Tainted Heartbreak (Tainted Knights 3)
“Does that mean I can scratch up any girl’s face who tries to touch you?”
“Baby, there will be no other girls. Ever. Not as long as I have you in my arms.” I rolled her onto her back, my cock nestling right between her wet pussy lips.
“But if they do, I can, right?” she persisted with a pout.
I kissed the pout away. “Chick fights are hot.”
She smirked up at me while her nails sank into my ass, urging me to become a part of her. “I don’t usually get all territorial, but I would seriously beat someone’s ass over you.”
Laughing, I grabbed a condom and sheathed my cock. We both groaned as I slid into her tight heat. She felt so fucking good, and neither of us spoke again for a long, long time.
--
There was nothing to eat in my apartment, so I took Amara out. Something I realized about her that was endearingly cute and scary at the same time—she got cranky as fuck when she was hungry.
Adjusting her long-sleeved shirt that she’d kept on since I’d picked her up the day before, she gave the waiter a scathing glance before grabbing for a few of the cheese fries we’d ordered as an appetizer. “Thanks,” she grumbled.
“Your entrees will be out shortly,” the guy assured us and made himself scarce when she only glared through him again.
Chuckling, I dipped a fry covered in cheese and bacon in ranch and stuffed it in my mouth. “We’ll go grocery shopping later. I’m not sure I want to chance being along with a hangry you.”
Her lips twitched for a second before giving way to a full-on grin. “I’m sorry. It’s low blood sugar. It makes me irritable.”
“And it’s something I’ll make sure not to allow to happen again.” I caught her free hand and brought it to my lips, causing the sleeve to drift down a little. Something dark caught my attention, and I pushed the sleeve back so I could examine her wrist.
She jerked her hand away, keeping it in her lap under the table.
“What the fuck, Amara?” My voice was harsh with concern for her. “What happened to you? Did I do that? If I did, I’m sorry, baby. I didn’t mean to be so rough.”
She looked at something over my shoulder, keeping her gaze locked on it. “It wasn’t you.”
“Then who?” I demanded, rage burning like an inferno in my blood.
“It’s nothing. I’m okay.” She gave me a tight smile, but I wasn’t buying it.
“Is that why you kept your shirt on? I didn’t even think…” I scrubbed a hand over my face. “Baby, tell me who did that to you.”
“It’s nothing, really.” She stuck another fry in her mouth. “It won’t happen again. I swear.”
“Who, Amara?”
She sighed and leaned forward. “Look, it’s nothing. I’m serious. Nothing is broken, and other than my wrist being a little sore, I’m completely fine. Can we change the subject, please?”
The “please” killed me, but I couldn’t let it drop. Someone had hurt her, and she wasn’t telling me who. It was already driving me crazy thinking of someone putting their hands on her with enough violence to bruise her. I needed to know who did this so I could find them and beat the fuck out of them. “Just tell me who, and I’ll drop it.”
She exhaled heavily, and I could see the inner struggle she was having. I sat there, patiently waiting for her to answer me.
“My stepdad,” she finally whispered, dropping her eyes to the table. “He’s an asshole, and when I went to see him and my mother Sunday night, he was pissed I wouldn’t comply with his demands. So, this was my punishment.” She shrugged like it was nothing. Like it was completely normal but shameful. And her acceptance only pissed me off that much more.
Whoever this bastard was, he liked hurting those smaller than himself. Instead of protecting someone as precious as his own stepdaughter, he had hurt her. But this was the last fucking time. The motherfucker wasn’t going to touch Amara ever again. I’d make sure of that.
“But he’s out of my life now,” she went on, her jaw clenching as she lifted her head. “He really wanted me to do something for him, but I refused. And he threatened to cut everything off. No more rent, no more college. He even took the keys to my car.” She laughed, and there were relief and actual joy in the beautiful sound. “And you know what? I’ve never felt so free in my life as I was when I told him to take it all and go to hell.”
I was out of my seat and moving around to her side of the booth in a matter of seconds. She slid over, welcoming me beside her. Carefully lifting her injured wrist in my hands, I brushed my thumb over the biggest of the bruises. “Does he do this shit often?”
She shrugged. “Growing up, it was a regular thing. But it doesn’t matter anymore, Cash. He’s out of my life. And as soon as I get a job, things will be even better. Until then, I have enough money to get myself by.”
“Or…” Fuck, I couldn’t believe I was even thinking about this, let alone feeling excited about her actually saying yes. It was far and away from my norm, but nothing about what I was feeling for this chick was normal.