Page 14 of Ruthless Love

"Oh shit, I can't believe they decided to break into the shop owned by a cop's wife."

"You know how people are these days. It doesn't matter who you are, it only matters what they want." I remind him. "Luckily, there was only a little damage. She didn't get hurt. It's not anything that's going to be difficult to fix. I'm going over in the morning, and helping her get it boarded up, until insurance fixes it."

He makes a noise. "Do you want me to see if Alexander can help? He and Lindsey just had their daughter. I'm sure he could use the money."

"Alexander Raven?" I question to make sure we're thinking of the same person.

"Yeah, I saw him the other day over at the garage. He was asking if people had any side jobs for him."

I like Alexander. He's a good guy, and in a small town like this, it pays to help others in need. "Yeah, if you could ask him, tell him I'm gonna be over there around eight, so if he can bethere between eight-thirty and nine, that would be great. I'll take care of paying him."

"Let me send him a message. Once I hear from him, I'll let you know. I'm glad things are good with Marissa."

I choke on my spit. "I wouldn't call them good. We're still trying to figure out what the fuck we're doing, but we did have a good night."

He whistles. "So you stayed. How much longer after you cleared the scene?" There's a teasing tone to his voice.

"Longer than I should have," I admit. "But I'm not sorry that I did. You know the two of us haven't spoken since she left."

"Will you be okay if that's the last time you're together, Cain? It's so hard when a marriage doesn't work out. Doesn't matter if one of you thinks you want it or not. It's not an easy decision to make, and it's painful no matter what," his voice is hoarse as he admits all of this to me. "I was the one who asked for it with your mom."

I never knew this. Neither one of them ever wanted to throw the other under the bus, and they've been pretty strict about that the entire time. "You did? That surprises me. I always thought it was her."

"I know, but she wasn't happy, and I wanted her happiness more than I wanted her to be with me. It wasn't a win for me if she didn't enjoy our time together. More than anything, I was worried that us not being a good example of what a marriage should be would harm you in the long run. Maybe I was wrong about that, but we both did the best with what we had."

He's never told me any of this before, and for the first time, I have a different perspective on what happened with them. "I love you, Dad. I've wondered about what caused you all to divorce, and I had my own thoughts. I'm glad you told me this, because what I thought, and what appears to actually have happened? They are two very different things."

"Yeah..." he sighs. "I know."

Signaling, I turn into my driveway, and then come to a stop. I'm exhausted. It hits me like a brick wall. "I'm home, dad. I'm gonna go. I need to get some sleep."

"Alright, love you. Let me know if I can do anything to help, and I'll send Alex over your way."

"Thank you, love you too."

I disconnect the call and then drag ass from my SUV into the house. I don't think I've ever been so tired in my life. Both physically and emotionally. I gave Marissa everything I had in both ways. Entering the kitchen through the side door, I take a moment to look around and appreciate the fact that it doesn't feel as bad as it did right after Marissa left. When she did, I never thought I'd go to sleep with her smell around me again, but tonight I get to do that, and I'm nothing but thankful.

ELEVEN

MARISSA

My body acheswhen I wake up and stretch the next morning. I feel as if a mack truck hit me, but I have to be honest, and grin as I realize my husband did this. He used my body for pleasure, punished me in ways I wanted him to. There are bruises on my thighs in the shape of his fingertips, and hickies all over parts of my chest.

I never imagined the man I married could do this to me, didn't think he'd ever be able to take himself out of his own head long enough to set aside how he thinks I should be treated. It's as if I broke through an unspoken wall that Cain had erected around us. Glancing at the clock, I realize I have enough time to take a warm shower, and I need it badly. I haven't been fucked like this in way too long, scratch that, ever.

Every part of my body is tender as I get the shower ready, and then step under the warm flow of water. Where he grasped my hair in his hand and yanked, is sore too. There is a reminder along every inch of my body as the water hits it, and my muscles protest. I take an extra long time, letting the steam take away the ache I'm feeling everywhere, including between my thighs. When I run out of hot water, I step out and wrap a towel around my body.

With the palm of my hand, I wipe the moisture off the mirror and take a good look at myself. The Marissa staring back at me is different in so many ways compared to the Marissa that stared back yesterday. She didn't know what it was like for her husband to absolutely ravage her body. Didn't know what it would feel like to let all her inhibitions go and allow him the freedom to do whatever he wanted to do.

This Marissa's heart is clenching as she realized those two adults last night made no move to fix the separation between them. I hate it. The night I had with him is what I've wanted, and I'm craving it. I want to know when it's going to happen again. This Marissa is a little evil. I reach over on the counter and grab my cell phone, taking a picture in the mirror to show the badges of honor I have from last night. With a smirk, I send them to Cain.

C: I can't say I don't love the way those look on you. If you wear a shirt that's cut low enough, other men will see it, and they'll know you belong to someone. You may think you've seen women hit on me? I've seen men hit on you. Especially since you opened Enchanted Chapters.

There's a part of me that loves this jealous side of my husband.

M: I don't know what you're talking about. There aren't any men that have hit on me.

C: Oh, shut the fuck up. Every time I see you over at The Dinner Bell, there's a man asking to buy your meal. You know I'm right.

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