Chapter 21
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
kole
I jabbed my finger on the keypad of the door, unlocking it in a hurry.
I left the bar right after Dani had fled.
She’d left in such a rush that she forgot her jacket and purse on the bar, and I’d grabbed them before I left.
By the time I’d gotten outside, she was nowhere to be found, so I hoped she was back home.
I quietly opened the door, going still when I spotted her.
Every single light in the house was on, making me squint until my eyes adjusted to the brightness.
She was in the kitchen, her elbows on the counter, her hands covering her face.
Either she hadn’t heard me come in or she was ignoring me.
I still had no idea what freaked her out at my bar.
No one was talking to her when she suddenly panicked.
Before I could announce my presence, she lowered her hands from her face to glance down at her wet sweater as she mumbled something under her breath. Then she grabbed the hem, pulling it over her head, revealing a black bra. My pulse thudded as she headed toward the laundry room.
As if finally sensing that she wasn’t alone, she whirled around, her eyes gleaming with so much raw pain and fear that my heart dipped.
What the hell had happened for her to look like that?
My gaze dropped, my teeth clenching together when I caught sight of wicked scars covering one side of her stomach.
A moment later, she covered them with her sweater as she backed up a step.
Her bra was on full display, proving she only cared about hiding her scars.
“Get out,” she hissed, her voice nearly cracking. “Go back to your bar, Kole. I’m not in the mood to deal with you or anyone else.”
I ignored her demand, stepping inside and kicking the door shut behind me. “That’s what you’ve been hiding? Who hurt you?”
“It’s a surgical scar.”
“Don’t bullshit me. That is not from surgery.”
“Go away,” she bit out.
There was no way in hell I was leaving her alone. Her hands were shaking slightly, the wild look in her eyes still present. Whatever had her spooked was still in her head.
“I won’t ask questions,” I said firmly. “But I’m not leaving.”
She glared at me. “Then I’ll go. We might have to share a house, but at least I have my own room.”
I stepped to the side, blocking the stairs. “No.”
“No?” she repeated. “Please try and stop me.”
Just like that, her fear was gone. Her anger was slowly building as I crossed my arms, planting my feet. I’d much rather see her rage than that terror even if it was aimed at me.
“I just want to make sure you’re okay,” I said quietly. “Because the way you ran out of the bar—”
“Is none of your business,” she interrupted. “Get out of my way.”
“Have a drink with me.” My eyes darted to her wet sweater. “Since you didn’t finish your last one.”
“Don’t,” she warned, her voice sharp.
“Don’t what?”
“Your pity is the reason I don’t show people my scars,” she ground out. “I don’t need nor want it.”
“I might not be able to read people the way you can,” I murmured, tossing her jacket and purse on the coffee table before stalking closer to her. “But that’s a lie. You don’t show them because you don’t want to explain what happened to you.”
“I’m not telling you,” she snapped.
I raised an eyebrow before moving next to her and opening the cupboard. “Did I ask?”
When she attempted to slink toward the stairs again, I caught her arm. “Drink with me.”
Her eyes cut to my hand on her before meeting my gaze again. “Why?”
“Because you don’t want to be alone right now.”
She scoffed. “I’m pretty sure I just told you that was exactly what I wanted.”
Releasing her arm, I leaned closer, keeping her stare. “Something is bothering you. The last time this happened, you wanted to use me as a distraction. You don’t like being alone when you’re upset.”
My guess was proven correct when she hesitated. It was only for a second before she masked her emotions again, her face turning cold.
“I’m fine.”
“That’s why you spilled your drink while practically running out of my bar?”
“You really need to stop stalking me,” she muttered.
“I wasn’t stalking you. You were at my business.”
“Whatever you say. I’m going to bed.”
“One drink. We’ll only talk about what you want,” I coaxed her, getting in her way again.
A suspicious frown tipped her lips. “Why are you being so persistent?”
“Because it’s been a long fucking week in this town.” I set down two glasses. “And we deserve a damn drink.”
She didn’t call me out on my lie, making me smother my grin. I was right about her not wanting to be alone.
Making sure to keep her sweater over her stomach, she crossed her arms. “I need to get a new shirt.”
With a chuckle, I grabbed the back collar of my black shirt, pulling it off. “Wear mine. Now, are you going to come up with another excuse before I pour your drink?”
Her eyes trailed down my tatted chest, a sinful smile growing on her lips as she let her sweater fall to the floor. “I don’t want a drink. But you’re right. I also don’t want to be alone.”
I didn’t have a chance to respond before she raised onto her tiptoes, wrapped her arms around my neck, and smashed her lips to mine. My self-control crumbled the moment I tasted her. I grabbed her hips, pulling her closer, letting out a groan as I deepened the kiss.
Until she suddenly stiffened. It was subtle, and she kept kissing me, pressing her body into mine. Cracking my eyes open, I caught her glancing at the kitchen light. She made a small noise of protest when I pulled my lips from hers while keeping a tight grip on her hips.
“You want this?” I asked gruffly. “Because if you don’t, tell me right now, Dani.”
“I want it,” she breathed out, even as indecision crossed her face. “But no questions.”
It was clear she was talking about her scars, and while I did want to find out what happened to her, I could wait. She could have walked away the second I saw her scars, but here she was, kissing me.
When I followed her home, I had absolutely no intention of thinking with my dick tonight. But if sex helped her forget the demons she was fighting, then let her fucking use me.
“No questions,” I agreed. Did I hope she’d open up at some point about her past? Yes. For now, I wouldn’t push it until she was ready. “My mouth will be busy anyway.”
I backed her up until she hit the edge of the counter.
Dropping my head, I trailed my lips gently across her jaw.
I kept kissing her, inhaling her addicting scent.
I reached for the button on her jeans, slowly undoing it to give her time to stop me.
She didn’t move a muscle, her eyes staying on mine as I pulled her zipper down.
She grabbed the waistband and shimmied out of them before I could pull them down.
My gaze dropped when she kicked them off, revealing black panties.
She quickly pulled those off too, and my dick strained against my jeans from the sight of her naked body. She was stunning.
I sank to my knees, grasping her hips to keep her in place.
I was eye level with the scar on her stomach, and from how she froze, she instantly realized it.
My gaze swept across her bare skin, rage licking up my spine when I noticed several smaller areas of marred skin.
This was no fucking accident. Someone had hurt her.
“Don’t,” she murmured, warning thick in her voice. “One word and I’m leaving.”
I exhaled slowly, reining in my anger, knowing if she walked away now, she’d never open up to me again. “I told you I wouldn’t ask.” I kissed her lower stomach. “You are fucking beautiful.”
Her hand tangled in my hair a second before she tightened her grip and yanked my head back until my eyes met hers as she stared down at me.
“I’m not ashamed of my scars,” she informed me, her voice strong.
“It’s a reminder of what I survived. I don’t like revealing them because of the reactions I receive.
The looks of pity. The tiptoeing around me.
The questions I don’t want to answer. But physically?
I embrace it. Because every time I see them, I promise myself that I’ll never allow someone to hurt me again. ”
The power in her words made my lips quirk into a grin, even as she pulled my hair harder. I’d been right about her the moment she first stepped into my bar. She wasn’t the quiet, shy woman she portrayed herself as.
“Now, I want you to fuck me,” she demanded, releasing my hair. “The way you just touched me was nothing like last time. I don’t need to be coddled. I don’t want soft or gentle. I want you to kiss me like you did in your bar pantry.”
My grip on her thighs tightened. “I didn’t just kiss you in the pantry. I’m starving, Dani. Can I eat my favorite meal?”
She choked out a husky laugh. “You’ve only had that meal once.”
“And I’ve been fucking obsessed ever since.” I kissed the soft skin on her thigh, letting out a groan. “Hold onto the counter.”
From the way her eyes flicked to me with defiance swimming in them, she didn’t like being told what to do. Yet, a moment later, her fingers curled around the edge of the counter. I trailed my gaze down her body, my eyes stopping briefly on her scars. Hesitation slid through me, and I went still.
“I’m not asking a question,” I said gruffly, tilting my head back to look at her.
“I’m stating a fact—someone hurt you. It’s why you’re so closed-off.
Why you hate people in your personal space.
As much as I want to bury my head between your thighs and hold you in place until you’re screaming my name, I need to know you’re okay with it. ”
When the shock faded from her face, she shook her head, letting out a small laugh. “Nothing you do will upset me. I’m not scared of you, Kole. Believe me when I say, I could get you on your ass if I wanted.”
I held her stare a few moments longer. From our previous encounters, it was clear she’d had some kind of training.
She could fight and knew how to handle knives.
If I had to guess, she was knowledgeable about guns too.
But to overpower someone my size? I had my doubts.
Though, she didn’t have to worry about that tonight. I wasn’t a threat to her.
“Make me scream your name,” she challenged, grabbing the counter with both hands again. Her next words were quieter. “Make me forget.”