Tough Shit (Rejects Paradise 1)

Colton kicks through his bedroom door and drops down on his bed, refusing to let me go. “You’re going to be alright, baby. Just hold on. I promise you, he’ll never hurt you again.”

My eyes close and his arms instinctively tighten around me. “Please be okay, baby,” he whispers into the dark room like a chant. “Please be okay.”

I feel movement beneath me and am jostled around but unconsciousness claims me as I feel the vibrations of his voice against his chest. “Spence,” he says, his voice thick with raw desperation. “I need your help.”

Chapter 31

Hands grab at me and my eyes spring open in fear. I try to pull away but the grip only tightens. “Shhhh, O. It’s me,” Nic’s melodic voice whispers through the room. “You’re safe, baby. You’re safe.”

My body relaxes against his and I let him hold me before realizing where I am. It’s my room in the pool house, but how did I get here? The last thing I remember is passing out in Colton’s arms, so how the hell did I end up in Nic’s?

“What are you doing here?” I murmur, nuzzling my face into his chest and hoping that his familiarity can help me to forget the nightmare of last night.

“Carrington called and said you needed help,” he says with an edge in his voice that has my stomach sinking.

“You know, don’t you?” I ask, my voice breaking as the tears begin to fill my eyes.

“Of course I fucking know,” he grumbles, holding me tighter and making the tears spill. “I should have never let you stay here.”

I shake my head, silently telling him that this is not his fault. If anything, it’s on me. I was the one who made the stupid decision, I was the one who insisted I stay, and I was the one who had to be difficult about it, but there’s no use saying that to Nic because he will never hear it.

“I’m so sorry, O.”

His words kill me and have the few tears on my face turning into a fucking stream. “I tried to make him stop,” I cry. “I wasn’t strong enough and I couldn’t move or see properly. My head kept spinning. I’m sorry, Nic. I should have fought harder. I should have stayed at the party.”

“Shhhh, baby. This isn’t on you. You don’t need to explain it to me, I know.”

“You know?” I question, raising my head to meet his dark eyes. “How?”

“Do you really think I was going to let Colton leave it at ‘your girl needs help?’ I got every last detail out of that fucker, but don’t you worry, O. I’m going to make this better. I’m going to make that bastard pay.”

“I know,” I tell him, knowing damn well that Jude won’t be living to see the end of the day. Seeing as though it was me who was hurt, Nic might make it last. Either way, it’s a face I will never have to worry about seeing ever again.

Nic scoots down in bed, bringing me with him and running his hand up and down my back when it occurs to me that in any other situation, he would be out looking for the fucker and the fact that he’s still here is speaking volumes. He cares so much about me.

I’m instantly flooded with guilt over everything that’s happened over the past few weeks. I’ve been kissing boys, showing off my naked body for Colton and grinding against him, sleeping with Charlie—all things that would have him breaking yet he’s still here, more than willing to defend me against dickheads like Jude Carter.

“I love you, Nic,” I whisper against his chest, feeling his arm tighten around me. “I’m sorry that we fought. You were right and I was too stubborn to see it.”

“You don’t need to apologize, O. I was an asshole. There was no need for me to yell at you like that but you know how I get when I feel your safety is in question. You’re my girl even when you’re not and you should know by now that I will go to the ends of the earth to protect you.”

“Don’t think for a second that I don’t know how lucky I am to have you.”

His phone ringing between us cuts our little moment in half and he pushes me aside to get into his jeans pocket. We both look at the screen of his phone to see Kai’s name looking back at us.

Nic hits speakerphone. “Kai. You better have good fucking news for me.”

“How’s my girl?”

“She’s my fucking girl,” he scolds, spoken like a true possessive asshole.

“I’m fine,” I tell Kai, ignoring Nic’s alpha douchiness. “A little banged up and I feel a little drowsy from whatever was slipped in my drink, but I’ll be okay.”

“You better be okay,” Kai tells me. “I swear, we’re going to get him for this. I’ve got you.”