Page 79 of Beautifully Reckless

Her lips part, as if she’s gearing up to argue, but then snaps them shut, her big doe eyes flickering with uneasiness.

“Is there something wrong with me?” she whispers. “You know… for being like that?”

It’s as close to an admission of acceptance as I’m going to get from her.

She knows she’s a submissive. I’ve told her as much. But given the way she was raised, I can see it doesn’t sit right with her.

She wants to fight against the way she was brought up. Wants to be something else. Someone else. But honestly? I think it’s just who she is. Her mum likely saw it too, and she fucking abused it. Bent Abbey’s nature into something ugly so she could control her.

“There’s absolutely nothing wrong with you, Angel. You’re fucking perfect.”

Shit. I need to stop saying what’s in my damn head.

Her face softens, lips parting just a little as she speaks a quiet truth of her own.

“I don’t know that I’m perfect, but when you look at me like that, I feel it.”

Fuck.I want to kiss her.

I want to kiss her, press her into this mattress, and grind my cock against her soaked core until she’s begging me to finish what I started.

“Shit,” I rasp, leaning in and pressing my forehead to hers, eyes squeezing shut as I breathe her in. Her scent, her breath, the fuckingwarmthof her lips hovering so close to mine.

She’s right there.

So close.

I could just do it. Step over the line and…

Rearing back, I shove off the bed, leaving her wide eyed as I put distance between us.

“Bathroom is through there.” I point to the open door across the room. “You should find everything you need.”

Moving to the wardrobe, I scoop up a couple of sleeping bags and some spare clothes for JD. When I turn back to Abbey, she’s sitting up on my bed, her cheeks flushed and confusion etched across her pretty face.

“What are you doing?”

“Grabbing a few things for me and JD,” I tell her casually, already moving back into the living area.

“Aren’t you staying here with me?” she calls after me, before quickly backpedaling. “I mean… you don’t have to. I guess it just seems weird that you’d give up your bed. Because I can totally sleep somewhere else if you want your own space, Cameron. The little nook under the stairs with the bookshelves is kind of perfect, actually. I can sleep there and—”

I spin back to her, cutting off her nervous ramble.

“You’re sleeping inmybed. You’re staying inmyroom. And I’m staying out in the barn. That’s all there is to it.”

Her mouth drops open as she frowns.

“But why? Did I do something wrong?”

I shake my head, closing the space between us, the sleeping bags and clothes still clutched to my chest.

“You didn’t do anything, Angel. I just think my ma would prefer it this way.”

Lies. Fucking lies. I told her I’d never lie to her, yet here I fucking am, lying right to her face.

But what am I meant to say?

If I stay here, I’ll fuck you.I’ll drive my cock so deep inside you, you’ll forget any man has ever touched you.

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