Page 25 of Hell Breaks Loose

The forcefulness in his voice startles me, making me take a step back into the table at first.

Then that spark that’s always gotten me into trouble fires up, the way it always has, especially when someone is just asking for it.

“Fuck you. You come in here every time they break me to patch me up again, just so they can do it all over again.” I may be done fighting back against Marco and his men for my sanity, but this guy is a target I can take some of my frustration out on.

“That’s how this works. Putting up a fight and taking out your frustrations on me doesn’t help anything.” He shrugs at my lack ofcompliance and presses the earpiece to my chest. I breathe in, the usual shit.

Then he proceeds to examine my eyes, mouth, ears.

His hands are surprisingly gentle. Warm.

Not clammy like they were the other times. I remember that much at least.

Which makes me even more suspicious. And a little rambunctious.

I start to hike up my gown, watching him watch me as I do.

“Thank you for participating. Now I’ll check your bruises and stitch any cuts that need it.” He sniffs in annoyance, like he’s doing me a favor.

I mean, I guess he is.

But I can’t bring myself to be nice about it. About anything ever again.

“You getting off on this, sicko?” I taunt, slipping the fabric up over my breasts.

The cold in the room has them peaked, my nipples hard.

Let him fucking look.

“Nothing I haven’t seen before.” But there’s a tension in his shoulders as he forces his eyes to stay at head level with me. “Please, sit on the table, Hella.”

The word doesn’t register at first.

But then my heart stops. My breath catches.

Instantly, my eyes flick back up to his. For the first time, I notice the color.

The glasses are tinted, but…

His eyes are green. And he’s?—

“Tell?!” I stammer, dropping my nightgown to the floor in shock.

“I thought you’d never notice.” He grins, and suddenly, even through the prosthetics, I see him clearly.

And my body reacts instantly, flushing red to be naked in front of him,aching to throw myself into his arms.

“Sorry… I'm a mess.” It’s so silly, the words falling out of my mouth a flat excuse.

“You look amazing,” he murmurs, and I melt.

We close the distance in a heartbeat, our lips meeting, my eyes closing to block out the sight of the face he’s wearing, to just feel him.

And he feels incredible, his arms around me, his heart beating, pressed against mine.

Even more so when I feel him hardening to my touch through his pants. It hits me like a sledgehammer how much I want him, how much I need him.

Right. Now.