by Beck, J. L.
Contents
Blurb
1. Miles
2. Rose
3. Miles
4. Rose
5. Miles
6. Rose
7. Miles
8. Rose
9. Miles
10. Rose
11. Miles
12. Rose
13. Miles
14. Rose
Epilogue
About the Authors
Hurting You Preview
Also by the Authors
Blurb
She was brought to me as a gift. One Valentine’s Day.
Completely naked, besides a shiny red bow that was wrapped around her slender middle.
The moment I laid eyes on her... I wanted her. Every single inch of her body and every dark corner of her mind.
I wanted it all.
I craved her like a drug and one I never planned to quit.
She was scared of me, no wonder considering my reputation.
Big fat tears rolled down her beautiful face, and her whole body shook like a leaf.
She didn’t know then that I would never hurt her.
That I would crush anybody who caused her harm.
She’s mine now... mine to cherish, mine to protect, mine to love.
And a gift I never plan to give up.
1
Miles
Tardiness is my biggest pet peeve. Being late is just disrespectful, especially when you requested to see me in the first place. Unclenching my fist, I sigh loudly. I’m seconds away from smashing someone’s skull in because Drake is fucking late.
Not that I’m surprised, there are a number of things wrong with the fuckhead, and now he’s finally worked his dumb ass up to the top of my shitlist.
“Still not here, boss,” Nick, my right hand and best friend growls from beside me. We’re both sitting in my conference room, fondly referred to by all as the dungeon, which in reality, is the basement of the strip club I own. It’s more like a room where I make dirty deals with people. Deals that no one else can know about.
This is also where I like to dish out my violence. The blood is easier to clean off the floors in here, or so my men tell me.
“What a waste of time… send someone to take care of him,” I spit. Nick doesn’t even blink as he gets up from his chair and starts to walk out of the room. Hovering in the doorway, he stops and pops his head out the door just as a commotion echoes from down the hall.
“Behave,” Drake’s annoying voice catches on my ears, and I wonder who the hell he is talking to.
“He is here,” Nick states the obvious.
“For his sake, I hope he brought all the money he owes me.”
“He definitely brought you something.” Before I can ask him what the hell that’s supposed to mean, Drake appears in the doorway. A smile the size of Texas on his face.
“I’m so sorry I’m late getting here, but I promise it will definitely be worth the wait.”
“I doubt that,” I mutter under my breath, then I take note of Nick staring at something or someone beside Drake, hidden from me by the wall.
“I only have five-grand in cash—”
“You owe me thirty,” I cut him off, getting even more pissed off with this prick. “Not only do you have the audacity to show up late, but then you show up without all my money?” Cracking my knuckles, I curl my lip in disgust.
“I know, I know.” He holds up his hands, trying his best not to look nervous, but I can see the fucking sweat beading on his brow. He’s not just nervous, he looks like he’s going to vomit. “That’s why I brought you a gift along with the money. A Valentine’s Day gift, you could say.” He chuckles before grabbing something from behind the door.
I’ve owned this strip club for fifteen years, been hosting illegal gambling for most of that time. I learned long ago to hide my feelings and thoughts. This is the first time in over a decade that the mask I’ve carefully constructed is close to slipping.
He steps inside the room, pulling a tiny woman with him. A woman that is completely naked apart from a red ribbon that’s wrapped around her petite body. My eyes gravitate to the bow sitting right on top of her chest. She’s like a fucking present just waiting to be opened. Pain slices through me when my gaze drops down her body, stopping on her feet. She’s not even wearing any shoes; her bare feet make no sound on the cold, concrete floor as she steps inside the room.
Is this a fucking joke?
I would actually laugh about this if he brought me some hooker off the street, but the woman he brought with him is clearly not that. For one, she looks way too fucking innocent to be a hooker. Two, she is scared shitless. Her whole body shaking, her steps hesitant, and her eyes brimming with fear. And three, she doesn’t look as if she could handle any type of fucking, let alone the type my guys want.
My gaze moves from her body to Drake’s hand, which is wrapped around her slender wrist. I want to break it and listen to the bones snap as he cries out in pain. No one should be touching her, least of all him. She tries to pull away from him, her small body trembling, but he’s like a lion compared to her and only tugs harder, keeping her right where he wants her.
Grinding my teeth together so hard I can feel my teeth chipping, I’m very close to the end of my rope.
“You like her?” Drake asks, a slimy grin on his face.
I glance at Nick, who is still standing at the door, two more men are in the hallway listening to every word I say. I run a successful business and for one reason alone. Respect. People respect me, and ninety percent of that respect stems from fear. I have built a reputation for myself by being ruthless and taking no shit, and I’d prefer to keep it that way.
So instead of doing what I want, which is to shield her from the world, I say something that will uphold my image. “How can I know if I like her if I haven’t fucked her yet?” I force a malicious grin onto my lips.
The poor girl’s shaking intensifies, and all I want to do is wrap her in my arms and tell her that she doesn’t have to be afraid. That I’ll never let another man fucking hurt her, but I can’t do that. Not right now, at least. Drake’s face lights up, his expression smug as if he is proud of himself for coming up with this grand plan of bringing her to me.
“She is a virgin… but if you don’t like her, I have someone else interested in her. Tony Morris wants her. I can sell her to him and give you the money as soon as I have it.”
Over my dead body.
Unable to stand seeing his meaty fingers on her any longer, I lift my hand and motion for her to come to me. She shakes her head, and strands of thick blonde hair fly, sticking to her tear-stained cheeks.
“Don’t be shy, go to him,” he orders, pushing her in my direction. “He is your new owner now.” I want to slug that fucker for saying such a thing, but that wouldn’t look good for me.
The girl almost falls over her own feet on her way to me, her legs are like a newborn calf’s, wobbly and unsure. She uses her hands in an attempt to shield her most private parts, and I feel the urge to cover her up myself. Not because I don’t want to see her, but because I don’t want anyone else to see her. Especially not this dirtbag or any of my men.
“Come here,” I order, my voice coming out rougher than I want it to. “Sit on my lap, sweets.”
When she doesn’t move, Drake gives her one last shove, and she stumbles forward and into my lap. Two men from the hallway chuckle at her movements, and I have this burning urge to kill everybody in this room, besides her and Nick.
I position her on my leg like she’s a child sitting on Santa’s lap. Then, I suck in a deep breath trying to rein in the rage that’s threatening to bubble over inside of me. I’m overwhelmed with need to protect her, to save her, but is th
ere really any saving her by claiming her as my own?
This sweet scent flutters from her and into my nostrils. It’s flowery like fresh cut roses on a spring day. I inhale it into my lungs, reveling in her scent. It’s the most intoxicating smell I’ve ever come into contact with. Her small bodyweight is hardly anything on my leg, and compared to me, she is a tiny thing.
She wiggles slightly on my leg, probably trying to keep her distance, but instead, her leg brushes against my cock, making my blood rush through my body and into my dick. There is no question about me wanting her, every part of me wants every part of her.
However, I need to know one thing before I accept her.
“How old is she?”
“Just turned eighteen,” Drake answers. Eighteen. She might be an adult, but she is still much younger than me. A sliver of doubt appears in my gut, but before it can take hold, I see Drake looking at the small woman on my lap, and there is no way I’m letting her go back to him.
“Everybody out,” I order gruffly, making the girl on my lap flinch. A couple of the guys in the hall grumble, but Drake just smiles proudly as he walks out of the room, no bullet in his head, yet. Focusing all my attention on the little lamb in my lap, I gently place one hand on her lower back. I start to rub tiny circles with my thumb against her smooth skin, hoping to calm her just a little. I’m not a gentle or kind man, but for her, I will try. I could never find it in my heart to hurt her.
Once we are alone in the room, I drop the I-will-crush-your-soul demeanor and let my features soften. Her eyes are cast to the floor like she is scared of looking at me or something, but I want her eyes on me. I want her to know who is holding her fate.
Slowly, I raise my hand and pinch her chin between two fingers, tilting her face up, so she has nowhere to look but at me.
Up close, she looks even more beautiful, angelic like features, delicate cheekbones that could easily be crushed by my hands, big, blue expressive eyes, and pouty, kissable lips that I want to nibble on. Now that I’m only a few inches away, I can see how dull her eyes are like she is on something. I need to ask Drake what he gave her before he leaves. But first, I have to assure her that she is going to be okay.
“What’s your name, sweets?” I ask her in a low voice, doing my best to keep my voice even.
“Rose,” she whispers. Just like the rest of her, her voice is intoxicating like a siren who calls to me, she awakes something buried so deep inside of me, I didn’t think it would ever see the light of day. The single word from her lips is the most beautiful sound I’ve ever heard. Everything about her is alluring, it draws me in, and wraps around me in a way that won’t ever let go. Right then, I know that I have to have her…all of her, and I will make her mine in every way, and in return, I will give myself to her.
2
Rose
I’m so confused. My mind is hazy, almost like smoke has filled my head. Looking around the room, a shiver runs down my spine, both because I’m scared and because I’m freezing. It looks like I’m in some kind of basement. The walls are bare brick, the floor is cracked concrete and there is almost no furniture in here. Only a table and a few chairs.
Where am I? Why am I here? I look down at myself as another shiver ripples through me. Cold. I’m so cold. Then it dawns on me. I’m naked. Why am I naked? Nothing makes sense in my mind, it’s like someone has taken my brain and put it through a food processor.
The only thing that is clear to me is that I’ve never been so scared in my life. Fear ignites deep in my belly. I’m sitting on a man’s lap, a man who is easily three times my size. His forearms are thicker than my legs, his hands huge, his overall body reminding me of a giant.
He holds my chin between his fingers, forcing me to look at him, and I do. His face is handsome but rugged and weathered, all at once. There are many scars, some small and faint, some bigger and new. I’m positive, with the slightest flick of his wrist, he could kill me, and I wouldn’t be able to do a single thing to stop him.
When I look into his eyes, however, I see something I don’t expect to find from a man as dark and brooding as him. Kindness.
“You don’t have to be scared, Rose.” The words come out softly and wrap around me like silk. As if it was easy to just turn the fear off. “I won’t hurt you, and I won’t let anyone else hurt you either.” He runs his hand up and down my back and even though my mind is screaming at me, telling me not to believe him, my body tells me to seek his protection. He drops his hand and before I realize what I’m doing, I lean into him, resting my shoulder against his broad chest.
The warmth of his body crashes into me, making me shiver. I’m so cold, and he’s so warm like my own personal furnace. I do my best to ignore how small, tiny even, I feel in his arms and how huge, almost like a mountain of a man, he is. It wouldn’t take much for him to hurt me, to break my bones, or force himself on me.
He is all rugged, and dangerous, while I’m innocent and naive. We couldn’t be any more different, complete opposites, and yet, there is this weird connection I feel. Some strange bond that I can’t explain. I’m tethered to him, and deep down in my gut, I know that if I’m to get out of this alive, I need to stick by his side.
“I’m cold,” I whine quietly, and he immediately wraps his tree trunk arms around me and tucks me into his chest like I’m a child, engulfing me in his warmth. Against my better judgment, I bury my face into his crisp white shirt and inhale his manly scent. Clean linen and some kind of cologne fills my lungs, the spice of it causes my nose to wrinkle.
“Better?” he asks, peering down at me. I feel like I’m a bug under a microscope being inspected by his gaze.
Unable to make my lips form a response, I nod. For the first time since this nightmare began, I let my body relax into his touch. I let him hold me, protect me, and keep me warm, even if it’s just for a little bit, and a false reality.
Footsteps approach from the hallway, and the man who was comforting me a moment ago, stiffens and pushes me away from his chest. I don’t know what to think, all I feel is confused and hurt by his sudden change in demeanor. I try to get up, unsure if I’m still welcome here or not, but he doesn’t let me. Snaking one strong arm around my waist, he keeps me in place, a deep rumble of disapproval echoing out of his chest.
A second later, Drake, the man who brought me here, appears in the doorway. It takes everything in me to not start shaking with fear.
“Miles, have you decided if she is worth what I owe you?” Drake asks nervously as soon as he re-enters the room. The man named Miles gives me a final once over, his eyes gliding over each inch of exposed flesh, inspecting my body as if he is trying to decide if I’m worthy or not.
“I guess she’ll do,” he finally says.
His condescending voice rains down like acid and the pain accompanying it sinks deep into my bones. I don’t know why I’m hurt by this man’s words as I don’t even know him but I am. Still, I’m glad he is keeping me because even if Miles is terrifying, and dangerous, something tells me that Drake is a worse kind of evil.
Without warning, Miles pushes to his feet, taking me with him as he does. Lifting me like I weigh nothing, he cradles me to his chest and starts to walk out of the room.
“Drake, leave the money you brought,” Miles orders before flicking his gaze back to the huge giant towering behind Drake. “Nick, count the money twice. If there is one single dollar missing… kill him.” Miles doesn’t even blink as he says kill him and that fact turns the blood in my veins to ice. If he can so easily kill someone, what is stopping him from killing me?
Lifting my face from Miles’s shirt just enough to look around the room, I sneak a peek at Drake, who abruptly pales at his words. My mind is still foggy, and I’m still unsure of how I got here, but I can’t bring myself to feel bad for Drake.
Quickly and without another word, Miles walks out of the room, holding me tightly to him. My arms are folded across my chest, covering my boobs, but my vagina is exposed in the worst way, es
pecially with the way he is holding me. Feeling the cool air between my folds, all I want to do is find the biggest blanket in the world and cover myself up.
Letting my tongue dart out over my dry bottom lip, I consider asking him for some clothes. I hate feeling so exposed and vulnerable, but when I peek up at his rugged face, the words lodge themselves in my throat. Looking straight ahead, he reminds me of a soldier on a mission. His eyes are drawn together, and his jaw is set in a tight line that doesn’t really give away what he’s thinking. He just looks angry and mean, like he’s on the warpath, and all I can hope is that it’s not going to be a war with me.
Because I am certain that I wouldn’t survive that. Letting my gaze fall down to my chest, I tell myself that wherever he takes me, whatever he is going to do to me, I need to find a way out of this. The first chance I get, I’m going to escape, it’s my only hope.
3
Miles
Without turning the light on, I don’t hesitate as I walk up the steps. I know this place by heart, every step, door, and hall. I don’t need any type of light to know where I’m going, but above all, I don’t want anyone to see her, my timid little Rose, naked… not anyone but me.
Cradling her to my chest, I step out the back door and into the alley where my SUV is parked. Reaching the car, I set her down on her bare feet just long enough to unlock the door. She lets out a soft whimper of displeasure, but I pick her up again and place her on the leather seat before she can complain further.
I do my best to avoid looking at her pussy because I’m already hard as a rock, wanting to sink deep inside her virginal cunt. Shoving the thoughts away, I walk around my car quickly, unbuttoning my shirt. As I reach the driver’s side door, I shrug out of it, uncaring of the cold air that meets my heated skin. I can handle the cold, but Rose is fragile, and the simplest things can hurt her.
