Tamed (Torn #5)(58)

I took a deep breath. The night air seemed to clear my head a little. Alex led me over to where a brand-new Dodge Charger was parked.

I whistled. “Nice ride.”

“Thanks. I just bought it a few months ago. I’ve wanted one of these suckers since I could walk.”

He helped me into the car and then walked around the front to the driver’s side. Once he was settled in, he started the car and pulled away from the lot. I gave him directions to my place before leaning back against the seat and closing my eyes.

The first thing I noticed was how good his car smelled. It was a mix of leather and something distinctly masculine, maybe his cologne. I breathed deeply, enjoying the smell. I felt myself drifting off as the movement of the car relaxed me.

Alex didn’t speak until the car stopped. He nudged me gently until I opened my eyes. “We’re here.”

I mumbled, “Thanks,” as I fought to find the door handle. Once my fingers wrapped around it, I forced the door open. It felt like it weighed a million pounds.

“Need some help?” Alex asked as he opened the door further.

I hadn’t even noticed him getting out of the car.

He grabbed my arm and helped me stand. I leaned into him as he shut the door, and then he walked me to my apartment building.

“What floor are you on?” he asked.

“Second,” I mumbled. Somewhere in the back of my brain, I cursed the fact that my building didn’t have an elevator. Stairs weren’t going to be my friends tonight.

“I’ll help you up. Come on.”

We stumbled into the building.

I groaned as I looked at the stairs. “This is going to suck.”

He chuckled. “I got ya.”

Before I could say anything, he scooped me up into his arms and started up the steps. My protests fell on deaf ears as I tried to get him to put me down.

“Which apartment?”

“First door on the left.”

“Keys?”

I dug through my purse until I found them. He continued to hold me as I unlocked the door. It only took three tries or maybe four. I wasn’t sure. Once we were inside, he flipped on the light switch by the door.

“Want me to dump you on the couch or take you to your bedroom?”

“Bed. Down the hall, second door.” I rested my head against his chest. God, he felt good.

He carried me to my room and gently laid me down on the bed. He pulled off my shoes and dropped them on the floor.

“Thanks,” I mumbled as I opened my eyes. The ceiling was spinning.

“You’re welcome. You need anything else?”

I opened my mouth to tell him no, but I stopped myself. In my drunken state, that question went deeper than it should have. Did I need anything? Yeah, I f*cking did. I needed Chloe and Logan back. I needed Adam to tell me he was sorry and to hold me in his arms. I needed a friend. I needed someone to make me feel something again. I was tired of being so lonely.

“Amber?” Alex asked when I didn’t answer.

“What?”

“You need anything?”

I swallowed roughly, fighting back tears. “Yeah, I do,” I whispered. “Stay with me tonight.”

His eyes widened. “Uh…are you sure? I happen to remember you saying earlier that you wanted to hurt my man parts.”

“I’m sure.”

He studied me for a moment before nodding. “All right.”

I watched as he kicked off his shoes. He walked to the other side of the bed and dropped down next to me. I closed my eyes when his hand closed over mine.

“You okay?”

I felt a tear slip down my cheek. “Not at all.”



I groaned as I tried to roll over, but something was in my way. I reached out to push whatever it was away, and my hand touched smooth skin. What the f*ck? My head was pounding, but I forced my eyes open.

“Oh, hell,” I whispered.

A man was in my bed. Suddenly, the events of the night before came back to me.

Alex. Oh God. I let him bring me home. I swallowed roughly. I asked him to stay with me.

Everything after that was a blur. Tentatively, I grabbed the sheet and lifted it to peek underneath. My eyes widened. I was naked, and what I could see of Alex was naked.

“Fuck!”

Alex mumbled something before rolling over. His eyes opened and slowly focused on me. They widened when he realized who he was looking at. The corner of his mouth tilted up into a smile as he reached out and brushed my hair away from my face.

“Hey,” he whispered.

I swallowed again. “I take it we…”

He smiled wider as he sat up. “Yeah, we did.”

This wasn’t good—at all. “Shit.”

His smile disappeared. “Hey, it’s not a big deal.”

“Yeah, it kind of is.” I sat up, keeping the covers tucked tightly around me. “You’re married, Alex.”

“I am, but I told you about my shitty marriage. It’s not like you are trying to break it up.”

“Close enough. I might not be a saint, but even I have morals.” I ran one of my hands through my hair. “You need to go.”

He stared at me for a moment before finally nodding. Without a word, he stood and started gathering his clothes off the floor. I kept my eyes on the far wall, not daring to look at his naked body as he dressed. I’d already f*cked up enough.