Page 90 of Injustice and Absolution

Everyone gets angry. Everyone lashes out as a result of their pain or fear.

And as far as him beating that guy? Well, he was protecting Jade. I mean, Christ, look at what Royce has done for those he cares about. Me included. And I’m sure what I know he’s done is only the tip of the iceberg.

This is no different.

As though he can sense me thinking about him, I feel Drew’s eyes on me again. When I look across the room, I see him watching me. I feel his magnetism luring me to him.

My core swirls with pride and lust for the man who has given me so much. A home, a job, a family.

This time, I don’t ignore his stare and get back to work. Instead, I walk over to the man who will do anything to protect those he cares about.

Guilt at thinking so poorly of him eats away at me with each step. The fact that he doesn’t know about my brief lack of faith in him doesn’t matter. But I find the only way to move past my feelings is to atone for them.

I meet him where he stands just outside of the employee hallway. Locking eyes on him, I see fire in his stare. Taking his hand in mine, I lead him down the hall and into his office.

Once inside, I turn around and wrap my arms around his neck, bringing my lips to his. The moment he accepts my kiss, I feel my guilt, as well as the awkwardness that still hovers over us, melt away.

“Woah,” he says, breaking the kiss too soon. “What was that for, pretty girl?”

I relish the love that encircles my heart when my nickname slides off his tongue.

“I don’t know, I just had to,” I shake my head, truly perplexed at my need to please him in that moment.

It goes beyond guilt or anything else I felt just prior to bringing him in here. “I felt … hypnotized, almost. Compelled to come kiss you. I couldn’t fight my urge… And I didn’t want to.”

The delight on his face is exactly what I’ve been craving all week. I didn’t realize how much until this very moment.

“You amaze me, you know that?” he admits, taking my breath away. “I love you.”

I can’t stop the goofy smile that spreads across my face. I feel like an idiot, beaming at him, but I don’t care. It’s the first time he’s said he loves me since before shit went south last week. The butterflies I felt after we first met have returned, and I know I would do anything to keep this feeling alive.

Anything to keep Drewthishappy.

And so utterly pleased with me.

CHAPTER THIRTY

DELILAH

“When you’re finished can I have a word with you in my office?” Drew creeps up behind me, and I feel his hand glide across my ass.

Before I’m able to back up into it, he walks around to the other side of my table and hits me with a stare I’ve seen many times before.

He’s turned on. And my pussy throbs at the thought of what he’ll do to me once we’re behind closed doors again.

“Of course. Be there in a minute,” I reply with a coy smile. Though it’s no secret to anyone here that we’re together, we do try to save our salacious banter for when we’re in private.

“Jacqui, are you almost done?” he inquires before leaving the floor.

“Yup, just about. Ethan said he’ll walk me to my car when I’m ready.”

After all this time, there’s still something about Ethan that doesn’t sit right with me, but I can’t place my finger on what it is. It’s more than being uncomfortable around him because he’s a guy, but I’m trying my hardest to eliminate this feeling.

He’s given me no reason to believe he’s not to be trusted, especially knowing how well he looks after the girls who work here.

“Excellent, have a good night you two.” Drew nods to both Jacqui and Ethan before strolling off.

I finish wiping down my tables and tucking the chairs under as quickly as I can before all but running to his office.

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