Page 50 of Craving Danger

She nods and pulls away from me again. I hate letting go of her, but I don’t want to make things worse.

When she takes a seat on the couch, I sit on the coffee table so I’m close to her.

Leaning forward, I hold my hand out to her with my palm facing up.

Her eyebrows are drawn together, and she looks so fucking sad it takes a swing at my heart.

She doesn’t hesitate and places her hand in mine. When my fingers wrap around hers, I say, “You just need time. Rome wasn’t built in a day.”

She takes a deep breath and lets it out slowly. “I hope you’re right.”

When my thumb brushes over her skin, her eyes settle on our hands.

“What can I do to make you feel better?” I ask.

“You’re already doing it.” A smile wavers around her lips as she looks at me. “At least we’ve ticked hugging off the list.”

We continue to hold hands and she’s quiet for a while before she whispers, “I hate him.”

Her words deliver a blow to my heart.

“Your boss?”

She shakes her head. “My ex.”

I almost ask her what’s the fucker’s name so I can have him killed but stop myself in time.

She stares at our hands again. “I keep thinking I should’ve done a million things differently. I shouldn’t have become friends with him. I should’ve broken things off the first time he got aggressive. I should’ve gotten a restraining order against him instead of just breaking up and assuming he’d stay away. I should’ve gone to the police when…”

Fear and disgust ripple over her face, and unable to keep quiet, I ask, “Did he hit you?”

A look of shame tightens her features as she nods.

Getting up from the table, I take a seat next to Samantha and link my fingers with hers. She leans her head against my shoulder and closes her eyes.

“It wasn’t your fault,” I whisper.

“I keep telling myself that.” She squeezes closer against my side. “Maybe I’ll believe it one day.”

Letting go of her hand, I lift my arm around her shoulders, and she places her hand against my abdomen.

We’re quiet for a good ten minutes before she says, “Don’t forget about the tattoo. I’d like to get it as soon as possible.”

Fuck, it completely slipped my mind.

“I’ll make an appointment first thing tomorrow morning.”

Silence falls between us again, and when her body relaxes next to me, I glance down only to see she’s fallen asleep.

You’re definitely making progress, baby.

Careful not to wake her, I rest my chin on top of her head and close my eyes.

It feels so fucking good to sit beside her with my arm around her shoulders.

With my free hand, I reach for the balaclava and lift it enough so I can press my lips to her hair, and I take a deep breath of her vanilla scent.

Chapter 17

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