Pretty Little Things

Chapter 16 - Colin

I couldn’t think clearly. What started out as protecting Annie had taken a turn, and now I didn’t know if someone needed to protect her from me. One thing I knew was that Jacob fucker was lying to her, and I needed to find out how big of a threat he posed to her. Either way, the results would devastate her. I grabbed the dry sink and pulled it, causing it to crash to the floor and the glass decanters to break and spill open. The rage started in the pit of my stomach and radiated through every nerve ending of my body. It was exhilarating, freeing to let loose the monster that lurked inside me. I’d kept it dormant for far too long. I did it for her, but now she was slipping from my grasp, my gravity, and I was spiraling out of control into the unknown.

“Colin?”

My chest was heaving with anger, but I stilled at the sound of her voice, giving me a brief moment of clarity. Of course she was frightened. I’d practically molested her against the front door as I threatened her. What the fuck was wrong with me? How could I keep her safe if she was afraid of me?

“Can I come in?” she called out, and I shook my head, hating myself because I knew I had no choice. I knew I would let her in, and once she saw the real me, I would destroy her…enjoying every second of it.

“Please?” Her voice was breathy and the fear evident. I was still half hard from pressing her against the door, and now she was sending me over the edge of sanity.

“Come in,” I said, my voice harsh and low from my explosion of anger. She should know better.

The door opened, and her eyes danced around the room, taking in the carnage. The bed was the only piece of furniture left untouched. Her eyes met mine, but instead of fear, they were filled with sadness. Somehow that was worse. I sank down on the edge of my bed and hung my head in my hands. She took a few steps closer.

“Don’t,” I warned her, and she stopped abruptly. “I’m leaving,” I said as I struggled to calm myself. Maybe they would follow me, and she would have a fighting chance.

“You can’t leave. Who’s going to keep me safe?”

I looked up at her, my hands still suspended in the air. “Who will protect you from me, little one?” How could she not understand, not see the animal that was before her? She was the only person on the fucking planet who didn’t have that nagging voice inside her head telling her that danger lurked around the corner.

“You won’t hurt me, Colin. I trust you. Besides, what happens if Taylor comes looking for me?” Her eyes pleaded with me for a rational response, but there was nothing left.

“I’m going to find him first.” I pushed to me feet, determined to leave before I snapped and really did something I would regret. If you cut off the head of the snake, the body will die.

“You can’t do that.” She put her hand on my chest to stop me, searing my flesh beneath my shirt with her touch.

“You haven’t left me with any other choice.” I grabbed her sides to move her out of my way, but her sharp intake of breath paralyzed me.

“I’ll do whatever you ask. I promise. You can’t leave.”

I bent down, my teeth clenched. “I wouldn’t say that if I were you.” My gaze fell to her chest, and my fingertips pressed into the soft flesh over her ribs, suspended between right and wrong. Her breathing was as erratic as mine, and our lips were nearly touching, sustaining each other’s lives with the hope that we would give in to our carnal wants.

“I’ve spent my entire life trying to make sure you didn’t have to face our past.” It was my last ounce of strength as I struggled not to throw her down and commit unspeakable acts. But I was posturing, intent on convincing her as well as myself that I wasn’t hollow inside, that somewhere in me was a morally just human being whose motivations didn’t center on my own demented sexual gratification. It was all a lie. Every fiber of my being wanted her.

“Anything.” Her voice was breathy, and her eyes fell to my mouth as she spoke. I knew what she wanted, and my cock stiffened in response against her as she begged and pleaded for me to give in. There was never a question when it came to women, but Annie was different. I was able to find restraint in her perceived innocence, even if only momentarily, a fleeting second in time where her safety took precedence over my desires.

“You have no idea what you’re asking.” My lips brushed against hers.

“I know,” she breathed and pushed her plump, soft mouth hard against mine. I tightened my grip on her waist as I let my tongue push over the tip of hers, struggling for control. I slowed my movements, begging for the strength to stop what was happening.

Pinning her body between myself and the wall, I lifted my mouth from hers just long enough to look into her eyes. Nothing but desire stared back at me, the innocence overshadowed by my demons. I had corrupted her. My lips found hers, my kisses rough and full of need. If she wanted what I had to offer, she would learn the hard way that she was making a mistake. The beast inside me took over all rational thought as I slid my right hand down over her hip bone and along the inner crease of her thigh. Her eyes searched mine as her mouth froze, the fabric of her jeans rough against my fingertips.

“This what you wanted, little one?” I asked as I slid my hand toward her center, pushing the seam of her jeans against her. “Tell me to stop,” I pleaded as my hand moved back and forth against her. Her hips rolled forward, begging for more. She was no longer the innocent girl I needed to protect.

“It’s not like I haven’t done this before.”

Her words ignited an anger inside me that I’d never experienced. My hand slid over her thigh and gripped tightly below her ass as I lifted her in the air, shoving her hard against the wall. The pressure of my weight colliding with hers knocked the air from her lungs. “If you ever”—I pushed against her, and she moaned—“talk about fucking someone else, I will hurt you in ways you didn’t know were possible.” I thrust my hips forward, and she gasped, giving me a chance to bite down on her lower lip, tugging it gently. I sucked hard on the delicate flesh, loving the sounds that emanated from the back of her throat. Her nails scratched across the base of my neck as we deepened our kiss.

“Oh my God.” Amanda’s voice caused me to freeze as I slowly turned my head to the doorway. With her mouth hanging open in shock, she shook her head in disbelief, her purse falling to the floor as time froze.

“Fuck. Amanda.” I had no idea what I was going to say to her as I slid Annie down until her feet touched the floor. I ran my hand roughly over my hair as I looked to the ground between us, begging my depraved soul to feel some semblance of remorse so my apology would sound convincing.

“Don’t.” She disappeared into the hallway, and when my eyes met Annie’s, my heart shattered in my chest. She was silently pleading with me to make this right, but I had no idea how to take back what we had done, and I didn’t want to. But that look gutted me, and I knew I had to stop this from unraveling our lives, if only to get the opportunity to touch the milky softness of her skin again. Once again, my entire world would shift on its axis for those beautiful big green eyes.

“Amanda, wait!”