Break Me Read Online Free PDF

Four
     
     
    Jared
     
    What the hell was I getting myself into? Did I have any business wanting someone so emotionally fragile? Was she emotionally fragile? I had no idea.
    Getting involved with her was a walk on a roller coaster. I wasn’t so sure I wouldn’t end up falling off once I trudged up the incline.
    I couldn’t remember anyone affecting me quite the way she did. We spent weeks barely speaking beyond pleasantries and greetings and the latest books. Our last two conversations had been so full of her pain and sadness.
    I’d never been with a submissive, or lover for that matter, who’d lost a partner. Partners who left? Sure. Partners who died? Nope. I didn’t want to damage her, hurt her. I wanted to play with her, hold her, break her, and put her back together. I wanted to see fire in her eyes. I wanted to see a spark.
    I wanted her for me. All of her.
    But could I do it?
    Could I get her to come to me? Could I get her to let me in? She let so much out through her tears and her words. Could she find a way to let me in?
    I knew she was interested in me on some level. We both knew she was. I’d be willing to bet I was the first man since Tim died who she’d shown any interest in. The thought saddened me while at the same time brought a smile to my face.
    A picture shouldn’t have had that much of an effect on me, but it had and there I was… The only other person who owned a part of her story. That had to mean something, didn’t it?
    I watched her through the window of the bookstore I’d just exited. She’d sat back down at the table we’d occupied, and buried her head in her arms. Her shoulders shook and my heart squeezed painfully in my chest. I did that to her. I made her open up to me and I walked away.
    What a bastard I was.
    But not for much longer.
    I pulled my cell from my pocket. The other end of the line picked up on the second ring. “Hey, Hugo. I won’t be in tonight. Something’s come up.”
    “Sure thing, Boss. We can handle it tonight.”
    “If you need someone else to take my spot, call Leroy. He owes this shift a favor. Tell him I said so. And Hugo? Stop calling me Boss.”
    “Okay.”
    As soon as I disconnected the call, I walked back into the store.. I squatted on my haunches next to Claire. “Look at me.” She did it. As soon as the words were out of my mouth, her head came up and her gaze connected with mine. “I’m taking you home. Let’s go.”
    “You left.”
    “I came back.”
    “I can’t leave.”
    “You’re the owner. You can do whatever you want. I’m taking you home.”
    She sniffled and this time I wiped her face with my hands. Slobber, tears, snot. I didn’t care. She was hurting and she needed someone to take care of her. For once, in the years she’d been alone, she needed someone to take care of her.
    I waited for her argument. I waited for her reasons she couldn’t do this too. All she said was, “Okay.”
    I helped her stand and she didn’t resist. She didn’t resist when I took her arm to hold her steady. She didn’t resist when I let her lead the way to do what she needed so I could take her with me. She didn’t resist me, or my presence.
    I was there for her to lean on and she took me up on it. It was more than I dared hope for with her. She was so adamant that she didn’t want to feel, that she was perfectly happy in the bubble she’d erected around herself, but I didn’t believe it.
    She was human. Hurting. And anyone who looked at her would know it, would see it, would hear it in her voice, but there was a beautiful woman hiding behind all that who wanted out. I heard it, saw it, felt it. A beautiful, submissive woman who could come out on the other side and shine again. But was I the man to do it? Was I strong enough to do it?
    I hoped so. She was special. And handling her with kid gloves wouldn’t get it done. I knew that. Too harsh with her and she’d close off. Too gentle and she’d stay fragile. It would take a certain