Grit (Dirty #6) Read Free Page A

their own strength so that what happened to me, what happened to Liv—what happened to Rocky—doesn’t happen to them.
    And three: My new favorite—to find the ability to let go of the past and allow myself to love again.

 
     
     
    Grit

 
     
    Grit: courage and resolve; strength of character

 
     
    “They’ve promised that dreams can come true, but forgot to mention that nightmares are dreams, too.”
     
    –Oscar Wilde

 
    Prologue
    Link
     
     
    There are only two unequivocal truths to every life.
    One: You are born.
    Two: You will die.
    Whatever happens in-between is entirely left up to you and fate and the big man upstairs.
    My past has taught me fate is neither friend nor foe. Fate does what fate wants, no matter the consequences. And God? He and I have a love/hate relationship. I loved Him, but for some reason, He has always forsaken me…

 
     
    Part 1
     
    Life is a Puzzle
    (We’re all just piecing it together as we go.)

 
    One
    Rocky
     
     
    Link’s quest for revenge ended in my redemption.
    Or so I thought.
    The part I didn’t fully understand is that recovery is a process. It takes time . I didn’t expect it to happen all at once, but somewhere in the recesses of my mind, I hoped for it. I wanted to wake up with his arms around me and be the girl I was before Garrett Marshall took my life away. Before Carter Bates taught me evil can come in the form of a handsome face with a charming smile.
    That didn’t happen.
    It will never happen .
    There’s no going back. I know too much. Seen too much. Felt too much. I can never be that girl again. No matter how much Link has done for me, no matter how much he’s taught me and given me, I can never, ever go back. All I can do is learn to be okay with who I am now. And he makes that easier. He may not have fixed what’s broken inside of me—because nobody can do that—but he helps me be okay with being damaged.
    I can’t count on him alone. I need to help myself too. After years of failed therapy and abusing the numbing effects of alcohol, I’ve turned to a natural remedy to help alleviate my anxiety. I’ve found a healthy way to help control my depression. It’s a start.
    The bed dips with Link’s weight and his warmth envelops me as he presses into my back. Rough fingertips brush the hair away from my shoulder, eliciting an eruption of goose bumps. His lips, soft and wet, slide up the length of my neck. It’s been two weeks since he unofficially took up residency in my apartment, and I still can’t get enough of these morning wake-up calls.
    His tongue sears my skin as he unapologetically laps the space at the base of my shoulder—the spot he knows has a direct effect on my girly parts. Sharp teeth sink into the muscle there, provoking a whimpered moan to tremble from my lips.
    This is the only way a woman should ever wake up.
    I feel his lips lift into that devilish grin I adore so much, but he doesn’t say anything. Sometimes, it’s just not necessary. Sometimes, a mouth can do all the talking without uttering a single word.
    His large frame straddles my thighs. I can feel the hard length of his cock slide against me as his hands sweep my tank top upward, leaving it high on my back. A trail of slow, breathy kisses lead a path back down and I shiver with desire. He’s driving me crazy with need, but I remain motionless. It’s few and far between when Link takes control.
    I sigh as his nails drag along the hem of my sleep shorts. He rakes them down, exposing my ass. There’s a moment’s pause and I know he’s enjoying the view. His grip is firm as he cups each cheek, squeezing. His thumbs slide between my legs, stroking ever so lightly, up and down, teasing me. And then his mouth is on me again, licking and nibbling, moving closer and closer to his fingers.
    My hips flex, silently begging him to get there quicker, but Link likes to take his time. He likes to heat me up slowly, bringing me to a simmer before he lets me boil over.
    I