Damaged: An Erotic Romance Story Read Online Free PDF

I bumped in to him at the cemetery. Oh Soph,” She covered her face with her hands. “I feel awful. I wish I hadn’t just jumped into bed with him. What was I thinking?”
    “Why do you feel awful?” Sophie frowned. “Jess, you haven’t done anything wrong. You liked a guy, had some fun and felt good for it too. So what if he used to be friends with Mike? You would have met someone eventually and it was obviously the right time for you.” Softening her tone, Sophie continued. “Sweetie, Mike’s dead. No one is expecting you to stay faithful to someone that is not here anymore.”
    “It doesn’t feel right now I know. He doesn’t feel like enough of a stranger. I’m terrified Jackie and Joe will find out and think I’m an awful person for disregarding their son so quickly.” Jessica’s expression was pained.
    “You are being too hard on yourself. Jackie and Joe just want you to be happy like everybody else does. The way you were yesterday...if you ask me Nathan is the best thing that could have happened to you” Sophie said bluntly.
    “Well I am definitely not seeing him again. I want to forget this ever happened. It was a mistake.” Jess took a large swig of scalding liquid and tried to make herself believe her own words.
    Bored, Jess was flicking through TV channels later on that afternoon when her cell rang. Sophie. She smiled at the attentiveness of her dear friend, who was obviously calling to make sure she was okay.
    “I just bumped into Jackie; she’s invited us to dinner tonight. I told her you didn’t have plans so no excuses.”
    Jess groaned down the phone.  “I don’t want to, Soph.” She whined. “They’ll be able to tell something’s up, I feel too awkward.”
    “Jessica.” Sophie was stern. “You have nothing to feel bad about. I’m picking you up in two hours.” With that, she hung up.
    Shuffling on the doorstep like a naughty school kid waiting for detention, Jess poked her tongue out at her friend stood beside her.
    “Girls!” Jackie greeted them with flourish, embracing them both then stepping aside so they could enter the house. Jess hadn’t seen Jackie for a couple of weeks and was pleasantly surprised at how well she seemed to be doing. Her face had filled out slightly from the gaunt look of loss she had been carrying and her mood seemed lighter. Jess decided she was glad she had been dragged along.
    “It’s so good to see you.” Jackie walked them thro ugh to the lounge. “Now I want to introduce you to someone. Jessica, Sophie. This is one of Mike’s oldest friends, Nathan.”
    Jess gaped at him while Sophie shook his hand politely. He smiled and said hi as if they had never met. She felt a jab in her ribs from her friend and also shook his hand as if in a trance, mouth still agog at seeing him here. The touch of his skin on hers sent sparks down her spine and she swung round to Sophie, panicked.
    Sophie smiled serenely.
    “Jackie mentioned Mike’s friend was in town. He had missed the funeral as he was away travelling.” She explained pointlessly. “I said to Jackie that she should invite him here tonight as I thought you might like to meet him?” Sophie continued to smile and Jess wanted to smack it straight off her face. What the hell was she playing at? Aware that Jackie was looking on, Jess moulded her features into what she hoped passed as normal and cleared her throat to steady her voice before speaking.
    “Nice to meet you, Nathan.” She faced her friend. “Soph, I think I left my cell in your car. Can we just go check?”
    “Sure. Back in a minute.” She said to Jackie.
    Outside, Jess grabbed her friend by the shoulders and had to fight the urge to shake her.
    “What do you think you’re doing? This is my worst nightmare.”
    “Chill Jess, crikey.” Sophie shrugged her off. “I wanted to prove to you that you needn’t feel bad about what happened. I told Jackie that you had mentioned she’d had a friend over. She told me who it was and