Bleeding Edge: Elliot Security (Elliot Security Series Book 2) by Evie Mitchell (books to read for beginners TXT) 📕

Her head fell back as I thrust into her. Wild from the feel of her, I lost all control. She met my every thrust, her hands clutching, clawing at my back. I boosted her legs, wrapping them around my hips as she encouraged me to go harder, faster, deeper.

Fuckin’ perfect. Fuck.

She came. Hard. Her hot, wet pussy clutching me. Squeezing. I became lost in the feel of her, in her scent, her sounds, her need. I lost control.

We crashed down in a tangle of limbs and heavy breathing.

Calming, I reached for the cover, pulling the blanket up and over us, sealing us in a cocoon of warmth.

“You good, beautiful?” I asked, pulling her into me. She snuggled down, running a hand over my chest.

“Mm. Luc?”

“Mm?”

“I like this.”

“The sex?”

She waited for a moment, running her fingers gently over my chest.

“Yes, but also this.” She seemed contemplative, her eyes focused on her softly gliding hand. “I’ve never had this.”

“What? An attractive piece of man meat?” I asked lightly. She smiled, but it was bittersweet.

“Someone who touches me in a good way. Someone who cares when they touch me.” She didn’t look up, still determinedly focused on her hand. “We weren’t allowed to touch each other, not even for a hug. They said it would make us impure.” She tracked her finger, making a cross on my chest, then rubbing it out. “The only person who could touch you was a deacon. And they only did it when you were bad. They’d grab you, pull you to the room, and lock you in. If you were lucky, they’d just leave you in the pit for a few days. Most of the time they hit me.”

My arms flexed, tight around her.

“I never knew why I was punished. I’d try to be good. I’d work extra hard. I’d never talk back or shirk my chores. Whatever they asked, I did it.”

“Some people live to destroy. For them, to break a human is the ultimate challenge. An animal can’t beg. It can’t tell them they’ve won. They can only hurt it, making it twist and squeal until they destroy its will to live. Humans? We have a capacity, a resilience for hope. To extinguish that can be someone’s entire purpose.”

She blinked up at me, tears shimmering on her eyelashes. “I begged that night. I just wanted it to stop.”

I brushed her tears, not shushing her, not trying to stop her. She needed to purge this horror. I would bear any burden she laid at my feet.

“He ripped the dress from me, pushed me down, and fucked me. There was no tenderness, no mercy. He beat me. I had bruises. I fought. I screamed and kicked and bit, and he overpowered me until I begged. And when he kept going, no matter how much I–” She choked. “I realised I couldn’t live with that.”

Fuck.

She was sobbing now, her hand stilled, her eyes big as she pleaded with me to understand. “It hurt so bad. Every part of me hurt.” She pressed her face to my chest, sniffling as her tears wet my chest.

You got one chance at this. Let her get it out. Don’t fuck this up. You can murder the motherfucker and burn their world down after.

“Abel, my brother, found me. He helped me escape. He hugged me. I don’t remember the last time I’d been hugged before then. Addie sometimes hugs me. Kel. Even Jetta. I thought I’d forever be fearful of touch. I thought I was damaged. When you touch me, I don’t think about David or Abel. I think about you and me. And I want more. I never–” Her voice broke, shoulders wracking as she sobbed. “I thought I was broken, but I’m not. And I’m so happy. I love how you touch me. How good it is. I want–” She hiccupped, pulling back to look up at me. “I want to keep doing this.”

My heart ached even as I banked the rage.

I pulled her closer, hoping the reality of us would sink in, helping her fight these demons. “I love you, baby. I fucking love you. You’re strong. You’re Ash from Pokémon. No matter what life throws at you, you dust yourself off and keep going.” I pressed kisses to her hair, to her wet cheeks, nuzzling her temple.

She hiccupped a laugh. “Does that make you Pikachu?”

“Of course. And together we’re electric.”

She snorted, relaxing slightly.

“First, we’re going to find these bastards and I’m going to wring their motherfucking necks. Second, if you’ll allow it, we’re getting you therapy. You’re fucking brave, but I don’t want this toxic memory to taint you. How’s that sound?”

“Okay.” She looked up at me, her eyes bloodshot, still wet with tears. She bit her lip, ducking her head as she muttered, “I trust you.”

“Marry me.” I hadn’t intended to ask the question. Hell, I hadn’t even considered the possibility before this moment.

This woman is it. This brilliant, intelligent, hilarious, quirky woman. Emmie’s my one.

I heard her breath catch, her hands flexing. She didn’t answer.

Don’t you dare rush her.

Finally, finally, she looked up at me, sniffling, eyes shadowed with memories. “No.”

It didn’t matter that she’d said no. Tomorrow, next month or next year, eventually she’d conquer her fear and say yes.

I smiled, shrugging. “That’s okay. I’ll ask again tomorrow.”

Her lips tilted up a fraction, the shadows clearing. “I’ve only slept with you for a week. Don’t get too clingy.”

“Oh, clingy, hmm?” I wrapped my legs and arms tight around her, chuckling as she squealed, squirming in my grasp. “Like this?”

She laughed. It was edged with a hint of hysteria. I didn’t mind, so long as she thought of us and not them. They didn’t deserve one more moment of her.

Chapter Forty-Four

Emmie

The clock read 2:38 a.m.

I was curled into Luc, my back to his front when the shrill ring of Luc’s phone pierced the silence of the house. I sat up, my eyes catching the glowing numbers on the alarm clock as my head twisted