Page 194 of The Counterfeit Lover

A few more steady breaths and when I think I have everything under control I try to move again, this time succeeding at putting one foot in front of the other.

I head straight for the kitchen, needing to see my pretty girl.

There's something inside of me that's not alright—a nasty taste in my mouth and even more foul sensation fogging my brain.

My lips tug up when I spot her. She's wearing one of my black shirts which almost reaches her knees. Swaying from side to side, she's listening to music in her earbuds, not noticing as I advance.

The smell of freshly cooked food fills my nostrils and my stomach grumbles in hungers.

My pretty girl is nothing but thoughtful as I note the array of food and the fact that she'd cooked some of my favorites. God but to think I spent all that time away from her when she was right under my nose…

But she's here now, and that's all that matters.

She suddenly turns, giving a small yelp when she notices me.

"You're awake," she notes, taking her earbuds off and coming towards me.

Rising herself on the tips of her toes, she cups my face as she pulls me down for a kiss.

"Morning," she whispers against my lips.

"Morning, love," I murmur, immediately more at ease.

Yet when she turns to tend to the food, my blood runs cold as I notice the marks on her flesh.

One second. Two. I feel myself rooted to the spot as my brain goes into overdrive, countless possibilities suddenly inundating my mind.

Fuck! Did I hurt her?

No, I refuse to believe that. Not her… I'd never hurt her.

But the seed has been planted, and before I know it I'm on her.

Grabbing the hem of her shirt, I pull it over her head—a bit rougher than intended.

She lets out a low gasp, but doesn't protest as I throw it to the side, her naked body finally meeting my gaze.

And what I see…

I blench at the sight before me.

The area from her tits to her neck is covered in hickeys—big, red hickeys. There are bite marks all around her breasts and her stomach, and as I turn her around, I note even worse on her back.

My fingerprints are all over. Her neck, her back, her ass and her thighs. All areas are bruised and marked.

"Noelle…"

Faced with the evidence, I can't deny it anymore.

"I hurt you," I let out a pained howl, the thought of doing something to my sweet girl killing me on the inside.

Fucking hell…

"What? No! Raf, what are you talking about?" She gives me a slight push, turning around and narrowing her eyes at me. "You didn't hurt meat all."

"But…" I trail off, unable to even say the words. Instead, I merely trail my fingers over her bruised flesh, too fucking ashamed of myself.

"Iwantedthis," she stops my hand, grabbing it in hers and pulling me closer. "I wanted everything you could give me. This," she points to the bite marks, then the handprints and the bruises. "All these are because I asked you. Iwantedyou to take me like that. And I loved every single moment of it," she adds confidently, meeting my gaze head on.

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