Bent, Not Broken(2)

He pried her hands from around the tree. He held her tightly, stroking her hair. “I’ve got you, Amy. I’m not letting you go.”

“You’ve got to,” she said. He didn’t know the truth about her. She was broken, ruined, soiled.

Reese didn’t let her go. He held her tightly, kissing the top of her head. “You’re stronger than this. Push them back, Amy.”

He’d always known she fought some demons yet he never asked her what they were. She broke down, sobbing against his chest. He had put on a shirt before he came for her.

There was no rush or demand that she hurry up so that he could get back to the woman he wanted to be with. Slowly, little by little, she opened her eyes. His masculine scent surrounded her. Glancing up his chest, she stared into his eyes.

“Where’s the woman?” she asked.

“She’s gone.”

There was no other explanation.

“You didn’t have to get rid of her.”

“Yes, I did, Amy.” He stroked her cheek. “She was never going to satisfy me. The whole idea was one big fucking illusion. I can’t have what I really want.”

He ran his thumb across her bottom lip. Her nipples tightened at his words. She was afraid to ask him what he really wanted. There was no way she’d ever handle this man. There was already more to Reese than she’d ever imagine.



Three months later

The party was in full swing with bodies crushed together. Amy didn’t like the fact she had to brush against different people just to get to where she needed to go. She’d never liked tight confines, and this was certainly that.

“Excuse me… thank you… yeah, sorry…” The apologies went on and on as she smiled at people. Her face hurt from being nice to people she didn’t know. This was a good-bye party for Reese. He was moving out of the family home and would be away from her for good. She hated the thought of him leaving completely but there was no keeping him in one place. Travel was in Reese’s blood.

Passing the people on the stairs, she entered her bedroom, closing the door and flicking the lock behind her.

Resting her head against the wood, she closed her eyes, seeing Reese naked like she had a few months ago. The woman that he had been with hadn’t stayed around that long, but the image of the two together was forever ingrained in her mind. It was a constant reminder of what she’d never be for Reese.

Not that he’d ever want her.

Damaged, broken, dirty, they were the words she used to describe herself. There was no getting away from what happened to her. Turning around, Amy cried out as she saw the man who was always on her thoughts sitting on the end of her bed.

“Reese,” she said.

“Hey, sweetheart. You okay?”

“What are you doing here? This is your party.”

She stayed by the door. The last thing she wanted to do was make a fool of herself and start begging him to stay.

“Yeah, this is not really my crowd anymore.” He rubbed his palms together. “You’ve not been the same since that night.”

She knew what night he was talking about. It was hard for her to look at him without thinking of him naked. The biggest problem in her mind was that she kept putting herself in the other woman’s position, and that terrified her.

“It’s nothing.”

“You’ve not been the same since saw me with Candy.”

“Candy? Is that her real name?”

Reese smirked. “It’s what I call her. Names are not important to me.”

“They’re important to me.” She’d hate it if he forgot her name.

“I’ll never forget who is most important to me, Amy.”

Her heart raced as he stood up, walking toward her. Her mouth went dry as he pressed both palms on either side of her head, trapping her between the door and his hard body.

“What are you doing?” she asked.

“Nothing. I’d never hurt you, Amy. I need you to look me in the eye and tell me you forgive me.”

“I don’t need to forgive you, Reese. There’s nothing to forgive.” She licked her lips. His gaze went from her eyes to her lips.

A groan escaped him.

“Don’t do that,” he said.

“Do what?”

“That with your tongue and lips. There’s only so much control I’ve got and you’re too fucking young and innocent for the likes of me.”

Amy snorted. Innocent was not a name she’d use to describe herself.

“I don’t want to stop doing it.”

“You’re playing with fire,” he said.

In response, she licked her lips once more.

It was a big mistake.

Reese sank his fingers into her hair, tightening his grip as he tugged her close. In the same instant, his lips were on hers, ravishing her mouth. Gasping, Amy kept her hands by her side, not knowing what to do. The passion he was expressing, took her breath away.