After We Fall (Take the Fall, #3)(55)

“What’s gotten into you?”

Jumping into his arms, I wrap my legs around him and plant one on his mouth. “The video worked. He’s agreed to my demands and I don’t have to put up with his bull a second longer!”

“That’s my woman,” he says approvingly. “How about I reward you with a daily orgasm?”

“Can we pretend it’s Sunday?”

“Oh yeah.” He pushes me into the sofa cushions and starts kissing his way down my body, then stops. “After dinner.”

“You are the meanest man on the planet,” I joke, leaning up to kiss him and to change his mind.

“I’m punctual,” he counters. “We have reservations at six with Dwight and his wife.”

“Oh, now we are really getting deep.”

“Yeah, next week, I’ll take you to meet my priest.”

I snort and giggle. “I heard that you only do that with the woman you want to marry.”

“That could be arranged.”

“I was only joking.”

He lets me up. “Go get dressed and I’ll be over to pick you up in ten minutes.”

“Ten? I need at least twenty.”

“Five minutes,” he says flatly, but his eyes dance. “You’re already beautiful.”

I roll my eyes. “Fine,” I huff. “Come over in ten minutes. The door’s already unlocked, so you won’t have to use your key.”

A grim look covers his face. “Don’t like it when you do that, angel.”

“Oh, please. We’re the only two apartments on this side of the house. Who’s going to get me—besides you or Jake?”

Jake stretches in his bed.

“Hard life for that one,” Hunters says, then tilts his head to one side. “This is your last time leaving the door open. Got me?”

“I got you.” I give him a sassy smile before sauntering out into the hallway. I make sure to close his door. “Bless his paranoid heart.”

With a shake of my head, I stroll into my apartment, my heart lighter than it’s ever been in years. I need to tell Hunter how I feel. I know that now.

There’s no need for me to keep holding back from him, to keep that part of me boxed and locked up tight.

“Hello, Eva.”

I freeze, my mouth going dry as an asphalt road in August. I attempt to swallow, but it’s practically a useless move.

“What are you doing here?”

“Wanted to congratulate you on the viral video you made about us,” he says, stepping toward me.

I really want to say in this moment that Penn is somehow smaller than I remember, or ugly, or…something derogatory, but I can’t. He’s perfectly perfect on the outside. A tall man with a beautiful, cold face and a charming smile. He’s the rattle on the snake. The one you never see coming until he’s already struck.

But I know better now.

“That’s nice of you, but you can’t be here. There’s a restraining order in place and as soon as I call the cops, they’ll arrest you.” I go for my phone, but he shakes his head and once again I freeze up.

It’s like my body recognizes his power over me while my brain is screaming at me to run, to get help…to call for Hunter.

“They won’t arrest me,” he says, taking my phone out of my back pocket. He lightly smacks it on my head and I wince. My knees tremble. “You’ve caused enough problems. My parents have cut me off. They refuse to pay for me to get additional treatment. The VA…well, you know what little the VA will do for me.”

“I do know.” For that I do feel sorry for him. He does have problems, but I cannot be the outlet for them. “You need help, Penn. There are organizations all over the country that can help you, without cost.”

“Like a f*cking charity case,” he sneers.

“Better than the alternative.”

He slams my phone down on the kitchen counter, shattering the screen. “I was getting the alternative and you took that from me.”

I start to back away from him, but he grabs my arm roughly and jerks me back. “I can smell him on you.”

“My dog?”

“You are a bitch, just didn’t know you were in heat.” He shoves me toward the sofa. “Bend over and I’ll mount you.”

Revulsion makes my stomach turn. “I’m not that desperate.”

“No, but you were always willing.”

I don’t say anything to that. What can I say? It’s true, but not for the reasons he wants to claim.

“Angel, something’s wrong with your phone,” Hunter says as he steps inside, his eyes on his screen. “You just texted me a bunch of gibberish, but I wanted to make sure it wasn’t code for your favorite sex positions.”

I want to sob in relief when I see him, but he won’t look up and I’m afraid that Penn will try to hurt him.

“Hunter,” I cry and his head jerks up. His eyes widen when he sees Penn practically standing over me while I lean against the arm of the sofa. “This is Penn,” I finish stupidly.

“You don’t need a code for that,” Penn begins conversationally. “She likes it from behind, double-teamed…getting down on her knees in public. That sort of thing.”