Jolie
“I was so scared,” I finally manage, my chest spasming as I force the words out.
Ben’s hand runs up and down my back, his chin resting on my shoulder. “I know, baby. Me too.”
“I should have listened to you. But I just couldn’t stand the idea of what he had on me, and I needed to get it.”
“It’s okay. It’s over.”
“I thought if I could at least delete my video, then I could be the one to go after him and he wouldn’t be able to expose me, you know?
” Pulling back, I ignore the aches and pains riding through my body.
My hip is throbbing, my arm hurts from where Kieran scratched me, my chest feels bruised from where I hit the floor, my shoulder has a pulse of its own from where I crashed into the desk, and my throat… oh my gosh, my throat is the worst.
I thought I was going to die.
I couldn’t breathe, and his fingers were squeezing so tight. His face was glazed with this uncontrolled rage. He didn’t even look human anymore.
If Ben hadn’t come…
A sob racks my body. “He was gonna kill me.”
Ben shudders, squeezing me even closer, our wet clothes sticking together. “But he didn’t. He didn’t. Thank God.” He sniffs, and for a second, I wonder if he’s crying.
I want to lean back so I can look at his face, but I also can’t let him go.
I’ve never felt safer than right now, in his arms.
Nothing can touch me if I stay here.
“I shouldn’t have gone on my own,” I blubber. “I’m sorry. I should have been patient, but I just had to find that evidence.”
“And you did.” Ben leans away from me, brushing my hair off my face and cupping my cheek.
“Baby, you did. And I hate that you didn’t include me, and I hate what he did to you, but shit…
you’re so brave.” His expression crumples, his pale brown eyes soft and vulnerable when he whispers, “I love you.” He nods, and my insides start to spasm in a whole different way. “I love you.”
And there goes my heart, melting like honey as I lean forward to kiss him.
It’s just a soft peck, a promise.
Pulling back, I close my eyes, resting our foreheads together and whispering, “I love you too.”
His large hands splay across my hips before running up my back and pulling me against him again.
“The police are here,” Caroline calls out. “Where are you guys?”
I can hear her bustling around the corner. She’s trying to find us, and I can’t help a soft whimper.
“It’s gonna be okay,” Ben assures me. “We need to do this. Just tell them everything, and we’ll get this right.”
“But I broke the law, just like you told me not to.” I fist the front of his sweater.
“I know.” He rubs my back. “But you did it for a really good reason. It’s all gonna be okay. I’ll be right here with you, baby. And I’m not going anywhere.”
Leaning back, I stare at his face for a beat, and that gentle smile he gives me is enough to help me get off his knee. He helps me to my feet, and we thread our fingers together, following Caroline out to talk to the police.