Page 65 of Collateral Damage

I catch myself staring at her lips a little too long, pulling my focus away. I glare at the dry and flaky paint which is meant to be cream but is now warped greys with dirt marks dulling its colour.

“I'll see what I can do.” Her smile lights up my day. This drive to give her anything and everything she wants, this provider and protector inside of me is breaking through my mask.

She grabs her journal from the other end of the sofa. A little spot she's designated to hibernate with blankets and pillows.

“Are you ever going to tell me what you're writing?” She clutches the book, tucking her legs underneath her.

“If you tell me what's behind that door.” Annoyance plagues my face.

“Alora.”

“I'm kidding. Sorry-” her fingers graze the paper, contemplating whether or not to tell me the contents of her little world.“I've never shown anyone my writing.” My eyes narrow, trying to figure out why she wants to be a writer when she can't even share her work.

“Why not?”

“Because it's not worth reading.” I want to throw her against a wall and smack her ass for doubting herself.

“And how do you know that if you've never let anyone read it.”She's her own worst critic.

“I bet you've never read a book in your life.” Her messy hair scatters across her nose as she falls back into the couch, blowing it out of her face in irritation.

“Do mechanical books about engines count?” My answer is laced with sarcasm and she knows exactly what I mean, trying tosuck back in a smile as she thins her lips, but her dimples betray her.

“You're the last person I'd let read it.” I'd believe her if she wasn't grinning like a cheshire cat.

“Ouch-” I slide into the seat, slowly creeping my way towards her playfully. Mischief writing my face.

“Haydennnnnn….” Warning laces her tongue before I leap on her, pinning her underneath me watching her stretch her arm out as far as she can to keep it from my reach.“NO!- no! Hayden No!-” I could do this all day just to hear her uncontrollable laughter blessing my ears, purposefully reaching for it without the goal of actually taking it, watching her try to wiggle her way out of my hold. Fromunderneath me.

“Just one page.” I taunt her, taking my tongue to her throat listening to her gasp with surprise, clutching the book harder so she doesn’t drop it.

“It’s not happening!” Her fight is fading, breathing heavily down my ear and I want to sink my teeth into her neck to really give her something to fight against. Relight that fading glow with pain.

My hand reaches out grabbing it effortlessly, holding it in the air and she goes limp where her arms gone dead, panting with adrenaline pumping through her gaze. I could easily take it right now. I won’t. But that fear licking at her trembling lip is keeping my hand there, watching her fight all the ways to resist her temptations. There is so muchwantin her eyes. Like she’s forgotten all about it as our eyes stare into different worlds. Holding it. Her eyes find my mouth, darting back up to my eyes like she’s caught herself looking and I pull the book back in, placing it on her chest between us.

“CarefulPuppet. I might just be the star of your new story.” Her cheeks fall strawberry red, gripping it to her body like a vice and that tells me everything I need to know.

??

She’s sleeping peacefully as usual. She hasn’t had night terrors for quite a while which eases my mind. That night is finally letting her rest. Can’t say the same for me though. It plays on loop thinking of all the ways I could have prevented it, but nothing would have prevented this. I was too hell bent on taking his life. I keep asking myself, would I still have done it if she had made herself known before I pulled the trigger? And in the heat of the moment, I don't think even she would have been able to stop me. I just thank whoever the hell is up there that she didn’t watch me pull the trigger that night.

I finish my cigarette, hopping off the trunk of the car and make my way inside. My nightly routine that I've noticed helps me mellow out in the evenings. I slide into bed next to her, pulling the blanket up to cover her bare shoulders where she’s moved about and get comfortable. I get about two hours a night now which is more than I ever used to get. Her soft breathing has become my lullaby.

I lay there staring at her for a while, admiring the random tiny curls in her hair and the way she hugs her hand when she sleeps.My fingers find her back, tracing her velvet skin down to her spine and I don't even realise I'm doing it until she moves slightly, whimpering on instinct. Even asleep her body is yearning for me and my groin twitches.

Play - ‘Archangel - Burial’

I paint an abstract piece of art on her back with my fingers, crawling up the back of her neck drawing out her timid whines as our bodies slowly close the gap until my torso is flush against her ass. Pushing the blanket to run down her arms exposing the curves in her hips, she digs herself into me like an invitation and I’m way too fucking horny for this shit. Trailing my handuntil I find that soft crease in between her lips and her thigh, I rub against the silk of her pyjamas, pulling her in closer until she’s practically inside of me, exhaling slowly to calm my mind-numbing temptation, so loud I can’t hear myself think.

Her sleepy hand searches for mine cautiously as she quivers slightly, sliding her fingers above mine before slowly guiding my hand as she grabs onto my fingers, moving by millimetres as her soft little breaths quicken their pace. My mouth parts, inching towards the sensitive area at the back of her neck listening to a heavy sigh escape her mouth.She wants me to touch her.

I shut out the angel on my shoulder only concentrating on the one in front of me, poking the tips of my tongue against the ridge of her hairline, feeling her shudder against me and her noises make my hairs stand on end. I grip her inner thigh tighter in sync with my jaw as I rock into her frame, grinding against the warmth of her ass, sucking out her fear, pumping her with confidence as her hand finally presses mine between her legs.

“Is this what you want?” My voice is husky and raw, teasing her ear with my teeth, she nods her head in agreement.

“Words,Innocence.”

A huff of disapproval slips out, pushing her head further back into me giving me access to my delicacy like that will be a better answer but I pull my head away.

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