Beautifully Broken

He’s right, I’m hot everywhere. His hand, ice against my flesh, doesn’t help either. Before Rex I was always cold, wearing the jacket everyone assumed was a fashion statement out of necessity rather than choice. But since being with Rex, I’m hot. My skin is on fire when he’s near. He dips his head between my legs, kissing a tender spot on my inner thigh. “You okay?”

I close my eyes and nod. Every nerve in my body is firing off. Rex’s hand slides higher, following the edge of my bikini line to my hip. Silence stretches between us. Jenny warned me this moment would come, and I foolishly had hoped for it too. But now that we’re here I’m scared. Crippled by fear for how bad this will hurt. Gerald’s fingers were like knives ripping me apart. From what I’ve felt through Rex’s shorts, he’s got a major package down there.

“Piper? You’re shaking.” Rex pulls his hand from my hip and pushes the hair out of my face. “What’s wrong.”

“I’m fine.” I open my eyes and lean up to kiss Rex, but he pulls back.

Rex brushes his thumb across my cheek, wiping a tear I didn’t know was there away. “Did I hurt you?”

I feel terrible. All I wanted was a perfect night and here I am ruining it because I can’t get out of my own thoughts. I shake my head.

Rex leans down and kisses my forehead. “We’ll work through this. I will never push you into doing something you’re not ready for.”

“But it’s prom.” I’m embarrassed and ashamed. Rex is not Gerald. He will never hurt me. Despite knowing this, I'm still afraid. I trust him with my life, but I’m still scared. Life’s not fair.

Rex adjusts his pillow and lays beside me. His arm falls over my stomach pulling me into him. “It’s one night. We’ll have many more together.”

That’s just it. We won’t.

29

Rex

I wake to sunlight peeking through the window, shining on my face. I didn’t expect to have sex with Piper last night. I’m not stupid. You don’t go from kissing a girl with major trauma to fucking her with no build up in between. Not gonna lie, I was disappointed I didn’t get to see what she had on under her dress. Pretty sure it was close to nothing but making intimacy something she will enjoy is far more important than satisfying my curiosity about what color her nipples are. I know this won’t be a quick fix, but I’m in it for the long run.

After hours of soothing her, Piper finally fell asleep. How she managed to stay asleep in that hot dress is beyond me. I stripped down to my boxers once she was out because I was sweating up a storm. I roll over, expecting to find Piper in bed beside me but instead there’s a note resting on her pillow. I push myself up and grab it.

Dear Rex,

One moment, one seemingly insignificant moment can change everything. Meeting you was that moment. The day you saved me from that fucktard Tad changed everything. Even in that terrifying moment, I felt a shift. Before you, every touch whether innocent or not was crippling. But your hands healed me. You awoke things in me I thought died long ago. So, thank you.

Thank you for teaching me how to feel again. For teaching me how to love.

I hope you’ll find it in your heart to forgive me. Believe me when I say I don’t want to leave. Walking out this door is the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do but I can’t risk Gerald getting his hands on me. Or you. When it’s safe I’ll find you again. I don’t expect you to wait for m

e, but I hope when that day comes, you’ll see me. I hope some part of you will remember the good times we had together and that maybe you’d hug me again. That’s what’s keeping me going. I live for our memories, for your touch.

Don’t try to find me, I’m already gone.

Forever yours,

Piper

My heart hurts in ways I didn’t know were possible. It’s been broken before, stepped on, crumbled by those I thought cared about me. But never have I had an ache penetrate my soul. I feel empty, a hollow version of myself. How could a day so gut-wrenching follow a near perfect night?

I slip my shorts on and grab the room card. I don’t have time for a shirt. Frankly, I don’t know where it is and don’t want to waste what precious moments I have looking for it. I run down the hallway and hit the elevator button. I bounce on my toes. This thing is taking forever. Screw it. I hightail it to the stairwell around the corner and run down three flights of stairs. My chest burns but I don’t stop. I can’t stop. I yank the door open and step into the lobby. My heart about jumps out of my body when I see her.

Piper stands, shoulders squared talking to a burly man covered in tattoos from his neck and probably down beneath his jacket. Who in their right mind wears a full jacket in May in Florida? Does he have a death wish? Fucking heat stroke is no joke.

“Piper!” I yell.

She whirls around, her face white as a ghost. “Go back upstairs, Rex.”

Like hell I’m going back to the room. Does she really think I’m not going to fight for her? I’m fucking loaded. Not saying that money fixes everyone’s problems. Hell, it’s caused more tourble in my family than it’s worth but it can damn sure keep her safe. I cross the lobby with purposeful strides. “No, we need to talk.”

“You’d be wise to listen to her, Son,” the man growls. He turns his attention back to Piper. “Let’s go.”

Piper takes a step closer to him. I run the last few steps and reach out. My fingertips graze her pillow soft skin, but then he grabs her by the arm. He pulls her nearly flush against him, her back to his chest. “Last chance boy. Leave before things get messy.”