Page 258 of Dirty Discipline, Vol. 1

Why was she telling him this? It had to be because her body was burning with pain.

“Alex was waiting for the right moment. Alex was waiting for you to trust him. That is if you were interested in actually asking Alex.”

Reggie opened her eyes to find Matthias had moved away, and Alex now stood in front of her. She felt her trembling increase and wanted nothing more than to climb into his arms and just collapse. To forget about this horrid night and stay in his embrace, safe and secure in his love.

“How bad are you hurt?” he asked.

“I-I’m all right. You got there b-before it got too bad.”

He let out a noise of disbelief.

“Matthias, can you drive?” he asked, not taking his gaze from hers. “We need to take her to the hospital. One of the deputies will interview her there.”

“I don't want to go to the hospital,” she whimpered, shuffling away from him as he moved to sit beside her in the back seat. Matthias started the truck with a roar.

“Don't, Alex.” She tried in vain to fight him as he gathered her in close to his side and buckled her seat belt. Agony engulfed her. Shit.

“Stay still,” he ordered gruffly. “I won't have you hurting yourself.”

“Then let me go. I don't want to be held by you.”

“Yes, you do,” he said with total confidence. “Now, we're going to the hospital. If they give you the all clear, we'll take you back home and I’ll put you to bed.”

“I don't want to go to the hospital, I'm fine. I want to go to Kelly's.”

“Well, I want to be at home in bed, cuddled up with the woman I love, not taking her to the hospital after she received a beating. A beating from a man who has apparently been calling her for weeks!”

His voice didn't rise, but she still heard the barely controlled fury.

“You don't love me. You want your brother to get rid of me.”

“You never learn anything good while eavesdropping, sweetheart,” Matthias scolded her.

She was trembling by now, the shock of adrenaline wearing off. She could feel every lick of the belt, every kick and punch.

“You also only heard half the conversation. If you had stuck around, you would have heard me tell Matt just how much I love you and want to marry you.”

“B-but you told him he was right when he said you were stringing me on.”

His arms tightened. “And if you’d heard the rest instead of running off, you would have heard that I was waiting to propose. That I was giving you time. But after tonight I have no more patience with you, Reagan. You will trust me, and you will marry me.”

“Now that's a romantic proposal.”

“Shut up, Matthias,” Alex and Reggie spoke up at the same time as their eyes locked on each other. Tears began to drip down Reggie's cheeks in a steady stream.

“Really?” she asked.

“Really,” he said, running his thumb over her trembling lower lip before leaning in to kiss her gently.

“Oh God, I'm so sorry, Alex.”

“I know, baby. You'll be even sorrier when I punish you. Eavesdropping, running away and lying to me is not acceptable behaviour, miss.”

She frowned. “When did I lie to you?”

“When you didn't tell me about Lance contacting you.”

“Well, technically, I didn't lie. I just omitted the truth,” she explained.

---