Page 158 of Beautifully Wounded

Glancing up at the towering man, close to the same height as Ringo, I take in his mussed beard and hair. “What happens on Fridays?” I ask and he points to the giggling Doxies whose tits are clearly visible through the thin fabric.

“Shit like this,” JD offers, like that makes total sense, and I shake my head in disbelief.

“I guess every day is a party, hey?”

“Now you’re getting it.” JD nudges my shoulder again.

“Stop chatting up my woman.” Ringo’s gruff voice comes from behind us, so we turn to see him glaring at JD, as much as his bruised face will let him.

“I don’t remember you being this possessive with—”

“Shut the fuck up.” Ringo snarls, cutting JD off before his eyes settle on me and soften. “Hey, Angel.”

My grin is from ear to ear. I can feel it. My cheeks are on fire too as he smiles at me.

Ikind of want to ask him who JD was just referring to, but I love the way he’s looking at me so much. I don’t want anything to take it away.

“What the fuck is going on here? Lovey dovey eyes?” JD snickers and darts out of the way when Ringo tries to whack him. “Too slow. You look a little battered there, brother.”

“I wonder why,” Ringo scoffs, reaching out to me absentmindedly and tugging me to his side.

We fit together so naturally. It should be weird, right? Nothing about how we met or our pasts fit. We are polar opposites. It’s safe to say Ringo comes from the wrong side of the tracks compared to me.

Yet, still, the way he holds me, the way this thumb brushes back and forth absentmindedly over my nape before he runs his fingers through my hair, all while he continues talking shit with his best mate, it feels so easy.

“You should have woken me when you got up,” Ringo rasps against my ear when JD heads to the centre of the courtyard to join the wet t-shirt competition, or whatever it is they are doing.

“You looked so peaceful. I wanted to let you get some sleep since I kind of woke you through the night.”

His eyes meet mine as he turns me, pressing me back against the porch post, bracing one hand above my head as he leans in close.

“You can wake me anytime you want something like that, Angel.”

His nearness has me feeling dizzy, but in a good way. My heart races and my tongue darts out to lick my lips as he closes the distance.

I swear I melt the moment our lips meet. My heart thrashes in excitement and something that feels like hope blooms in my chest.

I’m not sure what the hope is.

Hope for more with Ringo? Or just general hope that perhaps I’ll be okay.

I have no idea what my future looks like. There’s so much yet to figure out. The reason I was desperate to flee my home is still a situation I have to face. And soon.

But today, right now, I’m here with Ringo. I’m here at the Western, somewhere in the outer suburbs of Melbourne, and I’m safe.

Threading his fingers into my hair, Ringo deepens our kiss, angling my head back as he draws me flush with him.

I can feel his erection pressing against me. A hard rod that doesn’t seem so scary now that I’ve had my hand wrapped around it until he came.

Oh man, just remembering that moment has heat pooling between my legs, and I moan into our kiss.

“Ahhh, Ringo?”

The male voice has Ringo growling into my mouth this time, and he barely pulls back, instead speaking against my lips.

“What the fuck do you want, Brody?” he snaps, but then pulls back abruptly to glare at the guy. “Why the fuck are you still here? I thought I told you to fucking leave.”

“Prez wants you. We found Morris.”

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