Page 28 of Breaking Bristol

I didn’t want to miss this moment because I wasn’t sure how long it would last. When I left, she may never want to see me again, so I fought sleep as long as I could, but eventually, I succumbed to it… just like I did to Bristol.

* * *

“Ahh!”

A feminine shriek jolted me awake and I was up and running toward the sound before my eyes were even open. “Bristol!” I called, charging to the bathroom and throwing the door open.

She was naked, standing in front of the sink with a wet cloth between her legs. Her head swung my way, and she burst out laughing. “The water is so freaking cold.”

My God. I fell into the wall and got my bearings. “You scared the shit outta me.”

“Sorry, I needed to clean up.”

She tossed her cloth into the bathtub, opened the cabinet, and took out another washcloth. “Here ya go, buddy. Good luck.” She gave me a quick peck and slapped the square to my chest.

I chuckled and didn’t even bother trying for hot water, and yelped when I cleaned my balls. I heard her laughing from the bedroom. “It’s not funny, woman.”

“It so is.”

I threw my washcloth next to hers, and then went to the living room where I had some clean clothes and got dressed in a pair of gray sweats and a black long-sleeved thermal. She came out in a pair of black leggings, a white tank top, and a long knitted sweater.

I thought maybe there would be awkwardness after what happened between us the night before, but if anything, she opened up more than ever. For breakfast we had cookies and orange juice that was still cold in the fridge. The power hadn’t come back on yet, but I didn’t even miss it.

We spent the morning talking and laughing, kissing and touching. Everything was perfect. Until it wasn’t.

A vehicle stopped outside and I looked through the curtain to see a police SUV with chains on the tires and a familiar man walking up the steps. It took me a second to realize it was Beau Bradford.

Bristol saw who it was and opened the door. “You didn’t need to come. I told you I’d be okay.”

“I was out checking on some elderly residents so figured I’d swing by and make sure you were all right.”

“How are the roads?” she asked as she opened the door wider so he could come in.

“They’re awful, nothing but a sheet of ice and—” He leaned down, and his eyebrows pulled together, then he looked up at me and his face contorted to an angry mask of fury. “Did you do that to her?”

It took me a second to realize what he was even talking about, then I remembered the bruise on her cheek. I didn’t want to answer him because I was so offended he’d even ask me that. “No, I didn’t fuckin’ do that to her.”

His eyes caught on my fingers splinted together, and he snarled. “You motherfucker.” His hand moved to the gun on his belt and before he could make another move, Bristol’s ear-piercing scream filled the room, and she collapsed to the floor.

CHAPTER 9

Bristol

“Bristol… sweetheart, open your eyes for me.”

It sounded like Matthew’s voice, but it seemed so far away like I was underwater and he was shouting from the shore. I tried to open my eyes to see where I was, but a blinding light made them slam closed.

“Hey, hey, hey… that was good. Look at me again, baby.” My lids fluttered and the light was blocked by his handsome face. “There she is.” I tried to sit up, but he put a hand on my chest. “Give it a minute.”

“What happened?”

He tucked some stray hairs behind my ears. “You fainted.”

Crap. I’d never done that before, but then I remembered why I did, and I felt silly and embarrassed. “I’m good. Let me up.”

He helped me to my feet, keeping his arm around my waist, and I looked over to see Beau studying me with worried eyes. “You all right?”

“He didn’t hit me.”

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