Page 68 of Jagger
What made him this way?
Such beauty. A success beyond anyone’s wildest dreams. Yet so unhappy.
I want to know more, I want to understand him, but I’m still afraid. Like he’s reading my mind, he reaches out slowly, his hand cupping my face.
“Molly…” His voice is gruff, and it sets off fireworks along my skin. I shiver, and he moves closer. It’s like he needs me, and I know I need him, but I’m… “Don’t fear me. Never fear me.” Jagger drops to his knees, taking my hands and kissing them one at a time.
My heart thuds against my chest, and I try not to tremble, but I can’t help it. He hurt me once.
“I’m at your mercy, I told you.” Jagger gazes into my eyes, and I see nothing but raw honesty and pain. “You can take my life, do what you want with it. Because I mean this, Molly, I don’t want to live without you.”
“Jagger…” My voice is strangled with emotion, my heart ricocheting around my chest as he continues.
“No, I know. Iknow.I’m fucked up. But I’m not interested in getting better. I just want you to let me look after you. Let me…” His eyes mist over, and he grits his teeth. “Fuck, I can’t even say it.” He bows his head. “But…”
I lift my hand to run through his hair, something I’ve wanted to do for so long. I feel like I’ve been lost, missing…and now I’m home.
If he’s fucked up, what am I?
“No one knows me,” I confess, twirling his hair through my fingers. “No one.”
He shakes his head and kisses my hand. “Yeah, they do. I do.”
Tears well in my eyes. I look away. Jagger does know—he knows about the abuse; he took part in it—stop.He sees me as I am, and he isn’t judging me. He’s here, on his fucking knees for me.
Jagger Knox on his fucking knees for a girl.
A smile plays at the corners of my lips, and he tilts his head.
“What?”
“Look at you, all pretty on your knees for me,” I coo, leaning down so our faces are level. “I like it.”
Jagger’s gaze drops to my lips. “Then I’ll stay here forever.”
Fuck.
Fuck.
Fuck.
“What’s wrong with me?” I ask as I move closer to him, to his lips.
Jagger doesn’t move. “Nothing. You’re perfect.”
“I’m tainted,” I say, so close I can touch his lips with mine if I want to. And I want to. “I’m crazy for this.”
“For what?” Jagger whispers, and I give in. I press my lips to his, tasting the whiskey and fuck knows what else that makes himhim,but Jagger doesn’t kiss me back.
“Kiss me,” I command, then beg, “please.”
Jagger looks afraid, and I shake my head, my forehead against his.
“I’m not scared.”
“You are,” he whispers, his eyes closing. “You’ll always be afraid of me.”
I push him back, straddling him as he gazes at me. “I won’t.”
