“Let it out, Eleanor.”
I barely have time to react as she pivots and raises the bat overhead. I hold my hands up as her wide wild eyes focus on me. “You back with me, trouble?”
Her jaw ticks as her body trembles. “Yes.” Her voice is a shell of itself.
“Then turn the fuck around and pretend that car is Jonathan. Picture all the men that have hurt you and those you care about. Give them what they deserve.”
The bat wavers, her arms dropping slightly. “I’m frightened,” she whispers.
Well this is progress. “Of?”
“If I let myself remember and feel, I might not be able to turn it off.” A tear leaks from her eyes. “What if I lose myself?” Her free hand rises to her chest. “It’s dark in here, Hunter. Pitch black.”
I take a tentative step toward her, and when she doesn’t attack, I close the distance and wrap my hands around her, cradling the back of her head against my pounding heart. I want to kiss her right now, but it might break the progress we’ve made.
“I’d crawl through the darkness to feel your heartbeat next to mine. You have fought for others for so long, you don’t know how to care for yourself. You are neglecting the one woman who has given so much of her life to the greater good. If you can’t be selfish for yourself, then I will do it for you. Let me be your guiding light. Let me hold you up and be the immovable force at your back as you slay your demons.”
Her nod is almost imperceptive. She’s letting me in. It’s a rush of relief. “Where are we?” she asks.
I grin. “This is the first step to facing that darkness together, trouble.” I gently push her shoulders and spin her around. “Imagine it’s Jonathan or Christopher, and let yourself feel. You are safe. I will always come for you.”
“I’m supposed to hit it?”
I grab my bat and take position on the other side of the vehicle with a sharp nod. “Ready?”
She drags in a breath, squares her shoulders, then raises her bat again. The scream is blood curdling and freeing. She attacks the windows, glass raining down around us while the metal groans under our assault as it loses its battle and crumples in on itself. The transformation in her is mesmerizing. I know she’s never going to be the sunshine, cuddles, and over-the-top romance kind of girl. And I don’t want to change her. She’s perfect. However, if I get to be part of her healing journey, become one of the few she trusts to not hurt her, that’s better than any date we could plan. That’s priceless.
Minutes tick by, and the bat drops to the floor with a dull clatter. She tugs off her protective clothing as she escapes out of the door and sprints down the hallway. Wait. What did I miss?
“Eleanor!” I shout as I discard my gear and jog to catch up to her.
The front door is already swinging shut, and Tom lets out a low whistle. “Enjoy that, man,” he says.Weirdo.
Eleanor scrambles inside the driver’s side of the truck, the door still open. I reach it and grab for her. I thought we had made massive progress. I don’t know what changed. I didn’t see anything. This is why I am not a therapist.
“Eleanor, what’s wrong?”
She slides onto the passenger side confusing the fuck out of me. “Get in. Now.”
My gaze narrows, but I climb into the truck without hesitation and settle into the driver’s seat. She launches herself over the console and into my lap, her hands threading into my hair as she yanks my head back before closing the distance and kissing me like she’s about to die if she doesn’t. Her body still trembles from the adrenaline and euphoria. She grinds down on my lap, my cock already hard from watching the woman I’m falling for face her emotions and own them. Palming her ass, I help her find the friction she wants. Needs.
She tears her lips away from mine, both of us panting for much-needed oxygen. Her hands fumble with my belt, and she has the buckle and first two buttons undone before I can think straight. I grab her hands, gently locking her wrists together. “I’ll get you off, trouble. Don’t worry about me. This is about you.” Blue balls never killed a man. I think.
She leans forward, seizing my bottom lip between her teeth and biting until I taste blood. Fuck, fuck, fuck. No. I force myself to take a deep, steadying breath. It’s about her. I must have released her hands, because she reaches down and throws her boots off before undoing her jeans, lifting her ass, and straightening her legs.
“Take off my jeans, Hunter. Now.”
I’m in awe of the wild creature before me. If I wasn’t already gone for this girl, this would seal my fate. My hands tuck into the sides of her jeans, and I yank the offending fabric over her ass. My foot catches in them, finding purchase so she can free her legs.
I admire the black silk panties. “Those too,” she snaps. I grasp the thin bands at her hips and tear them free. In a breath, she has my cock free and has it positioned at her entrance.
My hands become vices at her hips. She squirms, playing havoc on my good intentions. “You aren’t ready for me, trouble. Take it easy. I don’t want to hurt you.”
Her hands tug up her shirt, giving me a fucking fantastic view of those perfect full tits. She grabs my shoulders and stares into my eyes. “Let go, Hunter. I will take it at my own pace, I promise.”
My hands relax, and she snaps her hips down, and I almost come as her pussy strangles my cock at the sudden intrusion. She cries out my name, but not in pain, in utter desperation to help her reach her release.
“Fuck.”
