Buttons & Hate (Buttons 2)

She slowly stretched her petite body until her eyes fluttered open. Her gaze fell on me, and a small smile filled her lips. Her face no longer looked the same. Both of her eyes were still blue and bruised. Her lip was covered in cuts inflicted from Cane’s knuckles. Her left cheekbone had been cracked from the force of his punch. The discoloration hid her freckles and her once beautiful skin. Somehow, her beauty radiated through the scars and shined through. “Morning.”

I stared at her, entrance. “Morning.”

She cuddled further into my side, his arm wrapped around my muscular torso. She placed her cheek against my chest and released a comfortable sigh. Her hair stretched across my skin, lightly caressing the surface.

“Sleep well?”

“Uh-huh.” She ran her fingers across my lower stomach, her touch grazing my happy trail.

When I told her the truth about Jasmine the weight left my shoulders. My stubbornness got me into the mess in the first place. I wanted to keep her at a distance and hide my infatuation with her, but the second I almost lost her the game changed. I couldn’t handle her coldness and disappointment. I had to come clean and admit she did mean something to me.

“How about you?”

“Great.” I noticed her affection had increased since the night before. When she was hurt by my infidelity I actually enjoyed it. I liked knowing she’d become just as possessive of me as I was of her. I didn’t understand what this relationship was or if it was a relationship at all, but there was something there. It was the first time I somewhat cared about a woman. They used to be sexual objects meant to fulfill my sexual fantasies. But I needed Button to fulfill a lot more than that.

“Those painkillers are a godsend. I wouldn’t able to sleep without them.”

“I can imagine.” I’d had my fair share of pain. But I didn’t always have access to medicine. I made sure she had a different experience.

She slowly sat up, her back exposed to me. Old scars marked the skin from the places I whipped her. Now the marks didn’t turn me on. In fact, they made me hate myself even more. How were Cane and I different? We both caused her pain intentionally. If anything, mine was worse because I got off to it. Unable to handle the sight of my inhumane treatment I looked into the fire.

“Are you going to work today?”

“No.” I sat up and pressed my chest against her back. When I covered the scars with my own body I could no longer see them. My lips pressed against her shoulder and I gave her a soft kiss. “I’m staying right here.”

“I hope you don’t feel obligated. I really will be okay.”

“I definitely don’t feel obligated.” If I were here, no one else could touch her. No one could come near her. My presence was the greatest protection she could ever have. If someone wanted to get to her, they had to go through me.

Good luck with that.

“Do you think breakfast is ready?”

My hand moved to her small stomach. I lightly touched her, giving her affection without hurting her. “Finally have an appetite?”

She nodded. “I’m starving, actually.”

“I’ll give Lars a call.”

“Let’s go downstairs. I’m tired of being cooped up all the time.”

“Whatever you want.” I got dressed then helped her into her clothes. She was still weak, and standing on one foot to put on her pants was impossible. She usually had to lay on the bed while I pulled her sweats up her thighs. Whenever we were in that position my cock came to life. Despite her pain and suffering I still wanted to fuck her.

There was something seriously wrong with me.

I scooped her into my arms and prepared to carry her to the ground floor.

“No. Put me down.” Her arms were hooked around my neck and she stared at the ground.

“Why?”

“I can manage on my own.”

I didn’t want to discourage her but I really didn’t think she could make it. “You should rest for a few weeks before you give it a try.”

“You just told me not to have a pity party for myself.”

“And I stand by that. But don’t push yourself to do something you can’t.”

That flame of stubbornness burned in her eyes and she wiggled in my arms. “Put me down.”

I shouldn’t have phrased my words that way. Of course they would entice her to prove me wrong. I slowly set her on the ground and gripped both of her arms just in case her legs gave out.

She stood on both of her feet but didn’t move. She stared at her feet and held her arms out for balance. Her breathing immediately increased and she labored through the pain.

“Let me carry you.”

“I got it.” She spoke though a clenched jaw, ignoring the pain shooting up her legs.