Free AJ's Salvation by Sam Destiny

poured down his body, not releasing the tension at all. He knew that had nothing to do with the work and everything to do with the fact he had not only disappointed Alessandro but had also hurt Aly, too. He couldn't believe she'd start doubting his intentions, or that she'd believe he had another family down there. After all, Greg would have told her something like that. No, Jam could no longer see himself with any other girl. Aly was his one and only; only he wouldn't allow himself to be with her the way she longed for. 
    Turning the water off, he got out of the shower and dried himself off. Reaching for his boxers and his sweatpants, he realized he had forgotten to bring a shirt. Listening for a moment, he heard Dorly mumble downstairs. The old woman had a tendency to talk to herself, and he had to grin. The first time he heard it, he had been confused until he realized she wasn't talking to him. Now, he shook his head, opening the bathroom door and walking over to his assigned room.
    Stopping in front of the full-length mirror, he took a moment before raising his eyes. He usually avoided mirrors until he was dressed, but it had been so long since he had looked at his damaged body. Tattoos covered a lot of his skin, but they still couldn't hide the evidence he knew by heart. There was a knock on the door and then the person came in without even waiting for his answer. 
    "Jam, you and I..." Aly trailed off, catching his glance through the mirror. "I didn't think giving you the chance to say no was necessary, so I came right in, but ... Jamison, what in the world...?" Her eyes focused on his back again, and she came closer while he reached for a shirt or a sweater—anything to cover his skin.
    Grinding his teeth, he pulled a black hoodie over his head, mad at her for barging in and angry with himself for not having dressed as he usually did. She stopped the material halfway down his back.
    "Alessia," he growled, a clear warning in his tone that she ignored, pushing the hoodie back until it was barely covering his shoulders.
    "Do they hurt?" she asked as if she hadn't even heard him. 
    "No, they’re just ugly," he forced out, closing his eyes as her soft hands touched skin no one had touched in ten years.
    He felt stupid half dressed, so he threw the sweater to the side again, resigned to the fact that he couldn't make her forget what she had seen. And as much as he wished it wasn't true, he had longed for her to see him. All of him. She was gentle as she touched each and every scar. He watched her in the mirror, drinking in her beautiful features. He couldn’t read her face, and it unnerved him.
    Eventually, she leaned in and pressed a kiss right between his shoulder blades, making him shiver. "We need to talk," she whispered and then came around, touching his chest the same way she had his back.
    "Aly, please, just let me pull on a shirt," Jam pleaded, feeling self-conscious. She barely shook her head, but Jam saw it.
    " That’s just because you can’t see my scars ," she repeated his words, making him swallow. She recalled his exact words. Finally, she met his eyes. "Now, I can, and I can just repeat it. You're damn handsome," she whispered, gently poking her finger into his chest to make him walk back until his knees hit the bed and he sat down. He almost smiled as she settled down on the floor, reaching for his hand. She’d picked up that habit long ago. Whenever she and Greg had talked about something serious, she sat down on the floor looking up. 
    He wasn't ready to talk, though, so he cupped her cheek and brushed his thumb over her lips. "You don't want to hear that," he whispered, mainly because he didn't want to talk about it.
    "Jam, I came here because I want to know what you’re hiding. Because, as much as I hate to say it, you’re running. Seeing you like this now makes it pretty obvious it's from something big. I might not be the woman you want or love, but I sure can be the friend you need."
    "I