Free Beautifully Damaged by L.A. Fiore

making his voice higher pitched but Trace watched him completely unmoved and when he spoke his voice was devoid of all emotion.
    "Forcing yourself on a woman is bad enough but hitting a woman is inexcusable." And without further adieu Trace moved, with astounding speed, and plowed his fist into the man's face in a quick succession of five before the man dropped into a dead faint. Trace's eyes found mine and were burning with temper.
    "I told you to stay with your friend."
    "They left."
    "Son of a bitch," he growled.
    I felt the tears pricking my eyes just as my body started to shake. Faster than would seem possible, Trace was there, wrapping me in his arms. His heart was pounding in his chest, his body rigid and tense, but his embrace was warm. In the back of my mind I had the sense that this hug was just as much to comfort him as it was for me.
    "Are you okay?" he whispered.
    "Yes."
    "You don't belong in this place. Your friends are assholes." I could hear the anger returning to his voice. I wondered what it was about this place that Trace objected to, outside of the obvious. He was right though I didn't belong here and had it not been for my spineless roommate and her jackass boyfriend, I wouldn't be.
    He pulled back and looked down at me. I lifted my eyes to his and offered a heart-felt, "Thank you."
    Even though his eyes were still burning with temper, there was a slight tug on his lips when he replied, "Rescuing you seems to be turning into a habit."
    He held my gaze when he asked, "Are you still up for going out?"
    "Yes."
    He reached for my hand, linked our fingers and pulled me from the place. Once we were on his bike, cruising down the street, I rested my cheek against his back as I trembled just thinking about that man with his hands on me. Trace saved me again and just in the nick of time. He really was like my own inked guardian angel.
    We arrived at a small club as Trace parked and waited for me to climb off. He reached for my hand and led me inside and once we were seated his eyes found mine.
    "Are you okay?"
    "I am, now."
    He leaned back in his chair but I didn't miss the clenching of his jaw and then he said, "I'm trying to do the right thing here, Ember."
    I leaned up and rested my elbows on the table and asked, "What does that mean?"
    His eyes never left mine when he said, "I want you but I don't want to want you."
    I couldn't describe the emotions that burned through me in response to that comment. There was delight, shock and hurt to name a few. My voice wasn't quite steady when I offered, "I understand."
    He tilted his head before he asked, "What is it that you understand, Ember?"
    I felt the blush so I lowered my head before I replied, "You are so out of my league."
    His thumb touched my chin as he lifted my gaze to his and when I looked into his eyes the emotions I saw burning in them were unfathomable.
    "I'm the one who falls way short, Ember, not you."
    I held his gaze and offered, "For the record, I want you, too."
    His eyes flashed but he said nothing and then stood and reached for my hand. My eyes moved to our joined hands and up his inked arm to his face. His voice was so very soft when he whispered, "Dance with me."
    I didn't have to think on that as I allowed him to pull me onto the floor. James Blunt's
You're Beautiful
was playing as Trace turned me to him and pulled me close so that our bodies were pressed together from chest to thigh. His arm came around my waist pulling me even closer against his hard body, while the hand that held mine came to rest over his heart. His eyes were dark and filled with secrets but it was the look burning in them that had my heart nearly beating out of my chest. Our bodies swayed ever so gently and his grip on me never eased as if he was trying to absorb me into him. As the song came to an end he lowered his head so his lips were right near my ear and he sang along softly.
    You're beautiful. It's true.
    There must be an angel with a smile on her face.
    When she