Norma Jean - By Amanda Heath Page 0,50

close my eyes tight and wish him away. I don’t want his pity. I brought this on myself. When he puts his arms around my waist and places his chin on my shoulder I stiffen up. “I won’t ever let him touch you again. In fact he won’t ever be anywhere near you again. I was hurt when you left, but I understand why you did it. Hell it was clever and the perfect revenge. But I’m done being that guy you think you can push over and away.” He turns me around in his arms and those eyes meet mine. “Creed might think he owns you but he doesn’t own you like I do.” He brushes his nose along my cheek. “Your body. Your heart. Your soul.” He whispers in my ear. “Those are mine.” He gently nips the lobe startling a gasp from my throat. “Don’t ever forget it.”

I back away from him and stare as hard as I can. Does he think I’m still that cold hearted bitch? I’m not. People grow and they change. I wouldn’t hurt Chance like that ever again.

Chance

“Don’t look at me like that. I know you and me have a lot to work out, but no matter how bad I want to, I can’t go back to that guy I was without you.” I lean in to kiss her cheek but she is having none of that.

“No matter how bad you want to? What, be without me? Thanks, Chance. Let’s go have sex and be a happy couple.” When her palm connects with my cheek my eyes go wide and my mouth drops open. “I don’t need you. I don’t need Creed, Marley, or fucking anybody. If you have to force yourself to be with me to protect me, then fuck you.” Then the finger comes out and pokes me in the chest. Hard. “All a girl really wants is for one guy to prove to her that they are not all the same.”

“Where did you come up with that?” I’m rubbing my chest because let’s face it that hurt. The woman can be strong when she wants to be.

“Marilyn Monroe. Smartest damn woman who ever lived.” She turns from me, flipping all that hair over her shoulder. Jesus that was sexy. “Stay away from me Chance. I don’t want you as much as you seem to think I do. And definitely don’t need you.” She heads into the house and I’m left wondering what the hell just happened. What did I say?

My phone ringing startles me and I see Declan’s name flashing across the screen. “Hey.” I walk over to the front steps and sit down.

“Just got your message. Teag and I were…umm…yeah so what’s up? Have they found her?” I scrub my hand down my face still trying to process the thing with Norma earlier.

“No, though we figured out who took her. Remember me telling you about Norma’s cousin? He and his boys are out looking for the guy. Should find out any minute.”

“That’s good. You made it sound like they take this kind of thing serious.” He starts speaking softly and I guess he is filling Teagan in on what’s happened.

“Well he is even more serious now. The guy who took her is Creed. I kind of wish I didn’t come down this weekend. Seems I’m the root of all this.”

“What? Your best friend from high school? Why the hell does he have her?”

“The short version is I slept with Norma last night, which I’m sure Caden filled you in on. Well not only was it in his bed, but he dated Norma for the past two years. The fucking bastard was beating her and other fucked up shit. Marley just found this out, but you best believe when they find him, he won’t be alive long.”

“I’m coming. We all are. That is the most messed up thing I have heard in months. Besides I have to meet Norma. I can’t believe you found her.”

“We found each other at a party last night. I was going to let her go again, but when she told me all this about Creed, I couldn’t help myself. I’m still pissed about everything, but I can’t let her go now. She’ll just get into a bigger disaster.” I stand up as Harley’s car pulls into the driveway. “Y’all don’t have to come down here. We have this covered.”

“Yeah we are. We aren’t going to let you go to jail for killing Creed. Or