Page 61 of For You I'd Mend
Her eyes filled with tears.
“Don’t cry,” I said, pulling her tight. She pressed her face to my chest, her tears leaving a trail of searing guilt down my skin. “Please don’t cry. I’m just worried I hurt you. If I’d known, I would have been gentler, especially at the beginning. Why didn’t you tell me?”
She laughed and then hiccupped, the sound wet and pained. “If I told you, you wouldn’t have touched me.”
“That’s not—”
“That’s exactly what would have happened,” she said, looking up at me. “You’re regretting it now. Aren’t you?”
“Being with you, no. Hurting you, absolutely.”
“I’m fine. I promise. Are you mad at me?” The tears made her eyes impossibly greener. They were so beautiful and utterly focused on me. A feeling I’ve never experienced filled my chest, warm and painful. I was so in love with this woman it hurt.
“Myself,” I said, brushing away her tears with my thumbs. “I’m only angry at myself.”
“Well, stop then,” she said, smacking my chest. “That was fucking amazing. In case you missed it, I came twice. Pretty sure most women can’t say the same for their first time.”
“You did, didn’t you?” I said, smiling.
“So, what happens now?” she asked.
“I take you home,” I said and kissed her wrist, where her pulse fluttered in rapid beats. “You’re not spending the night on this crappy mattress.”
“I don’t mind, as long as I’m with you.”
I shook my head. “I’ll walk you home.” I pulled off the condom, knotted it, and shoved it in my pocket before tucking myself back in my jeans. I wanted her to stay, probably needed her to stay, but the pressure was building. There was only one way to let it out, and I couldn’t do it with her here.
“Fine,” she huffed. “But you need to buy a real mattress ASAP.”
“Anything for you,” I said, kissing her hand.
Her eyes were sad as she stroked my face, and I worried I’d hurt her more than she let on.
“You sure you’re all right?” I asked, my chest tightening.
She nodded. “One of these days,” she said, caressing me with a tenderness that stole my breath, “you’re going to realize your worth.”
I closed my eyes, enjoying her touch as long as I could before the guilt forced me to my feet and away from her. When I returned after walking her home, I went straight to the bathroom closet and grabbed the first aid kit with the razor blade hidden inside.
Chapter nineteen
Poppy
Cammie abandoned her customermid-order when I walked into Karma. “Wyatt, can you take over?” she shouted, weaving through the crowded café before the guy had a chance to reply. She grabbed my arm and tugged me to the leather sofa in the bookstore portion of Karma and shoved me down.
“I need details,” she said in a voice two octaves higher than her usual squeal as she sat entirely too close to me.
“You need to relax,” I said, taking off my oversized bag, which contained all of Rowan’s notes for this bridal meeting from hell. I loved my sister, but I’d rather resurrect my career as a barista than discuss dress colors and shoe options one more time.
“Fine,” Cammie said, flicking her long blonde hair over her shoulder. “I’ll just wait until Rowan gets here to ask if Theo’s a good kisser.”
Lauren sank into one of the club chairs flanking the sofa with a steaming mug of coffee. The woman must run on good vibes and caffeine since she usually slept four hours a night and still looked perky. “I heard he’s phenomenal in bed.”
“You heard or you know?” I asked, my stomach twisting. Theo went to high school with Lauren, who for all her wonderful qualities, was the female equivalent of a fuckboy. No judgment. But the likelihood of her crossing genitals with Theo was higher than I’d like.
Lauren’s lips curled up in a mischievous smile. “Someone looks jealous.”
“You slept with Theo,” Cammie said, glaring at Lauren, which reminded me why I was starting to think of her as a friend and not just some chick Rowan and Lauren dragged into my life. “I know Peace Falls is small but come on. Even a one-and-doner like yourself has options. He’s one of Aiden’s best friends.”
