Page 46 of Breaking Storm

I place my hands in my lap, clear my throat, and remark, “No point in discussing the bad stuff.”

She shifts, sitting on her legs. “Why not?”

“Because we’re both aware of this life. There’s a lot of bad. That’s why not.”

“But I want to hear aboutyourbad.”

I let out a whispered curse. My bad is stranger than fiction. It’s fucked in the head, unimaginable bad. Sean’s the only one who gets it, and me. He’s never judged. Revealing my family secrets will only distance Teagan and I when I’m trying to bring us closer.

Instead of telling her, I ask her, “What about your bad?”

She sucks in air through her teeth. “Okay, I’ll go first, but you have to do the same.”

My eyes latch onto hers and they narrow. “Let’s leave the past in the past.”

Her back slams back onto the couch, gritting her teeth, she folds her arms. “Fine!” Teagan gets up, starts to walk inside, and twirls back. “At least answer me one question.”

My head falls back onto the couch, looking at her upside down. “Maybe.”

She sits in the chair opposite me, scooting to the edge. “Why did you sexually assault me on our wedding night?”

There’s a constriction in my chest. I snap my head away from her stare, steady my breathing, and swallow the shame. Like a wet blanket, the heaviness of the question covers us. How the fuck am I supposed to respond? I’ll ignore it.

Teagan places her hands on her knees. “You owe me an explanation.”

Her question and perseverance are crippling. I’m cornered. My whole life I’ve refused to divulge the guts of my family life. James’ sick control over us. His manipulation, causing me loss and abandonment. Rehashing it to Tea won’t change the past, nor will it offer any consolation to her. She’ll just have to deal.

Her determination sets like stone. “Why would you do that on our wedding night and nothing afterwards? You never touched me until I gave consent. Why?”

My jaw aches from clenching it. She’s pushing. Wants me to unravel the horrid details of my life. She has no idea what she’s asking of me.

Sliding next to me, she leans into my side, pleading, “Please, Joey. I need to know.”

My gaze falls to her, eyebrows dip, and I shake my head. “It won’t do any good.”

Teagan is breaking me down. Her arm slips through mine, resting her head on my shoulder.

“I thought we were past fake pleasantries.” She trains her beautiful eyes on me. “You didn’t hurt me on our wedding night. Never lifted a finger in anger. Didn’t touch me afterward until our agreement.” She kisses my cheek. “What made you do it? Something… someone must have made you.”

I try to disengage our arms, but she’s coiled around me like a vine. “Just let it be, Tea.”

My shout jolts her, yet not enough for her to relent.

Her hand coasts to my other cheek, shifting my gaze back to her, and her lips touch mine. The chains I’ve worn, the walls I’ve built, slip and crumble. I clutch her jaw, not viciously, and my mouth renders us incapable of talking. My tongue dips inside the warmth of Tea, nuzzling her velvet tongue. She moans into my mouth, and I lose myself to her. I haul her onto my lap, her legs straddle my waist, bury my fingers in her hair, and fit us so close we’re breathing for each other. We take and give, and without warning, she pulls away. I notice her swollen lips and meet her eyes.

Teagan’s fingers outline my lips as she says, “I want to know you, Joey. The time we’ve spent together during your healing…” She follows her finger down my throat. “It’s changed us for the better.”

I catch her hand, kissing the tips of each finger. “Then let’s hold on to the better moments.”

Her eyes hitch to mine. “What is a future without understanding the past?”

My head bows down. “Tea, you can’t imagine what you’re asking me to do.”

Her hand comes under my chin and raises my head until we’re staring at each other. “I do have an idea. There’s a force field circling you, and few people are allowed in.” She places a tender kiss on my cheeks. “I want to be one of them.” A kiss to the tip of my nose. “I’d like our forced marriage to surprise everyone. To show them, we’re a couple to be reckoned with.” Her fingers lazily sift through my hair. She lays one last kiss on my lips and whispers, “The good. The bad. I want it all.”

This breaks me. I blink to dodge the burning in my nose and the prickle of tears. Emotions lodge in my chest and throat. Falling in love with Tea has forced me into making emotional withdrawals. Teagan has trespassed into my soul. I don’t know how to deal with it. I’m a guy. A street fighter. I can’t let her or anyone else see me cry. But I feel it. The wetness breaks from my eyes, and Teagan’s mouth drinks from them. She doesn’t interrupt my weakened state, only soothes with kisses and whispers. I press her against my chest as if trying to unite our hearts.

The fear fades and I’m left with a swell of love. My childhood crush has crushed my tempered barrier. She’s laid claim on me, and I’ll gladly let her.

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