Page 24 of Bleed for You (Bloody Desires #6)

C raig hardly slept, his mind replaying their conversation from the night before.

Seeing Jinx in the club had brought all the heartache and anguish that he’d pushed down deep inside to the surface and it had hurt so fucking much.

Chasing after him had happened on an impulse.

Stopping to speak to him had been to fulfill a need inside of him to make sure Jinx was okay.

He had missed him so much. Seeing him had forced him to face those emotions and then talking to him made him realize just how much he still loved him.

But did he love him enough to turn a blind eye to what Jinx did in the cabin?

The men he took there and hurt. The men he murdered.

Maybe. Maybe he could because he didn’t want to spend his life without Jinx in it and, at the end of the day, right or wrong, Jinx was ridding the world of some truly awful people.

People who deserved to die in the most horrendous way.

Staring out of the kitchen window, Craig sipped his coffee and blinked several times, but it made no difference to his tired, gritty eyes.

He hated sleeping alone on the weekends.

He’d become used to waking up next to Jinx, rolling over and cuddling up to him, feeling Jinx respond by pulling him close.

All that time, he’d been torturing and murdering people.

Sometimes it was hard for Craig to reconcile the Jinx who did those things to the man Craig had been in a relationship with.

Jinx had told him he kept it away from Craig, but to know he’d been sleeping with someone, had called him Daddy, had let him take care of him and hadn’t known this other, dark side of his?

That was difficult to accept. Breathing out heavily, Craig took another sip of his coffee and ignored the tiredness he felt.

He was going to see Jinx, had asked to see him, and he still had no idea what he was going to say.

The only thing he knew was that he missed him.

But could he be with a man who enjoyed hurting others? Could he let that man kiss him, touch him, fuck him?

He’d been doing that throughout their relationship and never knew, so he had, hadn’t he? But now he did know, and he still loved Jinx. Still wanted to be with him, and that was why he hadn’t reported him to the police. Because he loved him and always would.

When noon arrived, Craig picked up his things and left his apartment, and got in his car.

He didn’t move, though. He sat and considered what he would say, and how to say it.

Just because you had something to say, things to get off your chest, didn’t mean you just blurted it out.

You had to find the right words to convey what you wanted to say and make sure it didn’t cause offense.

Starting the engine, Craig drove to Jinx’s, his mind a whirlwind of thoughts, but nothing made sense to him.

He couldn’t figure out what he wanted to say other than he loved Jinx and wanted to spend his life with him, but Craig murdered people.

Kidnapped and tortured them. And Craig still loved him.

The journey passed quickly, too quickly.

He hadn’t decided what to say or how to say it.

Not really. Every time he had it figured out, he second guessed himself and began again.

Pulling up on the drive behind Jinx’s van, he parked and turned off the engine, then sat and did nothing.

Staring at the back of Jinx’s van did nothing to help, so he got out and slammed the door shut, then stayed where he was.

“I won’t bite. Unless you ask me to.” Craig’s eyes snapped up to meet Jinx’s, and he gave him a half smile that quickly disappeared. “This will be easier inside.”

“No bodies in there?” Craig retorted.

“No bodies out here either, but do you want the neighbors listening in to our private conversation?”

Craig laughed, but there was no humor in it.

Following Jinx inside, he shut the front door behind him, then stopped, staring at the floor.

Now that he was here, he had no idea what to say or do.

All the things he’d planned to say had disappeared.

It was only when Jinx stood in front of him that Craig looked up.

He saw Jinx raise his hand, closed his eyes when he felt him trail his fingers over his cheek.

He took a shuddering breath in. “I missed you,” he said, the words trembling as he spoke them.

Those fingers slid below his chin and tilted it up.

Soft lips touched his own and Craig sighed, his hands reaching up to curl around Jinx’s biceps.

God, he had missed this so much. Swaying closer, he whimpered when Jinx licked over his lips and parted them, letting Jinx’s tongue inside to slide against his own.

The kiss was soft, gentle, with no pressure.

Just two men reconnecting, but the passion was there, simmering below the surface, and Craig knew at some point they would be naked, their bodies coming together as one.

“I love you.” Craig trembled hearing those words, felt Jinx’s hands hold him, pull him closer, and he went willingly into his embrace. Tongues touching, caressing, hands sliding over each other until Jinx eased back and rested his forehead on Craig’s. “Stay with me.”

“You’re not a good person.”

“No, I’m not, but I’m yours, if you’ll have me, and I’ll always protect you and your family.”

“Why?” Craig asked. “Why do this?”

“Because I’ve always known I was different.

When I was younger, I tried to hide it, to ignore it, but it became harder as I grew up.

I didn’t want to be that kid who hurts animals because they are innocent, but it’s part of who I am, so I channeled it into this.

Getting rid of people who hurt children. ”

“You’re a… a what? A psychopath?”

Jinx shrugged. “I don’t know, and I don’t care. You don’t either or you wouldn’t be here with me now. You wouldn’t have kissed me back. You would have reported me as soon as you left the cabin and I would be in jail now.”

Craig pulled free from Jinx and walked into the living room, arms folded over his waist. “Jinx…”

“Why didn’t you report me?” Jinx’s voice came from right behind him and Craig spun around, staring at him. “Why haven’t the police been here to arrest me?”

Swallowing, Craig looked away, then back at Jinx. He blinked, licked his lips. “I couldn’t,” he admitted. Because he loved Jinx.

“Why?”

“You know why.” Craig walked into the kitchen and leaned on the counter.

“Because you’re still in love with me.”

“Yes,” he whispered. “I shouldn’t. Not with what I know you’ve done, but I can’t stop.”

Jinx leaned against him, his hands on either side of Craig’s on the counter. Craig resisted the need to lean back, to feel Jinx’s warmth. “Can you be with me and ignore that?”

Craig pushed back, forcing Jinx to step away, turned around and stared at Jinx. “You’re a killer.”

“I am, and we both know how I feel about it. We’re going over old ground here.” Jinx kissed him and Craig moaned as their lips touched. “Can you be with me, knowing what I am? If you can’t, then you need to leave now so I can get over you and move on with my life.”

“You want me to just ignore what you do?” Jinx nodded. “I don’t know if I can do that.”

“Why?” Jinx kissed him again and Craig returned it, his lips parting to let Jinx’s seeking tongue inside. The kiss ended quickly, and Jinx murmured, “Tell me why you can’t be with me. All you have to do is ignore that part of me. Pretend you never found out.”

“I can’t do that. You know what I’m like. I know now and I can’t forget about it.”

“Can you put it to one side then? Can you be with me and accept all of me? The good and the bad.” Jinx moved a leg between Craig’s and Craig whimpered when Jinx’s thigh rubbed his hardening dick. He’d missed Jinx’s touch so much and wanted more, but they needed to resolve this.

“I want to.” Craig moaned when Jinx kissed his neck, his hands holding Jinx’s waist. “I want to,” he murmured.

“Then what’s stopping you?”

“Because I know, and by letting you continue, it makes me an accessory, doesn’t it?”

“I would never involve you. If by some chance I am caught, I will tell them you knew nothing. That I kept it a secret from you. I would never risk you.” Jinx kissed him again and Craig sank into it.

Sliding his arms around Jinx’s waist, he let him deepen the kiss, their tongues dancing together.

Jinx’s fingers threaded through Craig’s hair, tilting his head to one side as he pushed him back on the counter. “I missed you, my boy.”

Craig whined into their kiss when Jinx tugged on his jeans.

He wanted to feel Jinx there, wanted to feel his lips and tongue on his dick, and when Jinx pushed at his jeans, he moved his hips forward so his jeans and underwear could be pushed down over his ass.

Jinx’s hand palmed an asscheek and Craig moaned.

He’d missed Jinx’s touch, his hands on his body, the feeling of Jinx moving inside him.

“I want to taste you. Tell me I can.” Jinx slid his lips over Craig’s jaw and down his throat. “Let me touch you. Make you come with my mouth. Let me taste you on my tongue.”

“What about us?” Craig leaned back, staring into Jinx’s hooded eyes. “How can we do this?”

“Can you accept all of me, Craig?” Jinx licked his lips, his eyes flickering between Craig’s. “Can you love me when I’m good and when I’m bad?”

“I want to.” Craig shuddered when Jinx’s thigh rubbed his cock. “I’m scared, though. This…what you do scares me.”

“I know you are. So am I. You know everything about me, and I lost you because of it, but I can’t change who I am.” Jinx kissed him, slow and sweet, one that melted Craig. “I’ll protect you.”

“Promise me.”

“I will always protect you, Craig. I’ll always keep you safe. I will kill anyone who tries to hurt you.”

Craig stared at him, his mouth slack. “You don’t have to.”

“It’s who I am. You are my world. I will do everything I can to keep you safe.”

Closing his eyes, Craig shuddered. This was Jinx.

All of him, including the part he’d kept hidden from Craig.

If he wanted to be with him, then this was it.

The moment where he made his mind up and accepted Jinx for the man he was.

The good and the bad. To love him even after he’s killed someone. That’s what Craig would be accepting.

Eyes open, he nodded. “No matter what happens between us, I will never betray you. Take me to bed, Jinx. Show me how much you’ve missed me.”

“You’re sure? Because once you’ve agreed to be with me, I don’t think I could let you go again.”

Licking his lips, Craig nodded. “I know what you are, and I want all of you. I’ve made my choice, Jinx, and it’s you.” He barely managed to get the words out before Jinx had him in a crushing embrace. “Jinx…”

“I fucking love you.” Jinx pulled back and palmed Craig’s face. His eyes moving all over it before he kissed him. Craig kissed him back, throwing an arm around Jinx’s shoulders, holding on when Jinx picked him up. “I’m going to touch you everywhere, taste you everywhere.”

“Then fuck me. God, I’ve missed feeling you inside. Fuck me, Jinx. Wipe all the pain away.”

In the bedroom, Jinx let Craig slide down his body, then stared at him. “Craig…” Craig pulled him close when he saw the emotion in Jinx’s eyes. “Don’t leave me again.”

“I’m not going anywhere. You’re stuck with me now.”

“Promise me.” Jinx shuddered in his arms. “Never leave me again.”

“No matter what, I’m yours. I accept all of you, Jinx. All of you.” His body settled like it had been waiting for him to say that, and he pulled Jinx back and kissed him. “I’m all yours.”

Growling, Jinx returned his kiss. Hot and hard, and desperate. “You are mine and I’m going to fuck you now.”