Not Damaged Read Free Page B

provide for them and to get
married,” he said, picking up the conversation where they left off.
    “I’m not most women. I don’t want anything from a man.”
    “Besides his cock?”
    Glancing down at her glass of water, she tried to get her
bearings before looking back up at him. “No, I don’t want his cock either.”
    He knelt down in front of her. His palm landed on her thigh.
She gritted her teeth as something deep and hard tugged at her stomach. “What
happened to you never should have happened—”
    “It did happen, and I don’t care about that,” she said,
cutting in.
    His grip tightened on her thighs. “I wasn’t finished. You
will not speak unless I ask you to.”
    “We’re supposed to be talking.”
    He raised his palm and brought it down on her leg. It didn’t
hurt but she knew he would spank her if he wished.
    “You’ve disobeyed me. We were talking, getting acquainted
and you decided to butt in. I don’t like not being heard. One of my rules,
Jesse, listen to me or we’re over. And I will make
sure every Dom within the city will not touch you.”
    “There’s no way you’ll have that kind of power,” she said,
melting under his possessive gaze.
    “I’ve got that kind of power, and a hell of a lot more.” He
stayed in front of her with his hands on her knee. She wanted to open her
thighs and to take it to the next level. “Don’t even think you can go back to
Jake. I will destroy him if I have to.”
    “Why? You don’t even know me.”
    “You’ve been given to me, Jesse. I do not back down from a
challenge. You’re a challenge, baby. Many probably think you’re damaged or even
broken.” He stopped talking and she felt his gaze deep into her soul. Ryan saw
things inside her that many refused to see. “I see a woman prepared to fight.
You’ve never given up. Regardless of what others think you’re a strong woman. I
like a strong woman.” His fingers inched up her thigh. The tips of his fingers
went under the skirt of her dress.
    “You think I’m strong?” she asked. He’d be the first person.
Even Jake thought she was weak.
    “Yes. Don’t you see it?”
    She shrugged. “I’m so used to everyone treating me as if I’m
damaged that I don’t have the first clue if I am or not.”
    “Then let us explore this together.” He took her hand and
rose to his feet, pulling her up with him. His masculinity, along with his
cologne, surrounded her. “Put your hands around me.”
    Frowning, she rested her palms on the suit of his jacket.
    “Touch me.”
    “Is this another rule or something?” she asked. His chest
was rock hard underneath her hands like an immovable object.
    “No rules. I just want to feel your hands on me. I’ll take
my time with you and we can get to know each other.”
    “Don’t you have better things to do?”
    “No.”
    She ran her hands up and down his chest before circling his
neck. He stayed still under her touch.
    “I’m not this important. I don’t need you to focus your life
on me.” Even as she said the words she wished she hadn’t.
    He smiled. “You don’t mean that.” Ryan leaned in close.
“We’re going to do this, Jesse. Are you a coward or are you ready to live your
life?”
    I want to live. I
don’t want to be this damaged little girl.
    Her heart thumped inside her chest, begging to get out.
    Hope sprung inside her. Could she possibly come away from
her past and delve into something magnetic and amazing.
    “Sometimes in life you’ve got to learn to trust your
instincts. What do you want, Jesse? Tell me what you want.”
    She stared past his shoulder. I want to be me. I want to be happy with the past forgotten.
    Her physiatrist told her the only problem she faced was her
family. Her family remembered the pain of the past just like Jake. Even though
he’d been helping her to achieve some kind of pleasure, she knew he held
himself away from her. Everyone was afraid of bringing her past up or saying
something that made her