Page 33 of Troublemaker

I kissed her forehead.

“No,” I said, because I didn’t regret it. Regretting it would mean regrettingher. I regretted myself and my actions, period.

She gifted me with a smile as bright as the sun, before yawning.

“Alright, troublemaker. Time for bed.” I dried off too, rewrapping the bandage around my hand, and then lifted her again, carrying her back into the bedroom and placing her gently on the bed, staring down at her.

“Don’t leave me,” she pleaded.

“Like I could,” I said gruffly, sliding under the covers and pulling her into my arms, trying to ignore my horny cock getting the wrong message.

“No more,” she said, also feeling it.

I kissed her hair, breathing her sunshine-and-sex scent into my lungs. Memorizing it, so I could recall it whenever I needed to. I had a feeling I would need to often.

“No more,” I promised. “For now.”

As she drifted to sleep, and I held her perfect, vulnerable yet strong body in my imperfect, asshole arms, the truth echoed in my head.

Because it shouldn’t have been “no more for now.”

It should’ve been no more—forever.

16

LUCY

Iwoke up thinking about wedding colors.

Mywedding colors, to be specific.

Barbie Pink—my signature color—was probably a little too on the nose and didn’t really go well with anything other than gold or white, which might be a little gaudy, even for me. Nor did I think I could get Blake into a Barbie Pink tuxedo, as hot as that would be—and damn, it would be hot.

I sighed, eyes closed, warm in the hotel sheets and under the duvet, relaxed and happy and…for the first time since I was a little girl and maybe since forever…feeling like I finallybelonged.

Mine, he’d said.

And yes, I was his.

Even if he hadn’t kissed me.

At that, my eyes shot open. We were going to change that right now.

I shifted over, turning to look at him, ready to plant a kiss on his lips, morning breath and all…

Except no one was there.

There was no one in the bed beside me.

The sheets were a little rumpled and the pillow was slightly indented. I was in the hotel room, he had been here with me, I hadn’t imagined it—I had the sore, raw pussy to prove it.

So where was he?

Dread wanted to set up camp in my stomach, but I wouldn’t let the squatter in. Blake had to be here somewhere. He wouldn’t leave, would he? Wouldn’t abandon the girl whose virginity he’d taken the night before…

Rolling out of bed and trying to ignore the way my inner thighs ached, I wandered over to the bathroom, throwing open the door.

No one was there.