Page 89 of Merciless

I hate myself for needing her as fiercely as they did. No matter how many times I tell myself that it’s different, the voice in my head disagrees.

She’s too young. You shouldn’t look twice.

But she’s no longer a child. She’s a woman. A stunning one.

My wife.

I know I’ll never be the man she wants or needs. I’m just the man who inserted himself in her life.

It doesn’t mean I don’t love her with everything I am though.

With a sigh, I push myself to my feet and pad through to the bathroom to shower and set about spending another day searching for any sign of my missing wife.

Someone in this town knows something. And I’m not going to stop until I find out what it is.

22

JD

“What’s that?” Alana asks after I’ve let myself into her cell, balancing a tray on one hand.

It’s been two days since Reid decided to pierce her, and I’ve been down here three times a day, making sure they’re healing nicely.

It’s torture at its finest. Getting to see her bare and touch her, but get nothing in return.

She’s been tempting me, teasing me, showing off everything she knows I want, but I’m being a good boy and doing as I’m told. Mostly.

“Gifts,” I say with a wide smile.

“Aw, you shouldn’t have,” she says, sitting up and bringing her knees to her chest. It’s not an innocent move, she’s fully aware of what she’s flashing me. And while I might not take the bait, I appreciate the fuck out of it all the same.

“Well, you know me. I do like to spoil you.”

“Bullshit,” she scoffs.

“Now, now. I let you have a shower.”

“Oh, yeah, how could I forget that epic show of kindness before you left me here high and dry? Or how you jizzed all over my tits before once again leaving me frustrated.”

“I just want you begging, Dove. Gets me hard as fuck.”

“Get fucked. I’m not begging either of you for anything,” she warns, her eyes narrowed in anger.

“So you don’t want these homemade cookies or the notebook you asked for then?” Taking a step back, ready to steal the plate of cookies for myself.

She tries to look uninterested, but I see the spark in her eyes as she glares at me.

“Cool, I’ll just go then and eat these bad boys myself.”

I’m almost out of the door when she cracks.

“JD, wait,” she calls and I grin like I’ve just won the fucking lottery.

Spinning around, I pin her with an amused look.

“Alright, you don’t need to be so fucking smug about it.”

Walking over, I drop down beside her and place the tray on the floor.

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