Until We Fly (Beautifully Broken 4)

His hand is clutching the edge of the bar, so I make a fist and lean on his hand, crushing it under my weight. No one else in the room can see it but the two of us.

“As I said,” I growl softly. “Touch her again, and you won’t have hands left to touch anyone else. And that will be the least of your worries.”

I take my fist away from his hand and he glares at me.

“You don’t have the slightest idea what you’ve just done,” he snaps. “I have the power to be your worst enemy.”

I smile slowly.

“Bring it.”

I walk out of the dining room, careful not to limp. The last thing I see before I turn the corner is the satisfied expression in Camille’s eyes.

Nora is waiting for me by her car, out where the air smells like the lake and the night breeze ruffles her hair. Her eyes are big in the dark.

“What did you forget?”

I shrug.

I forgot to threaten your uncle.

“It’s not important. You ready to go home?”

Home.

Where we live together.

For now.

Her eyes widen at the word and she nods immediately and without question.

“Yeah.”

She drives and the night blurs past us outside the window. I don’t mention her uncle and neither does she.

The quiet is all encompassing, but it isn’t uncomfortable.

Finally, I look at her.

“You ok?”

She smiles, a small tiny movement.

“Yeah. You?”

“Of course.”

She smiles wider and pulls into the drive. “Let me go in and get your crutches. You’ve been without them all night. I know your knee must be killing you.”

I shake my head. “It’s fine. I can walk.”

I limp, but I walk unassisted into the house. I’m no pussy, goddamnit. Although I can’t deny that pain streaks from my knee down to my ankle.

Fuck it.

As soon as Nora walks through the door, she starts shedding clothing. First her shoes, then her dress, then her bra, then finally her panties. When she stands in front of me stark naked, she smiles, her first real smile of the night.

“Ready for bed?”