Page 12 of Knocked Up

Nodding, she steps toward the asshole and grabs for his phone, but he tugs it away. While this is happening, I assess the situation. He isn’t trying to hit her, and he doesn’t seem to have any weapons with him, so I’m not sure how much damage he can do.

Allowing Grace to have control, I step behind the lanky little prick in front of me and angle my foot in front of his ankle, toppling him down onto the ground.

Thankfully, Grace doesn’t see the move. She just smiles and grabs his phone as he falls.

“It’s still recording. One click and the whole thing goes live.” His dark eyes are wide with bullshit. If he wanted to go live, he would’ve gone there to begin with.

I glance toward Grace who’s going through the phone. “Are we good? Can I take him outside?”

She nods, and I grab him by the back of his shirt before dragging him through the front door and onto the porch where the sun is setting behind the pines. It’s a beautiful night, actually. Warm with a gentle breeze. The perfect temperature for fucking someone up.

For some reason the asshole doesn’t stand. He lays there cowering, his lip still split from the punches I gave him the night before.

“You can stop,” he begs. “I’m not gonna post that video.”

“You’re right you’re not,” I laugh, “because we’ve got the phone. You know what else you’re not gonna do?”

The kid shakes his head and stares at me as though his elevator doesn’t go all the way to the top.

I land my foot on his ribcage and stare down at him. “You’re not coming back here, and you’re not talkin’ to Grace again. You’re not confusing this baby with your bullshit. Tell me you understand.”

“I understand,” he stutters as he climbs up off the ground, wiping the dirt off his shirt. “I do need my phone back, though. I—”

I step toward him, using my size to intimidate. “If you come back here, I’ll make sure no one ever finds your body. Have I made myself clear?”

He stares back at me for a long moment, and I wonder if he’s going to try some shit.

I kind of wish he would.

“Got it.” He kicks his boot against the gravel driveway as he stalks toward his car.

What the fuck is wrong with people?

“That wasn’t dramatic or anything.” Grace stands in the doorway, her pretty dress back in place, blowing in the breeze. “God, he was filming from the window before he came inside. So… if you want a playback of me sucking your dick, we have one.” A tear rolls down her face. “I don’t know what I’m going to do. He’s such a mess. How did I ever let our relationship get this far?”

I step toward her, my hand on the side of her face. “You’re not blaming yourself. Say it. You need to hear it.”

She stares up at me as though I’ve grown an extra head.

“I’m serious. The more you say it, the more credence it has. You’re not to blame.”

“I’m not to blame,” she feathers back through her hair and swallows hard, “but I made the choices. I dated him. I stayed when I knew he was cheating. I kept sleeping with him even when it didn’t feel right.”

My fingertips weave into her silky hair. “You are not to blame. Say it again.”

Her brows narrow as though she wants to fight it, but eventually her pretty pink lips part. “I’m not to blame.”

“Good girl. Do you know why you’re not to blame?”

She shakes her head and stares up at me with the sweetest, most innocent stare that leaves my cock aching for her again.

“You’re not to blame because you’re the most perfect woman I’ve ever met.”

Her shoulders lower. “That’s not true. I’m not perfect. I’m—”

“You’re perfect,” I lean into her lips and kiss her slowly, breathing in the sweetest floral scent, “believe me.” I take the phone from her hand and delete the video before smashing it into the ground. I’ll throw it in the river later, but right now, I have more pressing matters at hand.

Chapter Seven