Because He's Perfect

by Anna Edwards

  His touch makes me want to retch.

  Tony’s chuckle is unpleasant as he watches me struggle beneath his friend. “You brought this on yourself, Kara.”

  The skirt of my dress is yanked aggressively up to the tops of my thighs. Screaming long and hard, I frantically try to buck him off me. He’s going to rape me. The magnitude of the looming violation makes me feel faint.

  “Get the fuck away from her.”

  Both men scramble up at the sound of the intruder. Head cocked to one side, the cane in Darius’s hand is out and poised in front of him where he stands by the door.

  “Darius!” I can’t hide my relief as I blink back tears.

  He straightens a little taller when he hears my voice. “It’s ok, baby, I’m here now. Hurt her and I promise you’ll regret it.”

  “Oh yeah, her knight in shining armor,” Tony mocks, swinging a grin at me. “She’s going to pay for screwing with my life. I’ll let you listen while my friend here fucks her brains out. Maybe she’ll enjoy his cock more than yours.”

  “She doesn’t know.” Darius’s voice is grim. White lines fan out around his mouth where his lips are pressed together.

  “What’s going on?” I’m desperate to rush into the safety of Darius’s arms, but still bound, I can’t escape the mattress.

  “I’ve paid off your brother’s debts completely and had the loan shark stop lending to him. Slick was very accommodating. Your brother will work off his debts himself. I’ve arranged a job placement for him in a business I run.”

  Why would he do that? How does he even know about my older brother? My thoughts freefall.

  “Fuck that.” Tony’s hands clench at his sides.

  Violence pulses from him so much it has me cowering into the filthy bed. He wants to hurt something. The emotion is etched over his haggard expression so deeply I know it’s only a matter of seconds before he snaps.

  “Your sister and young brother will no longer be caught up in your schemes,” Darius continues calmly. “Your debt is now mine. You owe me.”

  “You can’t do that.” Tony’s aggressive tone trails off into a whine.

  “Oh, I can.” Darius flashes a smile that’s lethal. “You’re going to clean up your life, do you understand? No more drugs or gambling.”

  “Fuck you. You think you can come in here and order me around? I’m the one in charge.”

  “Let Kara go.”

  “Or what?” Tony spits. “You’ll hit me with your stick? Let’s teach this bastard a lesson, Kev.”

  Prowling toward him the confidence in their steps terrifies me more than anything else. It’s two against one. They have the advantage of sight over Darius.

  He doesn’t move from where he’s standing. Silent and stock still, he seems to be concentrating.

  Tony goes for him first. The second he’s close enough, he swings for Darius’s face. Incline to his left, he narrowly misses the blow. Darius moves so fast all I can do is watch in shock. Twisting, he brings his cane up, cracking it across my brother’s hip. Tony gives a howl of pain.

  “Son of a bitch,” Kev bites out as he attacks.

  A punch reaches Darius’s jaw. He absorbs it with nothing more than a grunt. Bringing his cane around and up, it slaps sickeningly against Kev’s chest. Staggering clear, he doubles over from the shockwave.

  “You have no idea who you’re dealing with. You think Slick is nasty? You can’t imagine the things in my past. You are way out of your league.” Baring his teeth, Darius’s expression is chilling.

  Malcolm appears in the doorway. Countenance deadly, he charges across the room straight at Kev. Seeing the muscle-bound male on a collision course straight for him, my brother’s friend flees. Jumping over a crate, he falls over his feet to escape through a door at the other end of the room. Malcolm follows.

  “You think because I’m blind I’m weak? I could snap your neck without breaking a sweat.”

  Darius’s wrath filled voice returns my attention to his presence.

  Eyes bugging, Tony chokes on the brutal grip, squeezing his throat. Color races into his pale cheeks, turning his face red as he asphyxiates. The older man has him trapped between his weight and the wall.

  “Darius stop, you’re going to kill him!”

  Green unseeing his gaze wanders in my direction at my shrill plea.

  “You’re very lucky I’m in love with your sister. If you had been anyone else, I would have let Slick take his ounce of flesh from you. After what you’ve just done, I should carve it out of you myself.” Arm loosening, he shoves Tony into a corner.

  My heart stops for a split second before thumping to life wildly. Darius loves me? This is all happening so fast.

  The sound of police sirens split the air somewhere outside.

  Spinning to face him, Tony’s attention bounces from side to side in panic as the aggression drains away. “Does she know it was you? That you’re the one? This rich bastard who was in the car that hit Mum’s. She died because of him. Why the fuck do you think I wanted to rob his house? It’s all his fault.”

  Dizziness hits me hard. Denial rises in my throat, but when I look up into Darius’s face, it fades painfully. There’s no shock or surprise. My brother is speaking the truth, for once.

  “It was an accident. The roads were wet from the storm…” Darius’s voice is empty, lacking emotion.

  “He killed her,” Tony accuses in a scream as policemen burst into the room.

  Chapter Nineteen

  DARIUS

  Kara will hate me now. This was not part of my plan. Dealing with this discreetly, without her knowledge, was what I had wanted. Sitting cocooned in the back of the car, her silence is killing me. She hasn’t said a word since the confrontation with her older brother. I’m lucky I’ve kept up with my training. Malcolm’s regime is gruelling, but it keeps me fit and able to take care of myself. Tony isn’t the first person I’ve come across who thinks they can take advantage of me because of my blindness.

  “You knew?” A note of hurt and accusation throbs in Kara’s tone.

  “Not until recently. I was so out of it in the hospital the name of the person in the other car never registered fully,” I admit quietly. The creak of leather fills the space when she moves. Its heady smell mingles with the hint of the fragrant perfume Kara is wearing. I hate not being able to see her expression. I’m desperate to see what’s going on inside her head. Look into her eyes.

  “Why didn’t you tell me?”

  “Because I didn’t want to hurt you. Didn’t want you to hate me.” I know we’re alone. I’d heard the whisper of the glass partition going up, once we were settled inside the vehicle. Malcolm had been wise enough to give us some privacy.

  “What did you mean about your past? When you threatened Tony?”

  “I wasn’t a good man, back then. I did things…. it’s in the past.” I don’t want to tell her I was with a shady as fuck organization. That the people I worked for would eat a sweet little thing like her alive. It’s part of the man I used to be. Not who I am now, although the contacts come in handy from time to time.

  “I want to go home.” Kara’s voice is small and weak.

  “Malcolm is taking us there now,” I soothe. Tonight, has been too much for her, and I know she must be in shock.

  “No. I mean my flat…I can’t do this…I need space, Darius. Time to think.”

  The pain of her rejection is almost crippling. I don’t know how to respond. She knows I love her. Heard me speak the words to her brother. Part of me screams internally to argue, but I know in my heart I can’t talk her out of this. Events have pushed Kara to her limits. If I try to force her home with me, it will only make things worse. It’s time I respect her wishes. She needs breathing space, and although everything in me denies it, I’ll give it to her. There’s a chasm opening between us, and I don’t know how to prevent it. Maybe it’s been inevitable. Leaning forward stiffly, I tap on the glass. A second later, I hear it slide down smoothly.
/>
  “Malcolm, Kara wants to return to her flat. We’ll drop her off now.”

  There’s a slight pause before he answers my clipped order as if he’s digesting the information slowly. “As you wish, Mr. Cross.”

  A week without Kara and I feel hollow inside. It’s odd how quickly she slipped into my life and turned it upside down. The sound of her voice is so absent I find myself unable to settle into anything. My home is empty, and I know it lacks the life and luster that my girl brought to it. I was an idiot for thinking I could keep her. Beautiful, vibrant, what would she want with a blind man like me? All I’ve done is hurt her. Kept her captive. Blackmailed her. Made demands of her body and time. Torn her family apart. It’s better that she stays away, where I can’t do anymore damage.

  “Hello, Darius.”

  For a moment, I think I’ve imagined the voice. Conjured it up from forlorn and dark thoughts.

  “Kara?”

  “Malcolm let me in.”

  “What are you doing here?” It comes out harsher than I intend. Seven days without contact, and now she’s suddenly here. Defensively, I rise from my chair, staring blindly in the direction of her sweet soft voice.

  “I wanted to see you.” Light footsteps move closer, bringing her beyond the threshold of the study door. “Tony’s in prison. They’re going to send him to rehab.”

  I don’t reply. The details of her brother’s case are something I’m aware of. Pulling strings and using my connections, I’ve made sure the young man will receive the best care money can buy. If this doesn’t help, nothing will. Tony might be a scum bag, but I want to give him a chance to change his life around for the sake of his sister. If I can’t be with Kara, then maybe I can fix the things that are broken. Repair the damage I’ve caused.

  “Sam is moving in with his girlfriend,” Kara continues quietly as she grows closer. “Malcolm’s been helping him move his stuff out the last few days. It’s how I got a lift here to see you.”

  Curling my fingers into my palms, I tighten them until I feel the sting of my nails cutting into the skin. I want to touch her so badly. Rediscover everything I’ve missed and longed for these long, lonely days. “What do you want Kara? Give me the real reason you’re here.”

  “Do you really love me?”

  Fuck, she sounds so tiny and vulnerable.

  “Since the first moment I held you in my arms,” I admit, knowing that exposing myself could lead to more pain but unable to deny her. I need to tell the truth. All of it. I’ve lied to her, and she deserves to know. “I don’t mean the first night I forced you to move in with me. You’ve been seeing me for months and didn’t realize it. I’m Mr. X. The client you had as a professional hugger.”

  “I know.”

  Her reply stuns me. “You do?”

  “I worked it out the night you made love to me.” Is that a smile I can hear in her voice? No. I must be mistaken. Why would she be happy after what she’s just learned? How I’ve deceived her.

  “Forget about the vase. The debt is wiped clean,” I respond gruffly, my heart beating rapidly in my chest. “I should be the one making amends for the death of your mother. Your brother wouldn’t have turned to drugs if she hadn’t died…”

  “Darius, stop.” Delicate hands cup my cheeks. “Mum was the glue that held my family together, but Tony was already on that path. Even if she had lived, I don’t think it would have changed that.”

  Turning my head, I press a kiss to her palm, feeling the warmth and desperately trying to absorb it. The smell of vanilla is so familiar it makes me ache. “I’m sorry… The storm was so bad I could barely see in front of the windshield. I should have stopped, but I was arrogant enough not to. It cost you your mother…”

  “It was an accident.” Her tone is gentle but firm. “I’ve thought about it a lot this week. I can’t hate you for what happened. Yes, I miss Mum, but she’s gone. You weren’t the only one who lost control of their car. Malcolm showed me the police reports. You keep blaming yourself for something that you had no control over. I’ve lived with you all these weeks and have come to know the real you. The kind, gentle man you keep buried behind your harshness and distrust. I don’t know who you were in the past, but I know the sort of person you are now. I love you, Darius Cross.”

  Beauty isn’t in a face. It’s a light in the heart. Kara’s heart. Tension eases in my chest. She isn’t going to leave me. This beautiful girl, who’s brought hope and passion to my life, humbles me with her presence.

  Looks wither, but the essence of kindness and gentleness within Kara I know won’t fade. She’s not built to be callous and unfeeling. There’s too much compassion housed in her fragile slender frame.

  “I know.” I can’t hide my smugness.

  “You do?”

  Pulling her closer, I savor the feeling of her in my arms. “You talk in your sleep, my little siren.”

  “I guess you won’t be coming to my room every night now you’ve written off the payment for the vase.” The weight of her head leans on my shoulder. Letting my cheek fall to the top of her head, I rub it gently against her hair.

  “No, I won’t.”

  “Oh.” Her disappointment is sharp.

  “I won’t have to,” I explain soothingly. “The second you move back in, you’ll be sleeping in the master bedroom where I can make-love to you every night.” Lowering myself into my chair, I tug her into my lap. She comes willingly, snuggling her heat into my chest. It’s not a request. She will be living with me permanently. I’ll get my way even if I have to play dirty to get it. Being separated from Kara is something I can’t bear.

  “You will?”

  “All night long until you beg me to stop. I need you, Kara. The thrust of your hips meeting mine as I possess you. Your gentleness and generous heart. You’ve had mine longer than you realize,” I confess.

  Kara’s breath dances over my chin, and I know she’s looking up at me. Carefully searching, I find her smooth cheek and cradle it gently.

  “I think you kidnapped mine in the dark. Having you hold me in that hotel room. It didn’t matter that I couldn’t see you. I fell for you long before I ever saw your face.”

  The soft, reverence in her voice has my heart flipping over. My fantasy hasn’t been a dream after all. The reality is all the sweeter. Taking her lips in a passionate kiss, I feel her melt against me.

  THE END

  About Claire Marta

  Thank you so much for supporting this amazing charity. It’s because of readers like you that we can do these incredible things, and if you liked the content, please consider leaving a review.

  You can follow Claire on any of the social platforms below:

  Profile: Claire Marta

  Group: http://bit.ly/LiquorLust

  Newsletter sign up: Newsletter sign up

  Email: claire.marta@outlook.it

  Dedication

  This book is dedicated to those who have been diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis and the people who love them.

  Chapter One

  “It is my duty as a Pararescueman to save lives and to aid the injured. I will be prepared at all times to perform my assigned duties quickly and efficiently, placing these duties before personal desires and comforts. These things we (I) do, that others may live.”

  —The USAF Pararescue Creed

  “Target acquired,” Kole Jameson whispered into the com attached to his protective vest.

  “Roger that,” Nathan Carter, Kole’s teammate and best friend, responded from a few yards away. “Got your six covered. Fire when ready.”

  Kole zeroed in on the image filling the lens of his scope. After careful consideration, he made a slight adjustment before repositioning his SR-25 rifle. He’d modified the gun specifically for this objective.

  Normally, he was more than confident in his marksmanship abilities. Today, however, Kole was admittedly nervous. A lot was riding on this one shot.

  Holding his breath, he slid his finger down and prepared to
shoot. A second later, he exhaled slowly and pulled the trigger.

  Through his scope, Kole watched as shock reverberated across the man’s face. Looking down at his chest, the guy seemed genuinely surprised to see the red stain now covering his shirt.

  Once again, Nate’s voice filled Kole’s ear. “Holy shit, you got him! You actually fucking got him.”

  One corner of Kole’s mouth turned up, but rather than respond, he continued to watch his target. Checking to make certain the man understood exactly what that shot meant. A few seconds later, he received the confirmation he’d been looking for.

  Though it was impossible at such a distance, Kole’s target looked him straight in the eyes. Then, raising his middle finger, the other man smiled. Kole switched channels on his com.

  “Time to drink up, boys. Looks like Coop’s picking up the tab tonight.”

  Still looking in Kole’s direction, Sean “Coop” Cooper mouthed “Fuck you.” This made Kole’s smile grow even more.

  “I can’t believe you actually shot him,” Nate strolled toward him.

  Kole secured his weapon and stood from his crouched position. Ignoring the slight tingling in his left leg, he lowered his sunglasses from the top of his head and turned to his friend. “Don’t sound so surprised, asshole. You act like you’ve never seen me shoot.”

  “Hey, in my defense, I’ve never seen anyone make a shot at that distance with a fucking paintball gun.”

  Kole carefully bagged his rifle, and the two men made their way to Nate’s truck. “Don’t be disrespecting the gun, man. She’s still a kick-ass sniper rifle. I just tweaked her a bit, that’s all.”

  Nate rolled his eyes. “Say what you want, but that shot was impressive as hell. No way McQueen will pass you up after that.”

  Laying his weapon on the backseat, Kole stretched for a minute. He twisted and turned, working the stiff back muscles in his lower back. After shaking out his left leg a couple times, he climbed into the passenger seat.