Page 56 of Love Lies Bleeding

The sound is all I need to push me over the edge into that bright abyss of bursting color. My fingers pull at his hair, my breathing is a pant and I scream his name as a climax so powerful it almost takes my legs from me slams through me.

Jake holds me steady, his lips placing tender kisses against my pussy as my orgasm recedes. I become aware of a faint beeping sound and look down to find Jake watching me.

“You win, Jake.”

Taking my shredded panties from the floor, he pockets them and smooths my skirt down over my hips before standing in front of me. Now the intimacy is over I feel exposed, raw, the need to put space between us almost makes me desperate but I won’t run, not again.

“Tell me.”

Ducking my head, I move past him to the mirror so I can fix my hair. As I examine my flushed cheeks, I see him looming behind me, watching me closely. “KLM is trying to buy my mother’s hair salon. They want to develop the land it’s on, but it’s the one place that saved her after my dad died. I don’t want her to lose it.”

“What did your lawyer say?”

“That KLM has too much money and will bleed me dry and get the land anyway.”

“What does your mother say?”

“She doesn’t know and she won’t know. The building is in my name because that’s how my father set up his will. It’s why I’m dealing with them.”

“Your lawyer’s right. They’re ruthless and have deep pockets.”

“I’m not giving in, Jake. I won’t be bullied by them.”

“Then let me help you. I’ve dealt with a lot of companies like this and I know how the game is played.”

I’m already shaking my head before he can finish. “No.”

His hand rubs the back of his neck as he looks at me with frustration. “Why not?”

I have no choice but to give him the truth no matter how ugly it feels after what just happened. “I don’t trust you.”

His head snaps back slightly, a wince making him seem younger. Part of me wants to call my words back, but I can’t. He did this and he’s the one forcing his presence on me, not the other way around.

He gives me a nod, his lips pursed, and turns to leave the room, taking a chunk out of my heart with his wounded expression. He stops and turns and I wonder what threat he’ll make, what coercion he’ll use to force my hand, but he doesn’t do any of those things.

“For the record, I didn’t steal those exam papers. I was being blackmailed and did what I thought was the best thing to protect the woman I loved.”

Before I can respond he is gone. My hand shakes as I straighten my blouse and skirt, I try to process his words, but none of it makes sense. Why has he told me this now? Why lie and is he lying now or then? One answered question leaves me with so many more unanswered ones.

19. Cherry

I’m just going through some inventory for the shop, trying to concentrate on work instead of the frustrating man who’s been MIA since he dropped his last bombshell. The call from Lexi late Sunday night saying that Dean had sent her threatening texts had put everyone on edge too. That man needs to be taken down hard, and I have no doubt if he comes after Lexi and Theo, Hunter will have no hesitation in doing just that.

When Hunter calls me frantic not thirty minutes later, I hope it’s with an update to say Dean is in jail, but it’s my worst nightmare come to life.

“Cherry, he took her. That bastard has Lexi and my son.”

Jumping up, I feel all my limbs begin to shake with fear. My heart races at the thought of that lunatic having Lexi and Theo. “How? When?”

“She took Theo to the doctor because he felt warm. Dean killed her protection officers and took her from the side of the road.”

“I’m coming to you. Hunter, we will get them back, I promise you.”

I know I’m making promises I can’t possibly have any control over, but the need to reassure him is so strong I don’t think.

“No, stay there and lock the door. Jake is coming to collect you and bring you here.”

“Okay.”

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