Free Scandal: The Reckless Series, Book #3 (The Reckless Crew) by HJ Bellus

straddle his lap. I bury my head in the crook of his neck and cry again.
    “Keep touching me there,” I whisper between tears.
    His fingers strum along the raised line and I feel the shredding pain begin to disappear.
    “You make it feel better.”
    He brushes my short hair over my shoulder with his other hand, leans down and kisses my cheek.
    “Good.”
    I’m not sure if it’s on purpose or not, but he then runs his hands through my hair. He plays with it like it’s his favorite thing in the world. I want to ask him if it’s another training tactic of his, but I don’t want to break this moment between us.
    “Kip.”
    He moans out a sort of yes.
    “I can tell you were a really good cop. It was your voice and words talking me down today. Thank you.”

Thirteen

Chloe
    T he bed is warm and soft. I roll over and realize I must’ve fallen asleep in Kip’s arms on the bathroom floor. I stretch my legs and feel Boozer at the end of the bed. The alarm clock shining in the room lets me know it’s only four A.M. Kip’s sleeping face is barely visible by the stream of moonlight shining through the window.
    He kept his hand draped over my side when I rolled over to him. I trace the worry lines on his sleeping face lightly with the pad of my finger. I reach over and kiss his chin. I’m so lost. It’s been only a few days here and I thought for some strange reason the past would just fade, but it hasn’t.
    I’m broken, wandering an endless path of despair, but it’s him who is keeping me grounded. I want to float away and not feel anything. Reliving the past or even attempting to heal from it seems inevitably hopeless.
    “Crackers?” he mumbles, not opening his eyes.
    I giggle. “No.”
    “You okay?”
    “Yeah. Go back to sleep.”
    “You first.” He pulls me into his chest and runs his hand through my hair.
    I smile against his chest and only nod. It takes a few seconds for the rise and fall of his chest to coax me back to a deep sleep.
    The next time I open my eyes, Kip is much hairier and slobbering. It’s Boozer who’s taken his spot in the bed.
    “Morning, boy.” I pat his head and he cuddles closer.
    I roll over to my back and stretch my good arm up, wiggling away signs of sleep. When I sit up, I’m not dizzy or even feeling any pain. The first thing I notice is that my heavy hair isn’t coating my shoulders. It feels good, almost like a bit of freedom.
    “Sleep okay?”
    I look up to Kip standing in the doorway to the bathroom with a toothbrush dangling from his lips. He’s fresh from the shower with a towel tied around his waist.
    “I did. Actually.”
    “Love the hair.” He winks at me before turning back to the bathroom.
    I hear the water running and him spitting out the toothpaste before he comes back into the room. I find myself playing with the short ends of my hair and feel a bit victorious.
    “I have an idea,” Kip announces when he walks back in.
    I raise both eyebrows in question and wait for him to spill it.
    “Let’s go on a road trip.”
    “A road trip?” I ask, feeling my nerves flare up.
    “You feel good enough to ride on the back of my bike? It’s about a thirty minute drive.”
    “Honestly?”
    He nods.
    “I feel up to it health wise, but mentally it’s like I’m just beginning to feel comfortable here now.”
    “It’s a place I went to after all my shit went down on the force. I’m assuming you know about it from your comment last night.”
    “Sorry.” I look down at my cotton candy pink painted toes. “Darby told me.”
    “Nothing to be sorry about. Glad she told you. We have more in common than you know.”
    “Yeah?” I ask.
    “Think about it. We could leave for three or four days. I think it would really help you.”
    “I’ll think about it.” I nod.
    He walks out of the bedroom and I’ll admit I followed his strong backside until he vanished into the hall. The man is so opposite of Zack in every single way. He’s tatted, tanned, muscular, and