by Beck, J. L.
A soon as he releases his hold on Rose, a scream rips from her throat. “No!” she yells, and I don’t understand why at first.
Everything happens so fast after that, I can barely keep up. I’m so consumed by making sure she’s okay, that I don’t notice anyone else coming into the room. A second shot is fired, the sound echoing through the small space, and a burning pain rips through my arm. A third shot hits Tony right between the eyes, and I watch his wide eyes go blank as life leaves his body.
Then another shot, and pain ripples through my abdomen. Tony and I hit the floor at the same time. Rose screams my name, and the pain in her voice hurts me more than the bullets I just took. I want to tell her that everything is going to be okay, but my throat won’t work. It takes all I’ve got to just continue breathing and not pass out.
Blinking my eyes open, I try to get my bearings together. I’m on the floor, looking up at the ceiling when someone steps into my view.
“Oh, how the mighty have fallen,” Drake snickers. His face is black and blue from the beating I ordered earlier. “I guess now I get the money and the girl. Seems like a good deal to me.” He smiles, but it’s distorted since his lip is so swollen on one side.
“Touch her, and I’ll kill you,” I somehow manage to say. My entire body aches, my muscles screaming as I flex my hands. Pain doesn’t matter, all that matters is Rose.
Drake starts laughing. “How are you going to do that? Looks like you’re bleeding out on the floor right now.”
“Touch her, and you’ll die. I promise you,” I hiss through my teeth, my chest heaving with each word. I reach around for my gun, realizing that I must have lost it when I went down.
Twisting my head to the side, I find it lying on the floor a few feet away from me. I move my arm to reach for it, but Drake sees what I’m doing right away.
Pulling back his leg, he kicks me in my ribs with full force.
Doubling over, I roll onto my side, gasping for air as I do.
“Please, don’t hurt him,” Rose pleads with Drake, who is smiling like the sick fuck he is. He turns his back to me and walks toward her. I tell myself not to look. Not to watch, but I can’t look away. She trembles against the restraints and flinches as he lifts a hand to her face, tracing her lips with his finger.
I will kill him. Rip out his intestines and strangle him with them.
“Maybe if you beg me real nice, I’ll take mercy on him and end it quickly.”
“No...noooo, please, please, don’t kill him,” Rose begs, anguish filling her voice.
Drake turns back around and looks down at me, “Isn’t it sweet how much she cares about you? I’m surprised, honestly. I thought for sure she’d be the first to put a bullet in your head.” He shrugs, “Guess I was wrong; the bitch actually loves you.”
Love. The word is branded into my brain in an instant. Digging deep, I push the pain down and focus on saving Rose and myself. Rolling further onto my side, I pretend to crawl toward them. Drake just tips his head back, laughing and turns back toward her, and that’s when I pull out my second gun from the hidden holster.
This time, I aim for the head. No, I don’t want his death to be quick, but I can’t risk him hurting Rose, and I don’t know how much longer I can hold on.
Pulling the trigger, I watch the bullet enter Drake’s head. The best part is, he never saw it coming. He thought he was safe, but you’re never safe when you fuck with me or something that is mine. His head snaps to the side a moment before his body falls to the floor like a rag doll.
Rose lets out a pained scream, and I do everything I can to get to her, but there is so much blood, and every time I try and push up off the floor, I slip, falling back down onto my arms.
“Shhh, sweets, it’s okay. Everything is going to be okay,” I mumble, black spots forming over my vision.
“Miles, please, please, don’t die,” Rose’s frantic voice fills my ears, and when I reach her, I grab onto her foot, squeezing it to let her know that I’m here.
“Love youuuu…” I whisper as the life seeps out of me and onto the cold concrete floor. If I never wake up, at least, I know I saved her and told her I loved her.
At least, I know she’ll be okay. That Drake and Tony will never be able to hurt her again.
“Miles…” Rose screams again, the sound like a knife cutting through every inch of flesh on my body. Then heavy footfalls fill the room. More of his men are coming.
I try and open my eyes, to lift my gun at the enemy, but I’m weak. My finger slips against the trigger, and the gun falls to the floor.
I’ve failed her.
Failed us.
14
Rose
Blood. There is so much blood. It’s everywhere and all I can see. Three men are on the floor surrounding me. I don’t care if Drake and Tony are dead. Actually, I’ll be happy if they are, but Miles. Miles can’t be. He can’t be dead. I need him.
My sobs are so loud, I hardly hear the footsteps as someone enters the room.
The tears make my vision blurry, so it takes me a moment to realize that it’s Nick who just came into the room.
“Are you hurt?” he asks me as he cuts the zip ties binding my wrists and feet together. I nod my head, yes, because speaking isn’t an option right now. My heart feels like it’s cracking down the middle, splintering inside my chest.
As soon as I’m free, I stumble off the chair. My legs are stiff, and it takes all the strength I have to take the two steps I need before falling on my knees beside Miles’s limp body. Taking his face into my hands, my eyes scan his face for any signs of life.
He can’t be gone. He can’t be.
“I need you to move, Rose. We have to get you both out of here before more men show up.” I register in my mind what Nick is saying but can’t bring myself to release Miles’s face.
Someone comes up behind me and wraps their arms around my middle, pulling me backward, and no matter how hard I try and fight them, no matter how much I cry, I don’t get any closer to Miles.
“It’s okay.” One of Miles’s men attempts to soothe me as he drags me out of the warehouse and into the dark night. Cool air kisses my skin, the cold seeping into warmth as I’m placed in one of the black SUV’s. My entire body is shaking, crippling fear makes it hard to breathe, to do anything, but simply exist. All I can think about is Miles. If he’s okay, or even still alive.
Three men carry Miles out of the building after me. They place his limp body inside the car beside me while Nick gets into the driver’s seat.
I move around so I can have Miles’s head on my lap. His eyes are closed, and for a moment, I think he is not breathing, but when I place a hand on his chest, I find it rising and falling with each of his breaths. A small amount of relief washes over me, and all I can do now is say a silent prayer, begging whoever is listening to keep his heart beating.
* * *
“Are you sure?” I ask. I have to make sure I heard what the doctor is saying because when they wheeled him away and down the hall hours ago, I was certain we were going to lose him.
“Yes, your fiancé is going to make a full recovery,” he explains, and I slump back into the uncomfortable waiting room seat. I had to tell them that we’re engaged so they would give me updates. Nick, who told them he is his brother, looks equally relieved at the doctor’s response. Nick has been sitting next to me the entire time, never leaving my sight. I’m not completely sure if he is making sure I’m safe or making sure I don’t leave. Either way, I’m thankful not to be here alone right now.
“The bullets missed all his major organs. He did, however, lose a lot of blood, so he’s going to need to rest for a while. No strenuous activities.”
“He’s okay… he’s okay…” I repeat to myself.
The doctor places a reassuring hand against my shoulder, and I have to stop myself from flinching away from his touch. “Yes, he’s in recovery right now. As soon as we move him into a regular room, you can go and see him and stay with
him if you like.”
“Thank you, doctor.” Nick gives him a tight-lipped smile, and the doctor smiles back before walking back to the nurses’ station.
With the doctor gone, I turn back toward Nick. My fear of losing Miles is all I can think about. I won’t believe a word that anyone says until I see him for myself.
“Everything is okay, Rose. Miles is like a brother to me, so I know how you’re feeling right now, but he’s too much of a pain in the ass to die on us. It won’t be long till he’s out of this place and back to being a dick to everyone in the world.”
I want to return the smile he gives me to comfort him in the same way, but I don’t have it in me. Instead, I nod my head and remain sitting in the same uncomfortable chair.
Three stale cups of hospital coffee and a granola bar later, they finally allow me into the room to see Miles. I take hesitant steps toward the bed where he lays, machines hooked up to him, tubes coming out of his body. He looks fragile, which is strange because he’s the least fragile-looking person I know, which only adds to the never-ending emotions I’m feeling.
Tears sting my eyes. He almost died because of me.
“Miles,” I croak, unable to hold it together, a second longer. Nearly sagging against the bed, I grab onto his hand and squeeze. His hand is warm and rough, and I almost break out into a sob. I need him to know that I’m here, that I’m with him and that I didn’t just leave, that all of this wasn’t for nothing.
His eyes flutter open and find mine immediately.
“Rose,” he croaks quietly.
“Yes.” I squeeze his hands a little tighter, letting him know I’m here.
“Are you okay?” His face contorts with pain as he asks, and I almost laugh.
“Yes, I’m okay.” I squeeze his hand again, “I’m not the one in the hospital bed, am I?”
“I was so worried about you… How did we get out?”
“You’re welcome,” Nick chimes in from the corner of the room. “I’m expecting a pay rise after everything that happened.”
Miles shakes his head, but gives him a faint smile before turning his attention back to me, “Did…” I can see the guilt in his eyes. “Did anything happen… are you okay? Have you seen a doctor?” I just can’t with him. Even when he’s near death, he’s still worried about me.
“I’m okay, and nothing happened to me. Just a couple scrapes and bruises, and that’s it.” I swallow, “Please don’t worry about me. You’re the one who was shot.”
Miles’s face turns serious, and he looks like he wants to strangle me, “I will always worry about you, Rose. You’re mine, and I am yours. Forever.” As soon as the words are said, I’m falling apart all over again.
“Get up here,” Miles orders, and I don’t even care if I get yelled at by the nurses. Doing his best to try and help me onto the bed, I somehow manage to climb up and not hit one of his wounds. He tucks me into his side, and I sigh happily, feeling the warmth of his body all around me. His scent fills my lungs as I breathe him in.
“I love you,” I whisper against his heavy beating heart.
“I love you more, sweets. I love you so much,” he whispers back, and I’ve never heard truer words in my life.
Epilogue
Miles
Six Month Later
It took me longer than I hoped to fully recover, but I’m finally back to my old self. To kicking ass, taking names, and giving zero fucks about anyone but my sweet little Rose.
“Baby, you better be on that bed naked,” I call from down the hall when I hear a soft squeal. I shake my head before turning and walking into the bedroom.
“And what if I’m not?” She giggles, and I can’t help but smile at seeing her kneeling on top of the bed, in nothing but my shirt. Her big, blue eyes are bright and full of happiness, and that’s exactly what I love to see at the end of every day.
Her… happy, healthy, and completely mine.
“Then, I’ll have to strip that shirt off of you myself and taste your little, pink nipples.” I grin, crossing the space between us in three huge strides. I’ve learned that though Rose is tiny, she isn’t weak or fragile. She won’t break like I was worried she would.
“Please?” She bats her eyelashes at me, and I chuckle.
“Like you have to ask,” I whisper against her lips as I lift the hem of her shirt and pull it up. Throwing it somewhere onto the floor behind me before I push her gently back and onto the mattress.
While I get undressed myself, I admire her naked body sprawled out on the mattress for me. Even though she’s gained some weight, she is still tiny compared to me, but we have learned to make it work.
Spreading her legs, she pulls up her knees, giving me the perfect view of her pink and already wet pussy.
“I’ve been playing with myself,” she admits shyly. “So… I’m already very wet and ready for you.”
An approving growl that sounds more animal than man rips from my chest. “Have you now? Show me… how you played with yourself.”
Biting her bottom lip, she slowly lets her hand trail down her body and between her legs. Letting her fingers slip between her wet folds, she wastes no time and sinks her middle finger into her tight channel. I take my dick into my hand and give it a few good strokes, imagining being inside of her.
She moans when she adds a second finger, and that’s when I’ve had enough of her show, no matter how fucking sexy this is, I need to be inside of her now.
Grabbing her by the hips, I flip her over onto her belly and prop her up on her hands and knees. I groan as I move behind her and guide my cock to her entrance.
“Are you sure you’re ready for me?”
“Yes… please,” she begs breathlessly, and I thrust forward, burying myself inside of her. Her tiny pussy quivers around my length, and Rose’s moans echo through the room. I don’t stop, I keep thrusting into her, a little deeper each time until I’m almost all the way in.
Only when I feel the end of her channel pressing at the head of my cock, do I stop pushing deeper.
“So full,” she mumbles into the sheets. “But so good…”
“Yes, so fucking good,” I growl and thrust harder and faster while ensuring I don’t hurt her. When the urge to see her face becomes too much, I pull out of her. Just long enough to flip her back around onto her back. Then I enter her in one long thrust, leaning down, so my body is covering hers.
Her tiny nails drag across my back, giving me a bite of pain with my pleasure.
“Ohhhhh…” Her pretty eyes widen and her lips part, and I piston my hips, relishing in the feeling of her tiny pussy clenching all around me, strangling my cock.
While she falls apart, I push forward to the finish line. My balls are aching and on the verge of exploding. I need to come inside her tight channel and fill her up with my sticky seed.
“Fuck...fuck…” I hiss as I press feverish kisses against her chest. Like a flash of lightning zinging across the sky, I start to come. Stilling inside of her, I feel every clench of her tiny pussy, and every twitch of my cock as I empty myself.
Panting, I press my clammy forehead to hers, “Be my wife… my forever… my always. Be that?”
For half a second, she seems shocked, but then a smile splits her face.
“Yes! I’d love to be your wife,” she answers eagerly and presses a faint kiss to my lips. I let my eyes fall closed and allow myself to absorb the emotions I’m feeling. Elation. Joy. Happiness.
My sweet Rose wasn’t just a gift. She was my salvation. And I’ll spend the rest of my days cherishing her. Forever and ever.
The End
About the Authors
J.L. Beck and C. Hallman are an international bestselling author duo who write contemporary and dark romance.
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Hurting You Preview
&nbs
p; Chapter One
Stella
Pushing the trash down one last time, I pull up the sides of the bag and make a knot with the plastic flaps. I can’t believe I almost forgot this one. Paul would have had a mental breakdown in the morning if I had left the trash in here.
It takes pretty much all the strength I have to lift the full bag out of the bin, so instead of carrying the sucker out, I decide to drag the heavy thing behind me. Hopefully, it won’t leave scratches on the university’s pristine cafeteria floors. I need this job too badly to get in trouble for something stupid.
It’s eerie here without all the students. The huge space is so quiet and empty, but yet, I prefer it over seeing all the rich kids walking around inside. I try really hard not to be jealous, but it’s not that easy. All-day long I have to look at these people who have everything I’ve ever wanted. A family, an education, and a chance at a good life. And the worst part is that they don’t even seem to appreciate what they have.
I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve overheard someone here complaining about the most ridiculous things. Being upset about a store being out of the newest designer shoes or handbags. Not getting the special edition sports car that they wanted. Having to wait an extra day to get their hands on the newest iPhone… the list goes on. Every complaint more absurd than the next.
Meanwhile, I’m working my ass off just to make ends meet. With my parents gone and my grandma suffering from dementia, all the responsibility for my grandma falls onto me. With that, comes a stack of bills every month and that is the reason I didn’t go to college, even though I had the grades and the ambition to go. Instead, I took any job I could get right after I got out of high school just so I could support Grams and myself.