Page 99 of Broken Skulls

The way her nose wrinkles makes me laugh.

“Like a job?”

“Not necessarily a job, but what you like to do. A hobby or something.”

She thinks about what I’ve said as she eats. In some ways she’s still an innocent teenager. That fucker had her head so consumed with fear for her child that she didn’t have time to waste on everyday thoughts or worries.

I never rush her for a response, and I think she appreciates that.

“I’ll have to think about it,” she says as we’re getting ready to head outside.

My hand rests on her back as we make our way out the door. “Elizabeth, there’s no timetable on discovering what makes you tick. I just want you to explore a little.”

I’ve been letting her follow me around the past few weeks. I mean, I don’t mind. She listens to me ramble on about the shit I have outside. Not only that, but she also asks questions. She’s genuinely curious. With that said, I know it’s not healthy for her to wrap her entire existence around me.

As I’m organizing a haul I just got in, I notice her slowly moving away from me, her gaze searching the yard. I hold my breath each time she pauses, wondering how far she’s brave enough to wander away from me. She’s been stuck to me like glue ever since Jesse’s abduction.

A smile grows on my face as I watch her tiptoe farther away, picking her way through my junk. She squats down to run her hand over something. When she stands, I catch the brief panic that overtakes her.

She spins in a circle until her gaze finally finds mine. Her shoulders fall when she sees me watching her. I wave to calm her racing heart. I can feel her smile from here. Slowly, she picks her way back to me.

“Find anything?” I ask.

“I know you love everything here, and I love it because you do, but I can’t lie to you. So here it goes … I don’t think car parts are beautiful. There, I said it.”

I try to stifle a laugh with the back of my gloves. It earns me a smack in the arm.

“Jacob, I was scared I was going to hurt your feelings.”

Her hands drop to her curvy hips. Seriously this woman is sexy as fuck.

“You’re too cute.” She backs away when I reach for her. “Come on.”

“What if I don’t find something?”

This time when I make a grab for her wrist, she doesn’t pull away. “Oh, you’ll find something. You just have to keep your eyes open. I see something new every day,” I tell her as I boost her up into the forklift.

She shifts so that I can take the seat, and then she perches her fine ass on my lap.

“Will you punish me if I don’t find something?”

My head instantly pulls back. “What?”

Her hair falls like a curtain over her shame. I push it behind her shoulder. “Elizabeth, look at me.”

She does.

“I’m sorry. My reaction wasn’t one of judgment. I just wasn’t expecting your question, that’s all.”

When she remains quiet, my heart takes a dip. I need to keep better reign on my emotions.

“I’m going to need you to define that a little more for me if you can,” I encourage softly.

My gaze trails the flush that rushes up her chest.

“Do you mean like a funishment?” I ask.

She covers her face with both palms.

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