I jump in my car to leave the club when Claire’s name pops up on my phone. I debate sending her to voicemail. We’re on a path to destruction. A car crash waiting to happen, but I can’t stop myself. I’ve never wanted a woman the way I want her.

I answer after the third ring. “Hello?”

“Hey.”

Something’s wrong. I can hear it in her voice.

“What’s wrong?”

“I-I don’t know why I’m calling you, but something happened.”

I think about that prick, Brian, heading up the stairs. I knew it. I fucking knew it, that motherfucker did something. I could see it in his eyes when he saw me.

“What happened?” The question comes out harsher than intended.

“I don’t want to be alone right now.”

I’m surprised she called me. She usually runs to her brother for this shit.

“I would go to Jaxson’s, but he has company…”

“Where are you?”

“Your apartment.”

Fuck me.

“Be there in a few minutes.”

* * *

When I walk into my place, Claire’s in my kitchen eating pickles. The sight of her so at home in my place hits me in the chest. Maybe a relationship is what I’m missing in my life. After talking to Sandra about everything I think maybe she was right. I’m going through the motions in all areas of my life. It’s becoming boring and routine—monotonous. Even sex with random women is unexciting. I need something. The deal I’ve been brokering has me stressed. On edge.

“I hope you don’t mind.” She waves the dill spear in her hand at me. She slides the pickle between her lips slowly and all I can think about is how I want to smack it out of her hand and replace it with my dick.

“It’s fine.” I walk toward her, and she backs up a step.

She’s on edge. Instinctively shying away. Something happened.

I’m going to kill that motherfucker.

Claire has on a pair of leggings and an oversized sweatshirt. Normally her hair would be piled up on her head when she’s dressed like this but it’s down and she keeps turning that side away so I can’t see.

Rage courses through my veins, but I have to be calm and collected. She doesn’t need me blowing up in front of her. I have to stay calm—until I see that bitch, Brian, again.

“Show me.”

“Show you what?” She moves around the island, keeping it between us. She smiles, but there’s pain in her eyes.

I’d recognize it anywhere. “Don’t play games.”

“I don’t understand.”

“Show me what he did to you.”

Her smile falters. “I don’t know what…”

“Claire?”

“Yeah?”

“It’s okay. Let’s see.”

Her eyes well up again. “Please promise me this stays between us.” Her voice cracks.

I nod.

“Jaxson will kill him. He has enough going on right now.”

I can’t help but notice she’s worried about her brother right after she’s been assaulted. You can’t buy that kind of love and loyalty. I respect the shit out of it, but that little shit isn’t going to get away with what he did.

“Fine. I’ll kill him. Show me.”

She sits down on a barstool and pushes her hair back off her shoulder. I stalk over to her and tilt her face toward the light. The skin on her cheek is swollen and red. I brush my thumb over the mark and she winces.

“He’s fucking dead.”

“Max?”

I shake my head. “No. If I see him, he better fucking run. What happened?” I continue to stroke her jawline, unable to pull my hand away.

“We were already broken up.” She looks away at the wall and tells me everything that happened.

I want to smile at the fact she told him I fucked her with my huge cock, but that’d be poor form in the moment. She could’ve been hurt way worse.

“I’m sorry this happened to you. And that I caused it.”

“It wasn’t your fault.”

“I know. But, I complicated things for you.”

“He ripped the dress.” Another tear rolls down her cheek.

I catch it with my finger and brush my thumb across her face to wipe it away. “Claire?”

“Y-yeah?”

“It’s just a dress. We’ll get you another one.”

“I shouldn’t have come here. I was just so scared and knowing he was on the other side of the walls...”

I pull her into a hug and stroke her hair. “It’s fine. Don’t apologize for wanting to be safe. You’re safe here.” Without thinking I drop a kiss on the top of her head. Fuck, her hair is so soft. I want to bury my nose in it.

She sniffs. “Thank you. I know you’re busy and have a lot going on. You shouldn’t have to deal with my issues.”

She’s not wrong. This bullshit is why I didn’t want to hire her. The girl always has drama going on, but this is acceptable. She has a right to feel safe and not have some cocksucker assaulting her.

And there’s another thing I can’t get off my mind—the fact that I like her being here. It feels, right.

I let out a long sigh.

Fuck.

I need two things. A buzz and pussy.

It’s a bad idea but fuck it. She looks like she could use a drink too.

“Let’s go out to the balcony.” I kick my shoes off and grab a joint and a bottle of liquor.

She follows me out the sliding glass door and takes the seat opposite mine and pulls her knees up to her chin.

Even slightly bent she’s beautiful as she gazes at me from under her lashes. She’s so small and petite. I’d look like an idiot trying to sit that way, but it just looks natural for her.

Putting the joint between my lips, I spark a lighter in front of it.

I take a hard pull and inhale the smoke until I feel I can’t breathe.

Extending my hand, I offer a hit to Claire.

Jaxson would have my ass for this, but it’ll mellow her out. We both need it. It’s been one hell of a night.

Willingly, she accepts it and takes a few small puffs.

A welcomed silence stretches between us as we smoke and stargaze, both seemingly lost in our own thoughts.

I keep feeling her stare penetrate my skin.

“How do you feel?”

“Better.”

“Wanna feel even better?” Jesus, I’m higher than I thought.

Buzz—check.

Pussy—in progress.

Her head nods slightly.

I put the roach out in the ashtray and go down on my knees in front of her.

“Do you trust me to make you feel good?”

She nods again and her eyelashes flutter and close when my hand slides up her leg. “Please.”