Damaged and the Knight (Damaged #2)

The waiter blinked once then suddenly wasn’t concerned at all. “Are you ready to order or do you need more time?”


“More time. Get me a beer.”

“Foreign or domestic?” the waiter asked, eliciting a dark frown from Judd. “I’ll get your beer.”

After the waiter left, I studied Judd who looked hot in a buttoned black shirt and jeans. His tanned skinned was warm like honey next to the darkness of his shirt. Catching me looking at him, Judd smiled, but his eyes weren’t amused. They were hungry.

Farah often talked about how Cooper was forever horny. I suspected Judd was horny, but I felt more than simple lust from him. He watched me like a predator starving for the meal just feet away. All I had to do was relent and allow him to snag his dinner.

“Why are you working?” he asked, setting aside the menu. “And living in that shithole apartment? Cooper has money and that big house in suburbia. You should be living there with your sister.”

“They’re gone all day at school. Besides, they just fell in love and now they want to fuck constantly,” I said, lifting my gaze to meet his. “And I mean constantly. They don’t need me around.”

“Can’t you go to school?”

“I hate school.”

“Me too, but I graduated high school. You should at least do that much.”

“Thanks for the advice, Dad.”

Eyes narrowed, Judd glared hard at me. I imitated him and we stared angrily at each other until the nervous waiter appeared. Once Judd took a swig of beer, he let me win the staring match. We ordered then the waiter left us to an awkward silence.

“You should get a better job,” Judd said, tapping his fingers on the table. “Something where you get paid more. Have Cooper find you something.”

“I want to do things on my own. Farah built a life here and I want to build one too. If I live there and rely on Cooper’s money, I’m just glomming onto their life.”

“Are you punishing yourself, is that it?”

Shrugging, I glanced around then back at Judd. “I want to be strong.”

“You are strong.”

“Not really.”

Judd exhaled softly. “No, I guess not, but you’re stronger than you think. You’re stronger than when we met. Hell, you told me no and we both know that couldn’t have been easy.”

Giving him a little grin, I shrugged again. “Wasn’t that hard either.”

“Liar.”

Grinning wider, I sighed. “I really wanted you.”

Judd’s smile faded. “I know. I wanted you too.”

“That time has passed.”

“No. We still want it. That’s why you look at me like I’m both your salvation and a death sentence. You still want me and I clearly still want you.”

“You walked away.”

“I wanted you to do well on your own.”

“Then let me.”

“Now, I want you to do well on your own with me standing nearby. Also with me frequently inside you.”

“Don’t be nasty.”

“It wouldn’t be. Somehow, it’d be better than anything I’ve known.”

Even as my skin flushed at the thought of us alone and naked, I shrugged with disinterest. “That’s the Arby’s thing talking.”

“Stop with the Arby’s shit, will you? You’re a beautiful chick and I can’t get you out of my head. Comparing you to a fucking shit eatery isn’t acceptable. It’s like comparing the Sistine Chapel to my auntie’s house. Ain’t even close.”

Lowering my head, I smiled behind my hand. Knowing I was stupid to fall for his compliments, I had needed him to want me since the first day we met. Now, he did, but it wouldn’t last.

“I like that shirt on you,” I said, sipping my drink and acting casual. “You clean up nice, Judd.”

Something hid behind his hunger and I saw it awaken in that moment. The emotion was like desperation. As if I offered every possibility for him, yet remained just out of reach. Then, Judd blinked and the emotion was hidden by his cold blue eyes.

“Tell me you didn’t want that guy.”

“You mean lie?”

Judd swallowed. “How can you want him and me? He’s a fucking child who nearly wet himself then ditched you like a coward. I’m a man.”

“I remember you mentioning you’re a man that day you ditched me like a coward.”

Judd exhaled softly. “Fuck,” he whispered.

“Yes, it’s cruel of me to use your words against you.”

“You want this.”

“I want to eat only candy and stay up late watching TV and sit on my ass like a lazy bitch every day. I want lots of things that are bad for me. I’m an adult now and I can’t afford to make bad choices.”

Judd glanced around with a grumpy expression. He suddenly looked rather young and maybe a little lost too.

“Aren’t you going to say how you’re not a bad decision?” I asked when he said nothing.