Damaged and the Knight (Damaged #2)

“Say it,” Judd ordered on the video.

“She didn’t want it. They were just girls, but their dad owned us money and we took them instead. We didn’t give them no choice. They were crying and begging. They didn’t want that shit.”

Judd stopped the video. “Do you understand?”

Even nodding, I didn’t care about the rapist’s words. I wanted to know if Judd still want me? I needed his reassurance more than anything. Before I could ask, Judd fiddled with his phone until another video started.

In this one, Saul was crying in a corner of the barn and I heard dogs growling in the background. Someone let the dogs loose and they descended on the screaming man. While I expected them to go for the jugular like attack dogs, they tore at his legs and torso first. They killed him slowly until his screams finally ended.

This time when Judd turned off the video, he placed the phone on the dresser. “You never tell anyone I showed you that. Do you understand?”

“Yes.”

“I wanted you to see how he was gone from this fucking world and would never touch you again.”

“Thank you.”

As Judd brushed hair away from my face, I saw his knuckles were busted open. Gently, I kissed each knuckle.

“When you look at me now,” I said, “do you think of him fucking me and me coming?”

Taking my face into his battered hands, Judd stared at me like he was fighting between anger and sadness.

“How can you fucking ask me that?”

“Is that a no?”

“When I think about him, I think of how he hurt you and needed to die. I never thought of you wanting it. You saw what he said. Even he knew you didn’t want it.”

“You were torturing him. He would have said anything.”

Judd opened his mouth and I sensed he wanted to yell or at least show anger. Instead, he swallowed the irritation and sighed.

“I love you, Tawny,” he said, caressing my cheek. “I fucking love you and nothing changes that fact.”

“What about the jinx?” I asked weakly, savoring those words in my head.

“I’m fighting to keep you and fuck the jinx. Besides, I could see how much you needed to hear the words.”

“I did,” I whimpered. “I tried to be strong, but I felt so dirty tonight. Everyone looked at me and knew what that fucker did. I needed to come back from that and know you still thought I was beautiful.”

Judd smiled softly. “When you stood up to him, you were never more beautiful to me.”

“He would have kicked my ass, if you and Vaughn hadn’t stopped him.”

“That’s the point,” he said, leading me to the bed where we sat. “You remembered him hurting you and could have let him walk away and kept quiet. I know you and how you wouldn’t trust everyone to believe you. Yet, you stood up to him anyway. I was so fucking proud of you when you held your head up and stared into his ugly face. You were scared and shaking, but you didn’t back down. How could I not love the girl I saw tonight?”

The tears broke forward and I showed him my forearm. “He touched me. He’s dead, but I can still feel him.”

“Here?” Judd asked, studying my arm. “Do you feel him here?”

Running his fingers over the skin, Judd lifted my arm to his lips. I didn’t want him touching the tainted skin, yet he sucked gently on my arm.

“You smell clean, babe.”

“I love you.”

Judd caressed my arm with his lips. “Who does this arm belong to?”

“You.”

“No one else.”

“Never anyone else.”

The flicker of doubt in Judd’s eyes disappeared as he gave me a little grin. “I need to clean up. Do you want to come in with me and celebrate the fucker’s death?”

“Yes, please.”

Judd pulled me to my feet and into an embrace. Shuddering at how warm he felt in my arms, I noticed how the beating of his heart eased my hurt.

“Thank you for saying the words,” I said, gazing up at him.

“You’re mine, angel. I don’t know if you’ll change your mind one day, but I’m doing everything I can to keep that from happening.”

“You’re mine too and I’m never letting you go.”

Once in the shower, Judd scrubbed off quickly. Then, he washed me down while exploring every part of me and claiming me with his touch. Coming from his touch, I wept against him, even though I felt safe now. I felt loved too as the ugliness faded away, just echoes in my mind.

Judd lifted me into his arms as the hot water warmed us and I sighed at the feel of him inside me. Carefully, he brought us to the brink and had us go over the edge together. In every way, Judd was claiming me.

As we dried off, Judd demanded, “Say you’re mine.”

The dark look in Judd’s eyes was intense. The angry tension in his expression made me feel like someone had doubted his right to me and he was proving them wrong.

“I’m yours forever.”

“I won’t let you go. Even if you want to leave, I won’t be able to let you leave.”

“Wait, are you threatening me?” I asked, squinting at him.