Page 141 of Merciless

“How did you know?” I whisper, as desperate to hear his explanation as I am terrified.

He swallows roughly but doesn’t say anything, forcing me to pull my head back and look up at him.

“Reid?”

“Fuck,” he mutters. “I didn’t.”

My lips part to question him, but no words escape.

And then everything changes again.

One second I’m in his arms, and the next I’m on my feet, standing on unsteady legs as he marches straight out of the shower, and then soon after, the room.

“What are you—”

My words falter as he vanishes from sight. My knees buckle without his support and I fall back, colliding with the wall as if the world has just been ripped from beneath me.

I sink, getting closer and closer to what will inevitably be a painful collision. But it never comes.

“I’ve got you, little dove. It’s okay. Everything is going to be okay.”

At the sound of his voice, I throw myself at JD. Wrapping my arms tightly around his neck, my legs do the same to his waist and slam my lips down on his without a second thought.

I need this. Him. Like I’ve never needed anything else in my life.It’s either this or I drown. I’m right on the cusp of it. The memories are right there, clawing their way up from the darkness. But I refuse to go down. Not when I’ve got someone to hold me up.

But he doesn’t kiss me back.

“Please,” I whimper. The years of rejection I’ve felt from my husband burn through me.

Mav loves me. I know he does. I see it in his eyes every time he looks at me.

But he can’t see beyond my past.

When he looks at me, he might see a young woman. He might even want me. I’ve seen the evidence of that desire more than a few times. But it’s always there stopping him from taking what he wants. And I hate it.

I hate that I’m tainted. Broken. Tarnished. Ruined by men who never should have looked at me twice, let alone touched me.

“Dove,” he warns, his grip on my ass tightening as he tries to maintain control.

“I need you. Please. I-I can’t—”

I’ve no idea what I was about to say or confess to, and thankfully, I don’t get to find out because his lips move and only a second later, his tongue sneaks out to find mine.

Every single muscle in my body sags with relief as he gives me exactly what I need.

My fingers sink into his wet hair as I try to get closer, needing everything he can give me to get out of my head. To forget about that cell and what I did in there, but more importantly, the broken, beaten down girl that Mav, and now Reid, it seems, are unable to look at.

A part of me disgusts them, and I get it. I disgust me too. But there is very little I can do about it.

“More,” I beg, tugging his hair harder.

“Hold on.” He groans, forcing me to tighten my grip.

Releasing my ass, he drags my—his—tank up my body, before pressing me back against the cold tiled wall and pinning me there with his hips.

Lifting my arms, I help him rid me of the bloodstained fabric.

The second it passes my face, I dive for him again.

---