“When she touches you, do you feel like you’re not worthy?” she asks, making notes in her notepad.
“I’ll make her dirty,” I admit, and I feel like a fuckin’ schoolboy, but it’s true. “I’ll soil her in some way and she’ll lose her light.”
Chapter Six
Eva
I bounce a crying toddler on my hip while Michelle throws me dagger glares from across the room, where she’s trying to keep the rest of the Clemmie clan entertained. With three kids and both parents, it’s a full day’s workload just getting them photographed. The contract today is for a family holiday shoot and the youngest Clemmie is having a full-scale breakdown. I’m usually good with kids, Anna’s daughter loves me, but maybe that’s because I’ve been around her since she was born.
My cell buzzes and I glance at it. The toddler stops screaming to watch my cell and I sigh in relief. Even a short break is better than nothing. I hand the kid my phone and he begins pretending to talk into it. I give Michelle the thumbs up, but she’s still scowling. Moody bitch.
I leave Michelle and Kyle to it around lunchtime. They’re finishing up anyway, and the office has been unattended all morning.
I spot the hooded figure sitting in the office doorway as I approach. When he looks up and I stare into those lost blue eyes, I relax. “Did you get my text?” asks Cree, pushing himself to stand. I shake my head.
“Long story involving a toddler and entertainment. You okay?” He’s been on my mind all morning, the horror on his face when I touched him playing repeatedly.
I unlock the office and he follows me inside. He places a paper bag on my desk and sits down in my chair. “Eat,” he orders, and I eye the bag.
“I’m really not hungry.” I sigh. “You force-fed me breakfast.”
“That was hours ago. Eat.”
I pull a stool over to my desk and open the paper bag. A warm cheese bagel sits inside and I smile gratefully. It’s my favourite. “You’ve been paying attention,” I say and smile.
“Three meals a day,” he mutters. “That’s what you should eat.”
“I know, but I don’t get that hungry. Besides, I only have to look at food like this and I gain ten pounds.”
“Bullshit,” he hisses. “Three meals a day.”
I pick at the bagel. “Cree, I’m really sorry about this morning.”
“It’s fine,” he mutters. “I’m sorry I threw you off me.” We sit in silence while I finish the rest of my food. Once I’m done, he pulls a bottle of water from his jacket and unscrews the cap. “Drink,” he says.
“I’m starting to think you have an unhealthy obsession with watching me eat and drink,” I tease. “Who makes sure you eat three meals a day?”
“I know how to look after myself. I’ve been doing it a long time.” I fall silent again. He slips out little bits of information, but I get the impression he doesn’t like to be questioned. It goes against my natural nosey behaviour because I sense he has a story to tell.
To distract myself, I peek at him through my lashes. His chiselled face is always so stern, like he has serious shit on his mind. He scowls way more than he smiles. His blue eyes are dull and there’re dark circles under them. Like most of the Kings Reapers, he has tattoos. They cover his arms, his chest, and his back. He’s tall and well built. I can tell he goes to the gym regularly. If he didn’t dislike me so much, I’d probably try and work my magic on him because there’s definitely a spark between us.
“Stop staring at me,” he mutters, and I blink a few times then look away, embarrassed that he caught me. “You’re volunteering tonight.” He says it as a statement rather than a question. “Are you free after?” I shake my head and bite on my lower lip. I don’t know why guilt fills the pit of my stomach. He must sense it because he frowns and waits for me to elaborate further.
“I have a date,” I mutter.
“No, you don’t,” he says firmly and it instantly pisses me off.
“I do. I’m meeting Chris.”
Cree scoffs. “The geek?” he asks. “I’ll pick you up when you’ve finished volunteering.”
“I’m going on a date, Cree!” I repeat, and he stands, shaking his head. “I am!” I insist.
He pauses by my chair. He looks like he’s weighing up something, and then he places a finger under my chin and tips my head back to stare up at him. “I never kissed anyone before you,” he whispers. His lips lightly brush over mine. “I’ll pick you up.” I’m so stunned by his confession that I don’t respond, and then it’s too late. He’s already left.
I’m relieved when I get to the community centre and spot Emily. I’ve been desperate to speak with her about Cree, and luckily, she’s just as happy to see me. “Did you bring him back?” she asks hopefully. I shake my head. “Are you two a thing?” she adds and I laugh, shaking my head again. She looks disappointed. “He’s a great guy.”
“How do you know him, Emily?” I ask.
We take a seat on the grass overlooking the basketball court, where some of the boys are having a rough game. “He helped me, Eva. I’ve never seen anyone so brave and strong.”
“How did he help you?”
“I made a stupid choice.” She sighs. “I got sucked in by a stupid bastard. I spent weeks with him, getting to know him. He treated me so good.” She looks sad. “I really liked him. One night, I was meant to meet him, and instead, there was an older man there. He said he was picking me up on Khal’s behalf. I didn’t feel right about him. He was fat and so much older. He had greasy hair and wouldn’t stop eyeing up my tits.” She shudders. “I tried
