TORMENTED_ Jani Kay - Jani Kay Page 0,15
did not own me.
Famous last words.
“Eva, I’m sorry. I’m a jackass who is incapable of being a decent human being. You should hate me. In fact, you should run as far away from me as you can.” His lips brushed over my ear. “I get it. I don’t deserve a woman like you.” His hot breath sent goosebumps scattering over my skin.
“Yes, I should. You’re so bad for me, Harrison. You make me forget that I deserve so much better.”
“I do?”
Oh God, I’d had way too much to drink, and I was too tired for mind games. For any games. And my resistance was crumbling way too fast.
“Let me go.” I wriggled against him. “Go home, Harrison. I didn’t invite you over.” I shoved hard, but he didn’t move an inch. Just as I was about to try again, he suddenly let me go and took a step backward. I nearly stumbled forward and face-planted, but luckily I gripped the door handle to stop myself from keeling over. Why was it that when he actually listened I hated it even more?
“I guess I’m not worth saving, huh? Just as I thought. You talk a good game, Eva.”
Shit.
He turned to walk away.
Shit, shit, shit.
Pressing the elevator button, he leaned against the wall with his back to me, his shoulders slumped forward and his head down.
What was I to do? If I had all the answers I’d be the Dali Lama and not plain Eva Ryder.
It’s better if he leaves. It’s what I want, right?
With trembling hands, I fished for my front door key and tried to insert it into the keyhole. My vision had gone blurry from the tears that had welled up, and I blinked fast so I could see more clearly. Instead, my keys dropped from my hands and landed on the concrete floor with a heavy thud. I took a step forward to retrieve them, but in my haste, I tripped over, and this time I landed on my ass.
How fucking embarrassing.
Not to mention that it hurt like hell. I tried to get up before Harrison noticed, but I didn’t have the strength. Instead, I buried my face in my hands and just sat there, letting the tears pour down my cheeks.
Harrison swung around and closed the distance between us. “Baby! Are you okay?”
Um . . . no, I’m not. Not even close.
I just cried harder. This wasn’t how I wanted this day to end. I was strong, independent, confident, yet I couldn’t control the flow of tears.
“I’m going to take you inside, okay?” His voice was low and gruff.
Strong arms lifted me off the ground, and I leaned into his chest. God, it felt so, so, so damn good. His heartbeat was nearly as fast as mine, and I couldn’t help the small smile that broke through.
My breath hitched. “Okay,” I said in a shaky voice.
The sense of relief that washed over me in that moment when I just gave myself to Harrison and let him take over stunned me. In the strangest of ways, it was liberating to not always want to be in control and to just allow a man to take care of me.
Harrison inserted the key and opened the door without any of the trouble I seemed to have experienced. Maybe I was just too tired and drank too much red wine so that the smallest thing had become difficult and overwhelming.
He carried me inside and straight to my bedroom. He inspected the grazed palms I’d used to break my fall and then gently brought them to his lips one by one and kissed them.
“I know it hurts, but you’ll live,” he said, his eyes warm and kind.
That look completely undid me. Gruff and moody Harrison I could deal with. But when he showed his caring side, I did what I always did and threw caution to the wind.
“Thank you.”
He swallowed hard and just nodded. “I think I remember where you keep the first-aid kit. We need to disinfect that graze.” His voice was laced with concern. I loved that he took control of the situation.
Luckily I hadn’t packed that away yet. He left the bedroom and I could hear him open and close kitchen cabinet doors as he searched for the kit. A few minutes later, he returned to the room with a glass of ice water and the kit.
I like this Harrison.
Thoughtful. Caring. Sweet.
Words I didn’t normally associate with the tough cop image he fought so hard to preserve. Harrison was