Page 43 of Breaking Storm

A blush spreads over my neck and face.

Joey lets out a soft laugh and shakes his head. “Are you trying to get me off or yourself?”

I slide the bookmark in place and close the book. “Uh… we—”

His head tilts downward, looking at me through his thick eyelashes. “You’re kidding, right? Stopping there?”

“Well, you don’t want me to read it to you.”

“You’ve been reading this damn book all week. Now when they’re about to fuck, you stop.” His fingers twitch toward the book. “Hand it over.”

I hold it away from him. “No.”

He tickles me, and I’m laughing as I shove his hands away, causing the book to drop to the floor. Even during recuperation, Joey is stronger than me. We’re rolling around the bed, his hands finding every ticklish mark on me. He winds up on top. Our laughter dies, breaths blasting between us, eyes searching for guidance. Without thinking, I lift my head and press my lips against his. Joey freezes for a second before he fits his lips snug against mine. He takes my lower lip between his, sucks, releases it, and his tongue nudges its way into my mouth. At first, our kiss is methodical, mouths opening to slumberous tongues, and closing to the warmth of wet lips. It picks up, and our bodies stir, writhe, and grind into one another.

My conscience knocks, informing me this is wrong. I shouldn’t throw myself at him. Let him devour my body. He’s already taken from me. But his hard cock, poking into my clit, has me telling my conscience to fuck off. I need this. I want this.

And then the door opens, there’s a quick apology from Sean, and it shuts. I break the kiss and my eyes flick from his body to his lips and back. We’re in fevered breathing mode. Joey unravels his fingers from my hair, places a kiss on my lips, and eases off. His pain has subsided, but it’s still there by the slight wince. My hands hoist me up and I slide into a seated position.

I run my hand through my hair and say, “I don’t know what got into me. I’m sorry.”

Readjusting his erection, Joey counters, “No worries. Let whatever it is get into you again, or better yet, I can—”

There’s a knock on the door, and from the other side, Sean says, “Sorry guys. Can I come in?”

Joey and I glance at one another, snicker, and in unison say, “Yes.”

Sean comes into the room, hands fitted into his pockets, and shoulders hiked to his ears. “I should have knocked.”

Joey rises from the bed in slow motion, straightens, and pats him on the shoulder. “What’s up?”

He grabs a crutch and hobbles over to the balcony while I straighten my shirt and fold my legs into my chest, wrapping my arms around them. Sean’s expression is serious, so there must be news about James.

Sean leans against the balcony door, lowers his voice, and says, “I’ve been talking to Frankie. There’s noise about what happened to you. Good noise.”

Joey checks on me over his shoulder in a conspiratorial way. “Let’s talk downstairs.”

I jump from the bed and interrupt. “Here’s fine.” Joey and Sean glance at each other as I place my hands on my hips in defiance. “There’s no reason why I can’t hear it.”

Joey turns to me. “No reason to get you involved.”

“I’m already involved, Joey. They dumped you on our porch like you were garbage. I’ve been by your side since.” He limps toward the door without a rebuke. I run in front of him. “Don’t do this to me.”

His hand coddles the side of my face, fingers splayed on my nape, and pulls me close. My hand rests on his forearm.

Joey says, “I’m doing this foryou. This shit doesn’t belong in our house.”

“Ourhouse.Ourmarriage. I have every right to know what’s happening so I can prepare.”

He draws me closer, planting his lips on top of my head. His voice comes out smokey when he says, “I will always take care of you, Tea. You don’t need to prepare for anything because no one, and I mean no one, will harm you.”

My head tilts back so I can make eye contact. “Please, Joey. Don’t shut me out.”

His eyes dance around my face and shift to Sean, who is watching our exchange. Joey gives a slight nod, and I go down the stairs first with Sean behind him.

In the kitchen, I make sandwiches while Joey and Sean arrange themselves in the living area, which is open to the kitchen. Gerard and the other house staff were relieved of their duties when Joey got hurt. Sean didn’t trust any of them, and refused to risk it if they were loyal to James.

Joey stretches and says, “It’s good to be out of the room.”

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