Page 24 of Beautifully Reckless

With the motorcycle tyre behind the skull and the wings fanning out at each side, I get a sense of freedom from it.

Or maybe, my hormones are making me see shit that isn’t there.

I really don’t know.

Ringo exhales sharply, tugging at his dark strands before tilting his head back, looking up at the sky.

My eyes follow, the twinkling stars above so dull compared to how brightly they shine back in Fox Pines.

A perk of country living I guess.

“I’m sorry.” His words float to me, soft yet heavy, before he drops his hands and spins back to face me.

For a long moment we stare at each other.

And it’s then that I see something different behind his whiskey eyes.

Pain.

It’s not the kind of pain that comes and goes. It’s the kind of pain that settles deep. The kind that makes you feel like you’re drowning.

I know that kind of pain.

As hard as I try to stop it, my lip wobbles, my reaction visceral.

“Abs, I need you to know my reaction to seeing you pregnant wasn’t because of something you did.” His voice is rough, taking on a husky tone.

It’s incredibly sexy, but there’s no room for thoughts like that right now.

I shake my head, swallowing hard. “I don’t understand,” I admit, and he chuckles, although there is no humour to it. Just bitterness.

“Shit, I don’t even want to have this fucking conversation.”

His words are like a slap, and I jerk back, instantly throwing up my walls.

“Then don’t!” I snap, my feet already moving to flee.

“Wait. Abs. That came out wrong.”

He reaches for me, gripping my arm as I try to move past, but I wrench free, heart hammering, my instincts screaming at me to get away.

“I don’t think it did,” I bite out. “Your words were pretty clear.”

Storming off, I don’t get far before his strong hands grip my waist and slip around my middle, his large, warm palms settling over my belly. Over my baby.

“Don’t run from me, Angel.”

His breath fans across my ear, and for a moment, I relax back into him.

It’s instinct.

It’s what I crave.

To melt into him.

To believe him.

But I have more than myself to think about now. I can’t let my emotions dictate how I handle things.

---