Page 44 of Craving Her
“I’m trying, Peaches. Fuck, just tell me what I need to do here.”
“Let me up!” I barked again. “I don’t want to be in this bed tied to a fucking hook like so many of your whores before me!” He stares at me in shock—not responding at all. Mostly, he looks like he can’t believe what I just said. “Let me up, now!” I order at the top of my lungs, pulling against my restraints.
“Fuck, baby, stop. You’re going to hurt yourself,” he says worriedly. He reaches up, pulling the cuffs from the hook. I try to stop crying. It mostly works now that I’m not lying on this damn bed. He reaches into his pocket and then, with a flick of his wrist, the handcuffs are off. I immediately stand up, rubbing one of my wrists. It doesn’t really hurt, but I am close to falling into panic. This gives me something to do with my hands. “Are you okay?” he asks. He takes my hands into his, turns them and begins rubbing my wrists himself. I try to hang on to my anger and pull my hands away. Torin doesn’t let me. Instead, he brings them to his mouth and kisses each wrist.
“Let me go, Torin. I’m not staying here tonight. I’m not one of your many girls. I won’t allow you to think I am.”
“I don’t think that, Skylar. Hell, I couldn’t think that even if I wanted to. Haven’t you been listening to me at all? You’re all I want. You’re all I’ve wanted for three years.”
“How do you expect me to react to that?” I snort, shaking my head at him.
“Like you believe me would be a good start.”
“I’m not sure I do. You’ve done a pretty thorough job of proving to me you didn’t want me at all over the years, Torin.”
“I know I don’t have a right to ask, but if you let go of the past, I promise you, Peaches, that I’ll never let you regret it.”
“I don’t know if I can trust that …”
“Tonight, let me show you exactly how I feel about you, Skylar.”
“You have a fucking hook on the wall for your women, Torin. And the term women is used loosely here, because I knowthat whorewas the main one. The whore you chose over me. I’m not staying in this bed. My door is fixed. I’m going back to my room.”
“While you’re condemning me, at leasttryto keep in mind how young you were and what a fucking shock it was for me to learn not only who you were, but your age—all while dealing with having a taste of you and knowing I couldn’t have it again.”
“If that’s how you felt, then why fight for more now?”
“Because I was wrong. I don’t give a fuck that I’m too old, or that you could do a fuck of a lot better. I’m your man. I’m going to keep fighting until you finally give in and let me show you what we could be together.”
“Torin …” I let out a sigh because I’m not sure what I’m feeling right now.
“I can’t do this all by myself, Peaches. You need to take a chance.”
“I’m not sure I’m brave enough,” I admit, feeling weak. Yet more than that, I just feel tired. I feel like I’ve been fightingfor Torin’s attention for most of my life and the end result has always been pain. I’d be stupid to ignore that.
His hand snakes under my hair as it curls against the side of my neck. “That’s bullshit. You’re the strongest woman I’ve ever known in my life. Let me prove that you’re safe with me.”
“I’m really not putting my ass back in that bed, Torin.”
I look up at him, stumbling as I half-heartedly resist when he pulls me against him. “Then we’ll go to your room tonight.”
I moisten my lips with the tip of my tongue because I know what I’m about to do and where it will probably lead. I’m not sure I’m ready, but I can’t worry about it right now. The simple truth is, I want Torin close to me, even if I’m not a hundred percent positive about his motives—or his actions, for that matter.
“Fine,” I mutter. “You better not make me regret this, asshole,” I mutter. Torin’s laughter rings out immediately and I do my best to hide my smile. I really do love hearing him laugh.
Damn it, I’m in so much trouble. I have been since the first night we met and it’s becoming clear to me I’m never going to make my heart stop wanting this man. Maybe I’m wrong for giving in, but I don’t want to fight it. I’m tired of fighting. I want Torin and I’m going to reach out and take him. If it doesn’t last and my heart gets crushed? I’ve survived that kind of pain before. I can do it again.
God, I really hope I can, because this time I have a feeling that losing Torin could completely destroy me.
Chapter 24
Joker
The night I had planned has suddenly changed. I can’t be myself with Skylar tonight. She’s not ready for it. I’ll need to keep a large part of myself hidden for a little longer. It’s not who I am to do that. Right now, however, I don’t have a choice. She’s scared to let go with me. It’s my fault, I own that. I don’t think I realized the damage I was inflicting on Skylar. It hurt her deeply. Shit, I think I made her doubt her self-worth and now I need to figure out how to fix that. Back in my room, she was panicking. She looked so terrified that I actually felt sorry for her—while also hating myself. I knew I couldn’t push her anymore. My woman needs a gentle touch. That might not be who I am—at least to someone who doesn’t understand the way I live. Eventually, she will learn everything I am and that she’s safe with me. Fuck, she’s more secure with me than anywhere. Until I can make her believe that, I’m going to be who I think she needs me to be.
One thing that will never change is that I will always put Skylar first. I want her to learn that from the beginning. I may be a man who thrives on being in control, but my Peaches will slowly learn that she’s the one who actually holds all the power. She alone has the power to completely destroy me. She’s the only woman who has ever had that ability.
Skylar is the only one who ever will.