AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Cole... don’t do that, don’t shut me out. Is it something to do with Char—”
“Don’t. Just don’t.”
“Don’t what? Care?” I snatch my hand away, heaving a ragged breath. “Because it’s a little late for that. You think I don’t know you’re messed up? You think I don’t know I should walk away and never look back... I know, Cole. Yet, I’m still here. I’m right here. All you have to do is—”
Cole’s hand shoots out and he grabs me, yanking me into his chest. My hands fly out to steady myself, but it’s a futile cause because the second his mouth smashes against mine, I’m gone, lost to his pain, his ferocious kiss.
His hand trails up the side of my neck, closing around my throat and holding me right where he wants me. I’m used to his possessive touch, but with his anger racing through him, his grip is tighter than usual, to the point I’m sure it’ll leave bruises. “This needs to end, Dove. It needs to end right fucking now.”
“So walk away,” I say between kisses. Hot, wet, dirty kisses. It’s like he’s trying to fuck my mouth, climb inside me and never leave. I can feel his blood coat my lips, taste it on my tongue. It should freak me out, but it doesn’t. It’s like he’s giving me a piece of himself.
Cole doesn’t walk away. He starts clawing at my clothes as if they offend him. He doesn’t bother unbuttoning my shirt, just tears it apart, buttons flying everywhere. His big hands cup my breasts, squeezing enough to make me whimper with the heady mix of pleasure and pain.
“You and me, Dove, we’re broken. You think I don’t know...” He leans in, pressing his face right against mine, his lips to my ear. “But I do. Something happened with that fucker Tim, and it broke you. Tell me what happened, Dove. Give me all your secrets.”
Cole strokes my throat tenderly, but I know it’s a trick. He’s not playing nice, he’s letting me know who holds the power here.
I narrow my eyes and tip my chin in defiance. “Tell me who Donny is.”
“That’s not how this goes, Dove.” His fingers tighten. “What. Happened?”
“Fuck you,” I hiss, and he squeezes tighter again, making white spots flicker across my vision.
I jab my elbow into his ribs, and he jerks back, giving me enough room to escape. I put some space between us, needing to catch my breath.
“You’re playing with fire.” He snarls the words, cracking his neck from side to side. He wants to fight, to hit and hurt and maim, and my heart breaks for the beautiful broken bad boy from the Heights. Because there’s no way someone is born this way. They’re made. A product of their past. The things they’ve seen, the things they’ve experienced... the things they’ve done.
“What happened to you, Cole?” I whisper.
“I could ask you the same thing, Dove.” He stalks closer, but I don’t run.
I can’t.
I won’t.
Cole might not believe we’re destined for something better, but I do. I still have hope that one day, we won’t have to live in the shadows anymore.
“I’ll ruin you, Hadley. Whatever good is left in you, I’ll ruin it all.”
I look him dead in the eye, stuffing down all the pain and heartache.
“Do your worst.”
Chapter Twenty-Two
Cole
Hadley’s gasp of shock fills the room as I grab her by the throat once again and pin her back against the wall. Her chest heaves, her breasts swollen, spilling out of the lace trying to contain them.
Reaching behind me, I pull out my knife. “I need to hurt someone, Dove. I need it.”
She must see the flash of metal in my hand, but she doesn't look at it. Hell, she doesn't even really look scared. “So… hurt me.”
“But—”
“You can’t do it, can you?”
My lips part to respond, but I can’t find any words.
