Page 65 of Splintered Hearts

“You know you’re beautiful, okay? I’m not in the mood, though.” Jamie peeks at me before concentrating back on the drawing. “I didn’t have a good day today.”

“I’m sorry. Do you want to talk about it?”

Jamie shakes his head. “No. Thank you, though.”

“I’m just teasing you. I’m not trying to seduce you, I promise. Like, at all.” All I want to do is spend time with him. That’s it.

Done sketching, he grabs another marker, shifting a bit before frowning. “Can we move a little?”

“Uh, yeah.”

Jamie thinks for a moment, chewing his bottom lip.

“What is it?”

“Just trying to think of how I want you.”

“On all fours from behind is a fan favorite.”

Jamie surprises me with a tension-breaking laugh. “I have no doubt.” Getting off the bed, he looks down at me and whatever he was drawing. If I wanted to peek I could but I kind of want it to be a surprise.

Moving to the side of me, he looks down. “Can you turn more this way?” Motioning me to roll a bit, I do, moving more onto my side. Sitting down, he grimaces, turning to the side and putting himself in an awkward, twisted position. Jamie’s eyes flick up to mine, and I see clear pain.

“Back bothering you that badly?”

Brow furrowed, he goes back to my stomach with a black marker, drawing again. “I’m fine.”

“I can move more so you don’t—”

“I said it’s fine!”

Snatching the marker out of his hand without looking at the drawing, I get up. “Stop being a baby and ask for help. You’re exhausting!” Knowing where he needs to draw, an idea to comes to mind. “You need the front of my stomach right?” Looking away, he nods. “Sit back against the wall. Come on.” Shooing him into position, I wait for him to get comfortable and hand him the marker. “Stay there.”

I open my dresser, grabbing the heating pad I sometimes use when I work out, while Jamie rests against the wall, looking miserable. Looking behind the bed, I find an outlet and plug it in. Then, turning it on, I motion him back and reach under his shirt, startling as he grabs my wrist.

“What are you doing?”

“I’m just putting it on your back. Relax.” Glaring down at the fingers on my wrist, anger hits me. “Grab me like that again, andI’ll rip your dick clean off your body and have it stuffed.” It’s not that it hurts, it isn’t violent, but each time he does that it takes me back to my home, to my father, and I’m tired of it. “Use your words. Don’t be a dick.”

Peeling his fingers off me, Jamie seems to sink into himself before grabbing the heating pad. “I’m sorry.”

“It’s fine. I’m not going to strip you naked and sit on your dick. Just relax. Believe it or not, I can resist you, Jamie. Honestly, each time you open your mouth, it makes it easier to do so.” Pinching his lips, Jamie concedes as I wrap the heating pad around his body, and I smile as his eyes close with the heat. I can’t help but feel good. “Feel’s nice, doesn’t it, asshole?” Opening his eyes, they soften, and he looks away with a nod.

Climbing onto his lap, I sit up on my knees, right before him. “What are you doing?”

“You need my stomach, but you’re too stubborn to tell me how much pain you’re clearly in. Here’s my stomach.”

“I didn’t mean sit in my lap.”

“I’m sitting up on my knees, barely even touching you.” Jamie glares up at me. “The more you waste your time being sexually frustrated and bitchy, the longer this is going to take. Just get what you need to get done.” This was supposed to be fun.

Glaring for a stubborn second, Jamie grabs the marker again. I rest my hands on his shoulders so they have a place to go. Jamie doesn’t even comment on the touch, just concentrates on drawing. The marker tickles as it drags across my stomach.

While he focuses, I squeeze his shoulders a bit, kneading the muscle there, not commenting on the tiny noises that leave him when I squeeze a certain way. When Jamie snapped at me, I understood it for what it was. A defense. A mask. For some reason, he doesn’t like to ask for help. “You can ask me for help, you know. I won’t think less of you.”

The marker freezes on my skin. Looking up between my arms,Jamie frowns before capping the pen. “I’m sorry I yelled at you. I—” Swallowing he shakes his head. “It’s embarrassing.”

“Why are you embarrassed?” Jamie’s eyes go unfocused and he shakes his head. “The scars?”

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