The Damaged (The Insiders Trilogy #2) - Tijan by Tijan

She pushed me inside, and then it was coming out of me.

I was on my knees and vomiting, wondering how the hell all of this had happened.

My hair was being pulled back, a clip put in it.

Torie went to the sink.

The water was running.

The whole time, I kept emptying.

Then she slid down the wall next to me, a towel in her hand. “What a night, huh?”

She gave me a pitying smile when I was done and lifted my head, and handed over the towel.

I took it, pressed it to my face, and settled back against the wall on the other side of the toilet. “Men really suck.”





TWENTY-THREE


Torie disappeared, then returned with a small bottle of mouthwash.

I grinned. “Thank you.”

She nodded, her eyes hooded. “Gotta warn you.” She motioned to the hallway. “Your man is out there.”

I closed my eyes. Crap.

She continued, “And I’m saying ‘your man’ because I’m not his employee right now. I’m your friend. This is girls’ night still, so saying all that, you want me to try to get rid of him?”

My stomach was still uneasy, but I shook my head. Taking a shot of the mouthwash, I waited, swished it around, and spit it out. Torie handed me a bottle of water, too, and I rinsed my mouth. When everything was done, I looked at the door and sighed. “I need to talk to him, and to be fair to him, I don’t think I was sick because of what they said about Victoria.”

“Good.” Her eyes flashed. “Because you shouldn’t be. That girl’s a bitch. No way in hell do you need to worry about Kash and her. Like, ever. Ever ever.”

I laughed. “Thanks.”

She grinned. “Okay. I’m going to head back out. We’ll watch your girl, too. I know Tamara is wasted, but I’m not too bad. I’ll quit drinking from here on out, since you were the sober one, and the guards are all gone.”

“Matt’s are out there.”

Her head popped up. “Oh. You’re right.” She pulled the door and said over her shoulder, “Give me a buzz. I don’t know how I’d do it, but if you need me, I’ll come up and help with whatever. Burying a body. Fighting zombies. Whatever. I’m here for you.”

“Dinosaur outbreak?”

She rolled with it, her grin spreading. “Then we better make saddles to throw on a couple of triceratops, because we’re too late to imprint on baby raptors.”

I barked out a laugh.

“See ya.” She gave me a wave.

I nodded to her, waiting, because I knew my guy.

She opened the door. He was in the hallway, leaning back against the wall opposite, his head down, his eyes on me. His hands were in his pockets, and he looked relaxed. Looks were deceiving. As soon as she cleared the way, he straightened, and the look that he swept over me was primal.

I sucked my stomach in, waiting.

He came in, strolling like he was stalking his prey.

I tried to ignore the tingle that went through me, putting all my senses on high alert, but it was there, and then he was in the bathroom. The door closed and the room shrank. It was just him and me. We were sucking in all the air.

I backed up without realizing I was doing it, until I hit the wall.

He stopped right in front of me.

I whispered, “Hi.”

Those cognac-brown eyes narrowed. His head tilted.

His cheekbones seemed even more chiseled, if that was even a possibility.

His jawline seemed even more square, and strong, and why did I feel like I was in trouble?

I didn’t know, but I felt it, and I flattened my hand over my stomach, feeling all the flutters there. But it was more. I’d just been puking. I should not be turned on, but I was. An ache was settling between my legs.

That was for him, because of him.

I let out a sigh. “Oh boy.”

He relented then, whatever he was doing. A small grin eased some of the intensity. “You were sick?” He moved in so only two inches separated us. His hand raised. He smoothed his hand over my forehead, tucking some of my hair behind my ear. Then his hand fell to the back of my neck and he tugged me to him.

I closed my eyes, feeling his touch become comforting.

I grabbed his shirt, my own hand taking hold, and I melted against him. Feeling how tight his body was, the strength there, some of the ache left me, but it was there. I think it was always going to be there.

“I feel better now.”

“I saw the tapes. What’d Fleur say?”

I recited it verbatim.

Anger flashed in those eyes of his, then he damped it down so they were only smoldering. “Victoria’s family knows my grandfather. I’m following an angle to him. That’s why I asked her to lunch and why I think she’s been trying to get ahold of me. I’ll find out more tomorrow.”

I bit out a harsh laugh. “I’d hoped it was a lie.”

His hand curved around the back of my neck. His voice murmured next to my ear. “It’s not, I’m sorry. But it is work-related and…” His chest rose, held, and lowered again. His fingers slid through my hair, pulling, tipping my head back so I could see his gaze. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you ahead of time.”

That sucked.

“It’s work-related?”

“Yes. Very much so.”

If it was work-related …