Page 59 of Stutter

“Tash, I thank you and Tom so much for helping me with this, but this… you’re right. I didn’t know how deep this was going to get and I rather you stay away from this and myself until it’s over.” I stand, lay down way more cash than the coffee is worth and shove my wallet back in my coat pocket.

Before I can escape, she grabs my wrist harshly, not letting go until I look down at her. “Will you just fucking listen to me for once in your goddamn miserable life, Maverick, for fucks sake!”

The diner hushes to a whisper. I nod once.

“You can’t save her.”

“I’m not trying to save her, T. I’m letting it happen the way it has to. I’m letting it unravel.”

She looks at me incredulously as though she has no idea what the fuck I’m talking about, and I’m glad she doesn’t.

“Drive safely, Tasha. Give Tom my best.”

“You’ll die, Maverick. These people… this… You’ll die.”

I pause at her words but not for long, remembering what happened on campus earlier. I lean down and kiss my former partner on the temple. “Then you’ll at least be able to sleep knowing I didn’t go down without a fight.”

Chapter Fifteen

Raven.

It’s still early and I’m still a ball of nervous energy when Damon finally slips into bed with Jonas and me and pulls me to him until our noses touch. In the purple glow of the fairy lights Jonas hung for me from the bookshelf they built me that is slowly but surely being filled again, I can see his gunmetal eyes skating over my features. He leans closer and rubs his nose against mine, and his lips gingerly tap on mine in the softest kiss ever known to mankind.

“Qu’est-ce qui ne va pas, Amourette?”What’s wrong, little love?

Maverick never came back, although he did send a text he had to go to Boston and he would be back either later or in the morning, but his tracker shows he’s home. But I don’t tell Damon all of that, I simply say, “Je’t..taime t-t-ellement.”I love you so much.

He chuckles, rolling his eyes. “Oh, yeah, I can definitely see the issue.” His hand comes up to my head, but he cups my face. “I think it’s time I suggest a therapy session, Little Bird. A real one, where you actually tell me what’s going on instead of staring at me or blinking your answers.”

I groan and climb onto him instead, straddling him then rest my head on his chest, listening to his strong heartbeat.There’s a shuffling beside us and soon, Jonas is blinking at us, propped on an elbow.

“You okay baby?”

I nod, reaching out to him, and he scoots closer. I hate that I constantly wake them up. They’re up all hours of the night with me and my… antics. I just sleep better knowing they’re all with me, and with Maverick being gone and lying about where he is unsettles me. I mean, his tracker did show he was in Lynnfield earlier but… whatever he’s doing must be important otherwise he’d be here. Right?

“I suggested a therapy session and she groaned and rolled onto me instead.” Damon tattles but places his large hands on my back, and begins to rub soothing circles up and down my back, landing on my ass. He squeezes a handful but goes back to rubbing on me. It sends shivers down my body and a surge of desire pulsing through me.

“Baby, you’re not taking advantage of the free, live-in psychotherapist?”

I laugh and shake my head.

“Baby…” he says it in a tone so soothing I exhale happily when his hand comes up to my face and his thumb grazes my cheekbone. “It might help. I still do my sessions every Tuesday. He even knows about Paris now.”

I look at Damon for confirmation and he nods. I did not know this. I contemplate it as Damon’s hands still go over every inch of me he can touch, hardening underneath me and the mere thought that simply touching me makes him hard sends all those good, warm fuzzy feelings to my insides like they would when I’d wake up in his ward, or walk down the long, blindingly white corridors of Lorne Wood to his office for our daily appointment. As far as I knew, I was the only one that had daily appointments. Everyone else only had them once or twice a week.

I grin to myself.

What a conniving sneaky doctor.

Kronos sits up and barks twice, alerting us to something and we hear the front door slam.

“It’s just me!” Maverick calls from downstairs and I sit up as we hear his steps on the stairs. I’m so ready to jump offDamon and fly to Maverick, happy to see him but I’m still mad he lied. Did he lie? I can’t seem to care. I’m just happy to see him. Damon pulls me back down and keeps me in place by holding onto my thighs and I squirm against his dick still hardening, feeling myself grow slick. He pulls my thong aside and plunges barely knuckle deep into my hole, and I let out a soft moan. Silver eyes darken, giving me a look that tells me to be quiet.

I’m pretty sure I’ve been conditioned to get wet with their touch and I don’t hate it.

Maverick sets his duffel bag and his work satchel by the door and strides over then leans down to kiss me. “Hello, pretty girl.”

I hum happily, Damon fingering me under the blanket, pulling out to circle my clit only to shove his entire finger in my pussy, playing, making room for the other one.

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