Page 77 of Jagged Line Paradise

He’s first to speak as he gradually loosens his grip on my neck. “Shit. Fuck, I’m sorry. I hurt you. Did you come?”

I want to cry.

I want to cry, but I don’t know where it’s coming from or why. I don’t speak—can’tspeak. I force a small smile and nod, my cheek rubbing the tile it’s still pressed against.

I think he finally realizes I’m still bent, arched, pushed against the wall in a painful position. His hand swoops around to my throat, gently gripping it to lift me up before he spins me around and wraps his arms around me.

“Are you okay?” he murmurs with his lips against the crook of my neck.

“I’m fine,” I say softly into his shoulder.

I’mfine.

It’s fine.

Everything is fine.

Chapter 20

Andrés

I TOOK AVALONto bed after I fucked her in the shower. Something was off. Things didn’t feel quite right. She let me hold her in bed until we both fell asleep, but she was tense, distant, and it made my chest hurt. I should’ve let her go, moved away, and given her more space to relax, but it only made me hold her tighter. I was afraid I’d lose her if I let her go.

I know I lost myself a little in the heat of the moment. I was too rough with her. I hurt her; I know I did. She’s still sound asleep beside me now as the sunlight creeps in, and I can see the bruising on the side of her neck from where I held her in my grip.

I knew it would happen. I knew I couldn’t control myself entirely with her. She’s an angel, heaven-sent, perfectly imperfect, and the beast inside me wants to destroy her.

I don’t want to destroy her.

I don’t want to wake her, but she’s so damn beautiful, I can’t help but reach out and brush a strand of her orange-red hair from her face. She stirs at my touch, a soft moan humming from her lips as her eyelids flicker. I brush my hand down the side of her head, stroking as I watch her wake slowly.

Her forehead crinkles as her eyes blink open. I could die of a heart attack for the way she makes my heart pound so erratically. Her stare catches and there’s a moment of peace between us. This moment begs for more, begs for me to wake up beside her like this every goddamn day.

I’mso in love with her.

She looks at me quietly, expressionless, and it kind of hurts.

“Are you okay?”

She sighs. “Yeah.”

“I’m sorry about last night. I was rough.” I let my hand trail down the side of her neck, brushing over the bruise I caused. “I hurt you. I didn’t mean to.”

She presses her eyes shut as I stroke her skin. “It’s okay. I let you.”

“I should’ve been gentler with you.”

“It’s fine.”

I trace my hand down her shoulder, stroking down to her wrist and back up again, drawing that line over and over. She purrs a little at my soothing touch and it draws me closer. I scoot in, pressing against her, pushing my leg between hers and lifting one of hers over my hip.

I lay my head beside hers on her pillow and gently brush my lips over hers. She’s tense again. She’s tense, but she doesn’t pull back.Ishould pull back, be a goddamn gentleman, but I don’t. I don’t know what the fuck is wrong with me that I keep pushing.

I kiss her, soft and slow, lips with no tongue. I bring my hand to her head, stroking her hair again, and in moments, I feel her release that god-awful tension. She moans, her body finally relaxing into me, and her lips part. I let her lead as she seeks my tongue, holding back the way I want to devour her and slip inside her so she can feel comfortable and safe. Though I don’t know that she’s safe with me…not after the way I lost it last night.

She ends the kiss as quickly as it began, but she doesn’t pull away. She sinks, moving in closer to press her face to my chest, wrapping her arms around my waist.

Dios mío.

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