Damaged Like Us (Like Us Series Book 1)

by Krista Ritchie

  Maximoff slows down, his breath deepening, and I watch him trace one of my tattoos with his fingers. Near my collarbone, a blood-red sparrow flies through the mast of a gray-scale ship.

  He’s looking at me like I’m the treasured celebrity. As though I’m the most valuable one.

  I skim the faint bruise on his sharpened cheekbone.

  I hate seeing you hurt. And I’m not the only one. After the firecracker incident last week, all of his younger cousins and two of his siblings approached me at a family cookout. Behind Maximoff’s back.

  Basically, they said, “Promise us you won’t let Moffy get hurt again.”

  His brother added, “Or die.”

  “He’s not going to die,” I said, assured of this. I still am.

  “Then hurt,” they all said in unison.

  “Promise us,” Audrey Cobalt, the youngest Cobalt of seven emphasized, a knife in her hand for a whole blood oath thing that I declined.

  Eighteen times, I said, “I promise.” Until they believed me.

  And I’ve never carried a promise like a burden, but here, now—remembering the pure, unconditional love those kids have for Maximoff, I feel the fucking need to at least caution him.

  I run my hand down to his smooth jaw. “You need to be more careful.”

  “I’m the same as I’ve always been.” His eyes dance over my mouth and cheeks. Maximoff has one arm out of the pool. And he uses his weight to cage me, keeping our shoulders above water. “So is this my bodyguard talking or my…?” He pauses.

  “Wow.” My brows rise, a smile edging across my mouth. “He even can’t say what we are.”

  “Are we…?” His chest rises in a bigger breath. Either he doesn’t want to say the word first or he’s not sure if it’s the “normal” time for labels.

  I tilt my head. “Your virginity is showing.”

  “Pretty sure I lost my virginity a long time ago.”

  “Relationship virginity.”

  In the water, his hand dips down my swim shorts, rubbing my bare ass. I bite down, my pulse hammering. I tuck him closer to my chest, even if he’s the one anchoring me to the corner.

  “How long is a long time ago?” I ask him. It’s not public knowledge, and he hasn’t really told me yet.

  Maximoff stares at my lips for a long moment.

  I splash water at his face.

  He lets go of the edge just to wipe the water. “Thank you for that.”

  “Stop imagining your cock inside my mouth.”

  He feigns confusion. “How’d you know?”

  “Wild guess.”

  His voice lowers to a deep whisper. “When did you have your first sexual experience with someone?” He needs me to answer first.

  I don’t mind. “Thirteen. I was young, and I mistook you have a great ass for love.” Some people are into casual hookups or NSA sex, but that’s not my favorite thing. I prefer getting to know the person before or during or after for a while—and I can’t stand open relationships.

  While you fuck me, you only fuck me.

  His lips lift, but then they fall in deep contemplation, mulling over my words: I was young, and I mistook ‘you have a great ass’ for love. And then he asks, “How do you know that’s not happening now?”

  My brows jump. “That’s assuming I’m in love with y—” I cut myself off, reading his stiff, rigid body language clearly. His features start padlocking. Shutting me out. No. No. “Hey, I’m fucking with you, Maximoff. I’m an asshole.” I clutch his impassive face. My stomach twists. It’s extremely hard for him to be vulnerable. I know this.

  I shouldn’t have made that joke.

  “It’s fine,” he says, his voice void of emotion. “I get it.”

  “No you don’t.” And I tell him bluntly, assuredly, without a fucking doubt, “You’re my boyfriend. And from the jump-start, this has always been more than just sex.” Yeah, we wanted to fuck each other’s brains out, but for Maximoff to take this risk, it had to be more than what he can get at a nightclub.

  His shoulders try to loosen, and he starts to smile, water dripping off our wet hair. “Boyfriends. Are you sure that’s what we are?”

  “A hundred percent.” I pause. “Are you?”

  He nods strongly. “Yeah.”

  I just fucking kiss him. He deepens the embrace, his hand rising from my ass to the back of my head.

  When our lips break, he finally tells me, “Seventeen. That’s when I had sex for the first time.”

  It makes sense. I’m about to speak, but his phone rings by the diving board. A call. Maximoff immediately swims over to the other side, and I pull myself out of the water.

  He’s already sitting on the edge, phone in hand, when I reach him. “It’s Luna.” Concern hardens his face.

  It’s one a.m. on a school night, late for Luna to call.

  He clicks the speakerphone button. “Hey, what’s going on?”

  She sniffles, and as soon as Maximoff has a mere hint of Luna crying, he stands up with the “we need to leave” face.

  I grab our towels, dry clothes, my holstered gun, radio—all set. Water drips off us, creating puddles at our feet. But he won’t want to waste time changing.

  By the time Luna speaks, we’re in the elevator descending to the parking deck.

  “I just got my last test scores back before finals.” Her voice cracks. “Moffy, I failed three of my classes.” She starts crying. “Eliot and Tom did the calculations, and I’d…I’d have to make a hundred-and-ninety-three on my finals to even pass.”

  Shit. I hook my radio to my damp swim shorts and fit the earpiece in my ear.

  Maximoff grips the cell hard in his hand and pushes the elevator P3 button repeatedly. “What the hell happened, Luna? I thought you were doing better.”

  “Hi, Luna,” I greet and catch his hand so he’ll stop punching the fucking button. And I keep his hand in mine for a long beat.

  “Farrow, did you hear—”

  “Yeah. Hang in there.”

  “I’m trying.” Her voice shakes. “But it’s my fault. I missed too many quizzes. I skipped the classes where I’d have to see Jeffra.”

  “What’d she do?” Maximoff almost growls.

  “She made a rumor in August that I’m so weird, I eat shit for fun. I didn’t care. She could’ve called me anything, and I wouldn’t have cared.” Luna takes a short pause. “But someone put real shit in a paper bag in my locker, and I just couldn’t even look at her, it made me sick.”

  My jaw muscle tics.

  Maximoff’s eyes flash murderously. If he speaks, he may say something like, I’m going to kill someone.

  I squeeze his hand. “It’s not your fault,” I tell her.

  “I let her make me feel worse,” Luna says. “It’s my fault.”

  “No,” Maximoff growls. “It’s not.”

  “Where was your bodyguard?” I ask. Epsilon didn’t share this information with the whole team. Or else I would’ve known.

  “He never saw. I just acted like it was my lunch and then threw it away. I didn’t want him to worry Mom and Dad.” Her words quiver. “Now I wish I had. Because then maybe I would’ve had the courage to face her in class. And I know I can repeat the school year or do homeschool like Xander, but I just wanted the cap-and-gown graduation for them. I saw how they looked at you, Moffy, when you graduated, and I wanted to give that to Mom and Dad. I wanted them to be proud of me. And I fucked it up.”

  Maximoff glares at the phone. “Luna, listen to me. I love you. I’m coming over. We’ll figure out how to tell Mom and Dad then.”

  The elevator dings. We’ve reached P3.

  27

  MAXIMOFF HALE

  WE RETURN to my townhouse at almost 4 a.m.—Farrow and I stayed with my sister for about three hours. He would’ve waited at the security’s house one street over, but he’s closest to Luna. I was glad she wanted him there.

  Luna ended up feeling comfortable enough to tell our mom and dad. Tears were shed. Hugs were
given. In the end, they made a plan to speak to the principal. She may not have to repeat the whole year if they learn about the shit-in-a-bag.

  I thought I was pissed, but my dad almost woke up Jeffra’s parents at three a.m.—not by phone. That family lives in our gated neighborhood.

  My mom spider-monkeyed his back to stop him, and he turned to complete affectionate mush in her presence.

  I check my watch when I shut my bedroom door.

  4:23 a.m. “I’m sorry,” I tell Farrow. I turn off my harsh lamp, and the strung bulbs on the rafters cast shadows and a soft, orange glow in my small bedroom.

  Farrow unlaces his boots and tugs them off. “That’s the fifth time you’ve needlessly apologized tonight.”

  I pull my crew-neck over my head and toss the shirt in my wicker hamper. “Every damn time we’re alone or in a conversation—actually, when we’re doing anything at all, something in my life swoops in and cuts it off. Your pockets are overflowing with rain checks.” I watch him walk to my sole window, gray curtains drawn shut. “I’m shit at this, Farrow. You should reconsider this whole thing.”

  He’s so damn calm as he leans against the window ledge, half-sitting on it. “This whole thing?”

  “Yeah, this whole thing.” I motion from him to me, then me to him. “I can fuck. Christ, I’m good at sex—”

  “Who told you that?” His lips quirk.

  I don’t miss a beat. “—but being someone’s boyfriend is so far out of my territory. It’s on another galaxy. My life can’t accommodate romantic relationships. At least not the kind you deserve.”

  “Is that really what you think?” He frowns darkly.

  “Yeah.” I nod several times. “You’ve had four other boyfriends, Farrow, and I can say I’m probably without a fucking doubt your worst. In terms of fucking—I’m number one though, sure.”

  “Sure,” he adds, eyeing me, still not giving anything away. Maybe he’s processing everything I dumped on him. He shakes his head once. “How long have you been agonizing over this?”

  “What?”

  “Come on,” he says, still calm. Still cool. He crosses his arms over his chest more leisurely than serious. “You’re you. You fixate over the details, over every variable you can think of. You’ve most likely been wrestling with this for weeks, if not months.”

  He knows me well.

  Millions of people know me, but not like this. Not like that. I hang onto that fact like rope on a wall that blocks my view of everything. He’s how I see the other side. He’s made my life feel freer.

  He made me believe I could actually have a relationship.

  He made me believe I could experience more than just this fleeting, temporary thing.

  And I have.

  Christ, I have, but what is this for him? I give him halfway. Half of a relationship. A semblance of the real thing.

  “It’s been on my mind,” I admit. “You’ve experienced what it’s like being with me. The constant interruptions that I won’t ignore. The lack of privacy that won’t change. The never-ending phone calls. The zero PDA. If you want to break things off now, I get it. Just…clean cut. You can go back to being just my bodyguard. I go back to being just your client.” My chest is on fire.

  “Is that what you want?” he says, those words like a sling blade.

  “No.” My eyes sear. “No. I want you.” More than I’ve ever wanted anyone.

  Farrow never breaks my gaze. “And you’re assuming that the lack of privacy, the ‘zero’ PDA, and all the interruptions bother me.” He shakes his head. “They don’t. Would I like to touch you in the car or on the street or even in an elevator? Of course, but I get more by being with you than any PDA could give me.”

  “I don’t understand.”

  “Maximoff,” he says, “the reason why this relationship works is because I’m your bodyguard. I’m with you almost twenty-four hours a day, every single day. One week with you is the equivalent to three months with anyone else. You know more about me and what it’s like to be with me than some of my long-term exes.” He laughs at a thought. “The fact that we’re sleeping together, around one another all the time, and not killing each other is a miracle. And it says something.”

  His words extinguish the toxic heat in my chest. “What?”

  “We’re good together. Really good.” Farrow smiles. “And you’re not a bad boyfriend. You’re not the worst. Or even second-to-last-place. You’re the most thoughtful, the most caring, and the media was right when they said whoever dates you would be the luckiest fucking human alive. I feel lucky to be with you.”

  I inhale, but I don’t exhale yet. “I can’t give you more though. I know there may be a point where a crisis in my family may conflict with whatever’s happening in your life—and you’re not going to like who I choose.”

  “You’re going to choose your family because that’s who you are,” Farrow says strongly. “And I will love you for it.”

  I set my hands on the back of my neck. He’s not considering all the variables. Or am I just packing sandbags around my house before it explodes? “That’s not a relationship,” I combat. “I should pick my boyfriend.”

  “If you keep weighing your morality with scales, you’re going to lose.” Farrow still sits at ease. “Just put down the hypotheticals and step away. Let go.”

  I don’t know how. I want to give him as much as he’s given me.

  Farrow licks his bottom lip. “Can we agree on one thing?” he asks. “We’re together. We’re doing this, and neither of us wants to stop.”

  “Yeah.”

  He pushes off from the window and crosses the room. Quickly, he’s in front of me, his hands on the waistband of my jeans. I hold his muscular shoulders, skin warm beneath my hands.

  “One day,” he tells me, his voice gravel in silk. His mouth on the base of my neck, sucking and biting up to my ear. My muscles slacken, unwinding. I edge even closer. His hot breath throbs my cock. “I’m going to be inside of you.”

  One day. I still like fantasizing about the idea. It’s a vulnerable place I eventually want to reach with him.

  Just not tonight.

  I WAKE to the worst beeping 5:40 a.m. alarm—too damn early. Farrow’s head is on my shoulder, our muscular legs tangled. I reach over and slap the snooze on his phone.

  It wouldn’t be the first time he’s stayed longer in my bed. We’ve both been lenient on this one precaution. Later, he’ll return to his townhouse, hopefully without Quinn noticing anything strange.

  Farrow yawns in his fist and sits up on his elbows. His white hair is a mess, his lips reddened from rough kissing barely an hour ago, and the beginnings of a know-it-all smile work their way across his mouth.

  It’s undeniable.

  Farrow Keene is unadulterated sex in the morning. I have more than a small hard-on for him. Like currently. Right now. I crave him, blood rushing to my dick.

  He stares at me like I’m a regular fixture to these 5:40 a.m. wake-up calls. Like no matter how tired, I’m the first face he wants to see.

  Fuck me. My cock aches beneath my sheets and orange comforter.

  Without saying a word, Farrow stretches to the nightstand and grabs a condom and lube. He passes the bottle to me but keeps the condom.

  He tears the wrapper, and I kick down the comforter and sheets. I watch the movement of his fingers as he covers my erection. His grip is light. Closer.

  More.

  His mouth curves upwards, and he lies back on his elbows.

  I lather myself while I eye the inked skull pirate on his ribcage. And the lavender sparrow nearby. I lift my gaze to his barbell nipple piercing—fuck. My waist arches slightly.

  I turn towards Farrow, and I pull him up higher, aligning us. He drops off his elbows when I position him on his side. Not fucking gentle.

  He lets out a rough, throaty noise and palms his cock twice. His round ass brushes up against me.

  My mouth touches the back of his neck. I grip his thigh. Stretching
his leg over my waist to spread him more. Erection grazing his hole.

  His nose flares in desire. “This is the only way you’re getting me to be the little spoon,” he reminds me. “You better fucking enjoy it.”

  He turns his head back to me. Enough that I kiss him, my tongue parting his lips and sliding against his. He reaches up and holds my jaw. Fuck me. I ache to rock forward right now. I break the kiss early and breathe, “Trust me, I already am.”

  We never spoon each other at night. Neither one of us can give up that lead. Most nights while we sleep, our arms and legs end up tangling.

  I clutch my shaft and slowly push inside of Farrow. He buries his head into his pillow, mouth opened. A garbled noise escapes.

  I watch him for a second, my ass flexing. Yes. Fuck yes. He’s pretty fucking tight for my cock. Every time I sink into him, it’s top-notch, eye-rolling pressure.

  My movement is unhurried. Achingly temperate. Trying to milk every damn second for its total worth.

  “Fuck, Maximoff,” he almost gasps, his breath shallow.

  I groan, all the way in. Yesyes. I rock deeper into him, my arm hooked around his abs. I wrap my hand around his fucking huge erection, and I sync my thrusts with my hand.

  Farrow grits down for one second before his mouth is forced open by the pleasure again. He curses into the pillow, face reddened. Holding breath. Neck muscles taut.

  Fuck, holy fuck.

  I thrust harder, ass flexed more. Banging up against him. My chest is welded to his strong tattooed back. Farrow reaches behind him and grips my ass. Pushing me firmer into him. Yesyesyesyesfuckyes. He rocks backwards into my cock when I rock forward into him.

  We move together in unison. Like a slow, thundering wave.

  He moans a deep, raspy moan. Like the sound was unearthed from his core. “Fuck,” he moans again. “Fuckfuck.”

  “Farrow,” I groan, sweat built. I’m rising towards an intense peak. I quicken my pace in a final sprint—fuckyesyesyesyesfuuuuckkk. My orgasm ripples through me and his covers my palm. I eek the climax. Staying inside of him, slowing in and out.

  In and out, my hot breath on his neck.