Chapter 21: Where Is That Scar? Part I

••~~CORIAN~~••

She was weightless in my arms; head pressed against my chest while I carried her into my room.

Her lips brushed my shirt. “I hate you, Corian.”

I smirked. “Nah, Tiger. You said you thought you hated me.”

“No. I’m sure I hate you now,” she breathed.

That one pulled a grin out of me. No woman’s ever told me that coming out of my mirror room. Then again, I didn’t fuck her… I left her starving on purpose. She needs to know who runs this.

But Maddison? She isn't like the rest. She’s in my mirror room.... wide-eyed, innocent, but too damn curious. It’s dangerous. Addictive.

And that “I hate you”?

Don’t know if she means it, or if it’s just her way of hiding how bad she wants more. Probably both. If I had to bet… she’s already thinking about ending our deal.

And I hate that my first thought isn’t good riddance.

It’s the fact that I give a damn at all.

I laid her down on my bed. She barely moved, looking peaceful, dreamy. My eyes dragged over her honey-colored skin, flushed, damp, soft in spots, raw in others. That ass? Red. Marked. Perfect.

She was so good in there. Shy and wild at the same time.

And I came down on her hard.

Because she asked for it… being so damn mouthy last night.

Bet she won’t try that again anytime soon.

But she’d earned this rest. For now.

I pulled the blanket up under her chin.

She looked so fucking small in my bed. Small. Mine. At least till the contract’s done. She belonged to me.

Her head rolled to the side, face twitching, lashes fluttering, a shiver running down her body.

“Bernie.” she whispered, so soft I almost thought I imagined it.

“Fuck!” I groaned out loud.

That name. Again.

My jaw went hard. I wanted to hit something. That fucking name wouldn’t quit bouncing in my head since she mumbled it in her sleep last night. Yeah, she was high, but that fear? That was real.

He hurt her.

Laid hands on what’s mine now.

I want him in the dirt.

She kept twisting beside me, mumbling, face jerking like the nightmare wouldn’t let go.

Shit.

I sat on the edge of the bed, fingers running through her messy auburn hair. My knuckles brushed her temple, smoothing out the crease in her brow. I kept at it, slow, until her breath evened. She let out this tiny sigh, body sinking back into the mattress like I’d dragged her out of hell with my hand alone.

That name. On her lips, right after I laid my hand on her?

Nah.

Not happening.

Hell no.

I tapped my watch, one swift dial.

“Rocky.” My eyes stayed locked on her.

There was a shuffle on the other end, like he’d just snapped awake. “Boss?”

“Bernie.” I bit it out hard. “Find him.”

“Bernie who?” Rocky sounded lost, like I’d asked him to solve some dumbass puzzle.

“No last name,” I said, brushing a strand of her hair back with my knuckles. “Run it. Every Bernie in this city. Then the next. Every Bernie still breathing, I want them on my desk.”

“You know that’s....”

“Rock, I’m not asking. I’m telling you. Start now.”

He muttered something low, but I didn’t care. Rocky was my number two back in the Black-market ring… Rocky “Deadeye” Krane. He never missed. Never failed me.

He’s a hunter. Once he locks in, there’s no hole deep enough for Bernie to crawl into.

Rocky was still on the line, keypad punching, taking notes like the good soldier, he was.

My eyes stayed on her. She shifted under the blanket, shoulders loosening like she finally gave up the fight. I dragged my thumb along her hairline, studying her face. My hand went down to her temple, brushed the corner of her chin.

I was looking.

For that scar.

She said her mom threw a bottle at her once. Must have left a mark. I wanted to see it. To know it. To own it.

But I couldn’t find the damn thing.

“Where are you hiding it, little Tiger?” I whispered, thumb sliding behind her ear. She sank deeper into the pillow, breathing easy, like my touch was pulling the nightmares off her.

Rocky’s voice broke back through. “You want me to look at women? Men? Dead? Alive?”

“Men. Alive. For now.” My fingers slid under her chin. Still nothing. “And don’t call me back till you got something worth my time.”

I hung up before he could argue.

She moved in her sleep, the sheet slipping just low enough for me to catch the curve of her shoulder. My eyes stayed there. Not because I wanted to touch.... though hell, that was always there... but because I was already asking myself a question I didn’t like: why the fuck is she having one too many scars?

My thumb grazed the faint scar on her wrist. She called it an accident, and I have been pretending I never saw it.

But I know she lied. It’s got abuse written all over it. I should know.

Then my gaze dropped to her lips. Plump. Pink. Pouty.

My whole body flipped. Cock twitched hard like it was wired straight to her lips.

“Fuck, I want to ruin that mouth so bad,” I groaned in my head, tugging her bottom lip with my finger.

What the hell is this?

Obsession?

Addiction?

Some fucked-up mix that makes me wanna lock her up, torch the world, and keep her soft and pretty in my bed forever.

Oh, she better make room for me inside her, ‘cause I’m not stopping these hands.

Shit.

Last thing I need is knocking her up.

I’ve been reckless.

Those pills? Yeah, I don’t trust them.

I tapped my watch again and hit Avi’s name. He picked up first ring. Of course he did.

“Corian. Everything good?” He sounded nervous. Like always. Like every call might be the one where I finally flatline.

“Damn, Avi. You always sound like you’re about to write my eulogy.”

He gave that sharp little scoff. I could picture him clear... glasses slipping down his nose, pacing his office, acting like I’m the cancer he can’t cure.

“Forgive me for caring about my most stubborn, self-destructive patient.”

“I thought I was your favorite patient,” I muttered, rolling my eyes, looking at Maddison breathing soft in my bed.

“You’re both. Which is the worst combo. You skipped your appointment again this morning. That’s three in a row. You just don’t give a shit anymore?”

“I had more important things to handle.”

“Like what? What’s more important than your health, Corian? You want your body to give out sooner?”

I didn’t answer. I felt fucking fine.

My hand was sliding the sheets down Maddison’s back, brushing over the dip above her ass. She was warm, still, dead asleep like I’d drugged her with my cock.

“How’s your heart rate?” Avi asked.

“Fast.”

“That’s a problem.”

“No. That’s Maddison.”

Truth is, I could’ve died in my mirror room twenty minutes ago buried in her. Not a bad way to go.

“Who?”

“Swing by the house,” I pulled the blanket back over her shoulder, cutting him off. “I need you to check someone else.” A beat. “A girl.”

He hummed. He knew that tone. He’s dealt with my women before. He could read me too easy. I could picture him raising a brow, smirking like the smug bastard he is.

“You want me to check her?” Avi said slow. “Medically?”

He was messing with me.

“No, Avi, I want you to analyze her chakras and tell me if she’s a water sign.” I pinched the bridge of my nose. “Yes, medically. The usual. Make sure I can’t knock her up and shut the fuck up about everything else.”

He came back with that dry wit he thinks is funny. “Maybe a baby’s what you need, Corian. Might even make you care about yourself.”

I froze.

“Don’t you ever joke with me like that.” My voice snapped. “I’m never having a kid. Ever. Again.”