Page 45 of Cold Bastard

“I don’t hire stupid employees, let alone sleep with stupid people.”

She rolled her eyes. “You don’t sleep around, so that’s not a good argument.”

“Point taken, and you are attempting to divert my question. What’s wrong?”

She sighed and looked at his chest, avoiding his piercing gaze. “I’m... just vulnerable in this position. That’s all. Don’t mind me.”

“Vulnerable? I think this is the less vulnerable position, in my humble opinion.”

Rolling her eyes, she scoffed. “Don’t mock me! I meant visually. You... you can see all of me, and I’m not used to it.”

Amusement fled his face, replaced by concern and irritation. The grip on her hips relaxed and she thought he would end their sex session. Instead, his hips pumped up once, and a second time. “There is no perfection in this world, Zoe. You think my body is perfection? It has done things that would make your skin crawl, and have you running for the door.”

A cloud darkened his features and tears clogged her throat as he continued talking, and gently, slowly, rocking them both.

“You wanted to know about my tattoos? They’re not for vanity. I joined a gang when I was barely twelve years old. That’s when my childhood ended. Each line, each symbol, each character represents something awful I’ve done. But those awful things guaranteed that my folks would not starve to death and they would still have a roof over their head. I cannot regret them, don’t you understand? You admire my body, but it’s a weapon I’ve honed and worked at all my life. Still do. I’m glad you like what you see but see it for what it is. The same way I see you. I don’t know everything about your past, Zoe, but I know people and character. What you went through forged the woman I’m fucking now. I see all your curves, your softness, and steel. Don’t you feel how hard I am inside you? There is not a single part of you that’s not making me burn for you, Zoe.”

As he continued speaking, he pounded up inside her with increasing force, his hands tracing every line of her, gently cupping her breasts, teasing, reverent. Not only did it move her to no end, but it also mixed with her own mixed-up feelings for him. The emotions were swept away by a storm of lust and desire. A deep need for the man. The more she learned about him, the more something softened inside her. And Zoe knew that, at the end of it all, this small vulnerable part of her heart she kept for him would make her suffer like nothing else. But she had made her decision.

He wanted her, Zoe decided she would give him her best. The beauty and the ugly, all of her, as there was only this moment for them both, offering their vulnerability and bodies to each other.