Page 12 of Beautiful Scar

“I didn’t think you’d want me hanging around.”

“No, it’s just, I don’t—” She gets up, storms over to the champagne, and rips it from the bucket. She fiddles with the paper and the covering. “How the hell do you open this thing?”

“Let me.” I take it from her and twist off the cork cover, then pop it open. She flinches and looks away. I pour two glasses. “You said something a minute ago about not leaving your house.”

“Looks like we both should’ve done more research,” she mutters, drinking the champagne. But she doesn’t elaborate. “I need something to sleep in.” She gestures down at her dress.

“Give me a moment.” I step into the other room and call down to Damian. I tell him to go to her house and get her some clothes. When I come back in, she’s refilling her glass. “Clothes are on their way.”

“Just like that, huh?”

“Just like that.” I finish my drink and study her. She’s over near the window. Her hair’s down to the center of her back, and I can picture wrapping it around my fist as her lips glide up and down my vein-covered shaft. How the fuck am I having these thoughts about a woman I don’t even know? Some scared girl on her twenty-fifth birthday?

Trapped in a marriage she doesn’t want.

And yet the monster in me likes the idea of making hermine.

“Tell me about yourself then.” She keeps her distance, but the alcohol seems to be loosening her up. “Just one brother?”

“Technically, he’s my cousin, but it’s a long story. We were raised as brothers, and I owe him everything.”

“Sounds complicated.”

“What about you?”

“One older brother. He was there tonight.”

I vaguely recall an angry-looking young man with some family resemblance, though I could barely keep my eyes off her.

“Are you close?”

“Sometimes, but it’s hard, you know? He moved out and has his own life. While I just…” She gestures in the air.

“Stayed inside.”

“Exactly.” She laughs lightly, but there’s an edge to it. “You know, a crazy shut-in.”

“I don’t think you know crazy,pisik.”

“What doespisikmean, anyway? It’s something like… small cat?”

“Little kitten.”

“I’m not sure how I feel about that.”

I finish my champagne and fill another glass. I ask her questions about her life growing up, some of which she dodges. I getthe sense that whatever happened, it happened when she was young, and it left her with the scar on her face.

Mostly, she talks about school, hobbies, and her garden.

There’s a knock at the door. Just as she was loosening up a bit talking about her rosebushes, she suddenly clamps down and shrivels. I go to answer, and it’s Damian with a light blue duffel bag. “Her things. I met her very kind older brother.”

“Do I need to take care of him?”

Damian grins and shakes his head. “Nah. He was just pissed about the situation. A protective older brother.”

“Good. That’s how it should be.” I thank him and let him go for the night. I head back into the room and hand her the bag. “Apparently, your brother’s concerned about you.”

“That’s good, I guess. Glad someone cares.” She unzips the bag and takes out a pair of black sweats and a pair of black underwear. She glances at me and quickly shoves the panties away, her face turning pink. “Sorry. You shouldn’t have seen those.”

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