Page 92 of Damaged

It stays, blooming in my brain, spine, and pussy like an explosion of color. I keep shaking, and James’s grunts grow louder and closer together.

“I’m going to come.”

“Oh. Come in me.” I hope he knows this is code forI’m on the pill.

He pulls both my arms behind my back so my face is pressed helplessly into the mattress and keeps fucking me senseless. He pauses and groans, and I shiver as I feel his cock twitch hard inside me. It’s so big, I can feel it pulse as he empties himself. He falls on top of me, his cock still inside.

I start to giggle, but he’s too short of breath to join me. He exhales only a little laugh, and we lie like that, cuddling, as I feel his cock begin to grow soft in me.

Our breathing slowly becomes even and light.

“I can’t believe you didn’t let me brush my teeth first,” I finally say, jokingly. “Nasty.”

“I could find you lost in the Amazon after thirty days without a shower, and I’d still want to fuck you.”

“I may be pretty, but I get stinky.”

“Hmm. Good,” James says and sloppily kisses my neck.

I laugh and bat him away. He moves his hand up to my bruised shoulder, and I wince and gasp under his touch. “Shit,” I hiss.

The adrenaline and passion made my wounds forgettable in the moment, but now that I’m coming down, I can feel the pain coming back.

James is staring at my bruises. His mouth hangs open a little. Sorrow pinches his brow. It’s like he’s seeing them again for the first time. Suddenly, I watch as his fists clench and his green eyes flash with hate and a rage so visible that I stiffen.

I put a hand on his chest. “It’s okay.I’mokay.”

My words do little to uncloud his eyes. He turns away and gets out of bed. I feel hurt now. More hurt from James becoming standoffish than I do from these stupid bruises.

“Hey,” I say, trying to get him back into bed.

“I have to go to the city.”

“What?”

“I can be back as soon as tomorrow. Don’t worry about safety. I hired extra security for this place. They’re staying in the guesthouse. They’re guys I trust with my life. You can give them a shopping list to take to town.”

“You’re just leaving?”

“I know it’s a bad look, but I will be back. If I stay here without doing something first…” He looks at my bruised shoulder. “I’m not going to be pleasant to be around.”

“You can’t put it off a day or two?”

“I’m already putting it off. A detective from the NYPD has offered to drive all the way out here to collect your statement. He’s in touch with Brock. He can fill you in on when he’ll drop by.”

I pull the fur blanket up around my nakedness. I feel exposed now. It feels too obvious that I like James more than he likes me. I know he’s tortured. I know he can’t stand the fact that I was hurt. But can’t he put that aside to understand that walking out on a woman a few minutes after fucking her is bad form?

“I’ll show you around the house some more, but then I’m catching a flight. I’ve had my jet brought to the local airport. You can fly back with me if you want, but you shouldn’t leave your apartment. My security has told me the press has posted up outside our building.”

I grimace. “Like paparazzi?”

“Yes, and they’ll follow you like flies wherever you go. Best to wait a few days. This heist will leave the news cycle soon, and they’ll get bored.”

“James, what about the robbers? Don’t you think they might want revenge?”

He scoffs as he pulls on his pants. “There’s truly no honor among thieves. They’re probably pissed at their dead buddy for becoming a corpse and being the detective’s number-one lead. Once they ID him, they’ll likely be able to pinpoint the associates. The only problem is that they and the artifacts are far out of the country by now. That’s a once-in-a-lifetime heist. One and done. They won’t be popping their heads out except at their local seaside wine shop.”

I want to believe him, but the idea of being in this big house all by myself is making me uneasy. I don’t care if there’s security stationed thirty feet out the back door.

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