Page 24 of Blue

“Fuck. Yeah. Okay.”

“I’m not wearing a bra.”

I paused. “Do you want me to get Jazzy?”

She shook her head. “I don’t want to ask her to help me dress after everything else she’s doing for me. Can you help me?”

I nodded, sat next to her again, and she leaned forward. Heat slipped through my veins as I lifted Rogue’s shirt over her head. My knuckles grazed her flesh. I stilled, feeling the softness of her skin.

Six weeks had taken a toll on her body. A little thin and fragile, her clavicle bones protruded from her skin, and I could see the ladder of her ribs. She still had hips and a peach of an ass.

Blonde hair tumbled around her shoulders and curled over her pretty pink nipples. She was still fucking perfect with breasts to fill my palm. The beat of her heart fluttered in the translucent flesh of her neck. I swallowed the extra spit in my mouth.

My hands trembled as I tugged the price tag from the new shirt and carefully lifted it over her head. She whimpered as she fit her arms through the holes. Then she shifted back on the couch. I stretched out next to her, and she curled into me. Facing each other, my arms wrapped around her, and I held her close.

Touching.Snuggling.I didn’t snuggle. Just taking a breath had fear piercing through the cage holding my heart.

Kiss needed me. I could fucking do this. Sweat trickled along my spine but had nothing to do with the heat of her body radiating into mine. As long as she lay still, I could handle the intimacy. I could touch her, but I just couldn’t have her hands on me.

“Is this okay?” she whispered. Her face rested against my chest, and she drew in a deep inhale.

“I told you, whatever you need.”

Her fingers plucked at my shirt, and her gaze lifted. “But I know you hate this.”

Even when she’d crashed at Indulgence, we’d lay next to each other, but we wouldn’t cuddle. I couldn’thave her spooning with me, her ass nestled against my groin.

“I’m good.” I tried to breathe through my anxiety. She wasn’t wrong, but she couldn’t understand. I hated what her touch did to me because my fear owned me.

“Did you go to the shop?” Her gaze lifted to mine. “I’ve been driven by it once, but we didn’t stop or anything.”

“I figured I’d be doing oil changes, tire repairs, and chain work. I can fix bikes, but I don’t have the experience of those guys. Dozer put me to work on a bike with electrical issues.”

“I don’t even know those guys anymore. I got out of treatment, went to the MC, and relapsed the next day.”

“What happened?” I combed her hair from her face, the delicate strands sifting through my fingers.

“I thought I’d come home, and everyone would be the same. Only everyone had changed—except me. I guess some things were still the same. I don’t know why you want to be my friend when I’m not very likeable.”

“I won’t deny you’re a pain in the ass.”

Her brows furrowed.

“I’m teasing. You’re very likeable.” More than likeable. Her strength had been forged from a fucked up life. I didn’t just like her. I was obsessed with her.

Long lashes fringed soft, blue eyes. Her mouth was a wet dream. Tension thickened between us. Quiet surrounded us. Whispers of breath floated over her slightly parted lips.

Blood rushed into my cock, leaving me emotionally unsteady. The moment stretched. I could close the space between our faces, press my lips to hers, and slide my tongue into her mouth. I could force my mind to focus on Kiss.

Anxiety coiled in my gut. Her hand slid onto my hip with a feathering touch. I inhaled a sharp shallow breath. Her fingers were gentle and feminine. But my body responded as if another’s hands were holding me down, whispering to me that I feel so good.

Shivers broke along my flesh. Oxygen froze in my lungs, yet fire scorched through my system while a black stew of hate and violence bubbled and gurgled in my guts.

Her gaze tried to hold me. She inched closer, her hand gliding onto my waist.

Panic constricted my throat. My heart pounded, sending the heavy thudding vibration through my body. My nerves had sweat instantly dampening under my arms and dripping down my back.

Warm breath touched my lips, suffocating and stealing my air. My balls retracted close to my body, and my dick deflated. I shifted away from her and jolted from the couch.

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