers me in the extent that you had to go through it, that you had to endure that.”

“So it doesn’t…”

“You didn’t choose it Maddie. None of it. It’s in your past.” He stated cutting across her.

She sighed before nodding. It was clear he didn’t want to talk about it anymore and frankly, neither did she.

“Are you excited about next week?” She asked and he half snorted.

“Excited?” He said.

“It’s a big week.”

“An AGM and then a family get together?” He said in a tone that made her frown.

“Are you not excited to see your family?” She asked curiously.

“Maddie, if there was one thing I was happy about when you got shot it was that it gave me the perfect excuse to bail on my parents anniversary.” He said and she laughed.

“So you’re not all happy families either then?”

“Me and Brandon are. The rest…” He shook his head.

“So what I’m hearing is you need me to do something reckless, maybe break a leg, get shot again…” She teased.

“As long as it’s not permanent.” He said grinning as he ran his hand along her thigh. “How is the leg? You’ve been limping of late.”

“You noticed.” She said wincing slightly because she’d rather hoped she’d kept it from him.

“I notice everything about you Maddie. Do you need me to write you a sick note? Have you put on desk duty for a bit?” He asked and she rolled her eyes at his words.

“No thank you.” She replied folding her arms and he laughed.

“Mmmm maybe you need something else.” He said slipping his hand up the back of her top. “Perhaps a few days of being tied to my bed might give you your leg the rest it needs…” He stated as his hands unhooked her bra.

“It might rest my leg Cole but I doubt I’ll be in any fit state to walk.” She said and then gasped as his thumb began circling her nipple.

“You walking funny because I’ve ruined you sounds far more appealing.” He said and she half laughed as he yanked her top up and began half devouring her.

---