Could I really bear all my troubles with him? Was it okay to tell him?
"What's he done?" Davis' jaw clenched with anger. I saw that same angry storm brewing in him as before. None of it directed towards me.
"It's hard to explain, but there's no getting out of it. I have to marry the man that did this to me. It's the only way to keep Lucas and Liv safe."
I couldn't look him in the eyes as I admitted the truth. His hands fisted at his side, and before I knew it, they were through the wall. He was deliriously furious, but again, I was not scared. I knew his fists would never, not ever, hurt me.
He would never hurt me.
"I'll find a way, Lisa, I promise. I'll get you out of this."
"You can't."
His eyes met mine again, a desperation in them. His features softened as he closed the distance between us again, loving the feel of his warmth against my bare skin. His hand held the back of my neck tenderly. He was gentle with me, despite his strength.
"I won't let you keep getting hurt like this, Lisa. Tell me everything about your Dad. Tell me what's going on. Let me help you, please," he begged as he held my gaze lovingly. There was such care in them…care for me.
I nodded my head, deciding to load this off my chest. I had no best friend for me to tell this to. Olive was the closest thing I have to that, and I obviously couldn't tell her about this. I couldn't tell Lucas either, or Leo, because he would just tell Lucas, anyway. Rachel was out of the question, and mom? Mom would flip the fuck out and be no help at all.
I told him about Dad's threats and the deal I had made. I told him about how Dad has cops, lawyers, and judges in his pocket. He could call any of them to get what he needs, or wants done, in an instant. There was no getting by it. To bring Dad down, you'd have to bring them all down. No matter how strong Davis was, he couldn't save me from this.
Davis looked conflicted as I spoke. He had helped me get dressed, applying ointment to my bruise to ease the pain. I spoke the entire time with him attentively, listening, and when I finished, he just stared at me for a long while. There was utter silence as he swallowed down everything I had just said. The gym was closed now, but it was one Davis owned, so it really didn't matter. It just meant no one would bother us.
"Lisa, this is insane. Surely your brother isn't letting you do this. He can handle himself, and so can Liv. They will fight back with their own money and friends," he tried to persuade me.
"I haven't told him about this. He doesn't need to know, neither of them does. You better not fucking tell them, either." I eyed him as threateningly as I could. "Promise me you won't."
"Lisa, you should really tell him. He-"
"Davis, promise me," I cut him off.
"Lisa." He sighed, staring at me sadly. "Okay, I promise I won't tell him."
"Thank you."
"But promise me something, too."
"Sure, what is it?"
"Let me take care of you. Any time you're not with him, spend it with me. Let me wash away your pain and show you how to defend yourself more. Promise me you'll fight him off when he's being physical."
"You'll have me? Even though I have to marry him?" I asked him, confused by the prospect. Was he hoping I would somehow get out of this?
"I'll have you any way I can take you, if you're willing to let me."
I stared at him for the longest time, unsure of what to do. I wanted Davis. God, did I want Davis, but I couldn't do this to him. I couldn't have an affair with him. He deserves happiness, not a complicated mess like me.
"Lisa, please. I haven't felt this way in so long. Let me take care of you." He leaned into me, pressing himself against me.
There was a call deep inside me for him. It felt like his presence alone was pulling at my heart. His body drove me mad with lust and love. If I could call it that. All I knew was that I wanted him, all of him…every piece of him.
"Don't resent me, Davis."
"Never," he whispered.
His lips were mere inches from my own, so I leaned forward, allowing those strong lips of his to take me again. I'd never been kissed with such care as I was when he did it. I don't know how he did it, but he made kissing feel like more. It felt like pure happiness, like true love and devotion. He somehow conveyed a message to me with only his kiss.
You would be safe with me.
