Page 71 of Queen Of WildCards

"Justbecause you've never stuck your dick in it, doesn't mean you can't handle one maturely."

Iknew the room wouldn't echo back reassurance, but saying it out loud somehow drove home how stupid my reluctance was.Witha sigh,Iheaved myself up off the bed and crossed over to my dresser, rifling through my shirt drawer until my hand closed around a soft cotton tee, several sizes too large for her feminine frame, but that was okay—it would cover her quite well, and the extra fabric meant extra warmth.

Ididn't stop to linger on the strange pang of prideIfelt at the idea of her wearing my shirt.

Nope.

Noteven a little.

* * *

Jokerhad been gone awhile,but he'd sent a text to let me know the air was doing him good, which was the goal.Iadvised him to take his time, sat at the head of my bed, and pulled the blankets overMallory'ssleeping form, the sound of her breathing and the return of color to her cheeks a relief to my edgy mood.Thestrange crawling sensation was back, making me itch to shed my skin and maybe take a shower, butIignored it again, focusing instead on the woman whose presence in my bed set me on a tilt.

Herbreathing was deep and even, reassuring as it reached my ears, and something in me ached to brush my hand along the span of her jaw, to feel her, remind myself she was warm to the touch and alive and would be fine.

Ididn't.

Icouldn't.

Beingthis close to her was already a challenge, andIonly hoped that when she awoke, she'd resist her uncanny urge to touch me.

Asif summoned by my thoughts, she stirred against my pillow, a pillow that would no doubt forever smell like her from here on out.Thatthought shouldn't make my cock twitch, but it did, and it made something in my heart squeeze painfully, as well.

Fuck, these feelings were difficult to handle.Icould only imagine what adding touch to the mix might do.

Herstunning amber eyes opened, lashes fluttering softly as she tried to get her bearings, looking around the dark room in confusion before they settled on my own.

"BlackJack?"

Shedidn't move, thankfully, nor did she pull away, andIheld my breath and nodded, waiting for her to continue her line of thought.

Herfingers stretched out against the blankets, and she shuddered as a remnant chill passed through her.Herlips turned down in a frown, and she peeked beneath the blankets, searching out my eyes again after she noticed her clothed state.

"Whathappened?"

Onlyhours ago,I'dbeen steadfastly ignoring her, avoiding her presence, eager to hide away and never be near her again, but now, fuck ifIwouldn't kill anyone who tried to take her from me.Iwasn't used to such a visceral reaction, but it somehow felt natural, right, likeIshouldfeel like this about her.

"YouandJokergot into it, and you locked yourself in his bathroom.Foran hour."

Sheglanced away, perhaps remembering how things escalated from there.Wedidn't know what she'd done after that door closed, andIactually wanted to.Iwanted to know why she'd nearly killed herself, why she'd been shoved into such a catatonic state.

Iechoed her earlier statement, though with less urgency. "Whathappened?"

Sheshook her head and refused to look in my direction; instead, her eyes bored a hole into my wall. "Idon't want to talk about it."

Herhands moved together and she rubbed absently at one of her wrists, teeth working her lower lip as tears formed in the corner of her eye.Andthen, as her hand pulled away from the wrist it rubbed,Ispotted them, plain as day.

Scars.

Suicidescars.

Myhand shot out and gripped her wrist, pulling it toward me insistently as her eyes widened and she fought me.Uncaringof her half-dressed state, she rolled to her knees asItugged her hand up for my perusal, holding her steady even as she threw all her weight behind an attempt to free herself.

"H-hey, don't—"

Ibrought the old wound to my lips and placed a tender kiss there, pouring out all the thingsIcouldn't put into words into that one small gesture of comfort.

Whenmy eyes rose and met hers, they, too, were full of tears.Tearsfor the beautiful creature who'd been so deeply scarred she'd tried to bleed herself dry to escape the pain.

---