Page 88 of Shatter

I don't care what the public thinks anymore, because the threat of Athena is gone. Let them take pictures of us. Let them speculate about us. Let them watch two people in love.

"I have one favor to ask before we go to bed," I say, stroking his head and letting the short hair tickle my palm as the other drops to his lap and squeezes him through his slacks.

He grunts, thrusts into my hand, but says, "Anything," in reply.

We're a stumbling, giggling mess of limbs and uncoordinated movements as we drag each other out of the Taxi and across the sidewalk. Finally, Harrison's had enough of a delay and bends, wrapping his arm around the back of my knees and tossing me over his shoulder.

"Miss Snow?" a woman's voice calls out, full of concern.

I press a hand into Harrison's lower back so I can lift myself up and see Brenda, the front desk attendant.

"Have a great day Miss Brenda!" I shout, waving and laughing.

Harrison's long legs get us into the elevator quickly where he stabs the button and steps in.

"Are you going to put me down?"

"Not until we do this favor."

I giggle and pinch his butt cheek, which gets me another impatient grunt.

"What favor do you need?" he asks, and I swoon a little, knowing that this rich, powerful man will do absolutely anything for me.

"I'd like to take a picture of us together. In our undies."

His breath stalls a little and I worry I pushed too far. I wiggle myself down his body so I can look him in the eyes.

"I have two more things I need to do to be finished with this. One of those things is showing the world your scars."

I hesitate to paint him the full picture of what I want to do, because I'm afraid he'll say 'no'.

He swallows but nods, holding my cheek in his hand tenderly.

"Anything for you."

He drops a quick kiss to the tip of my nose and I've never felt more loved.

The elevator dings and opens into his condo. I strip down to my undies, drag a chair over to a wall and point at it.

"Sit," I say, pointing at the chair. He does so obediently while I set up my phone on a timer to take a picture of us together.

Finally, when it's set up, I run back over to him and stand next to him, resting my arm on his shoulder and smiling proudly at my phone. It takes a series of pictures, and then my feet are off the ground.

Giggling, I wrap my legs around Harrison's waist and let him take me to his bedroom.

While outside we were all desperate heat and impatience, the second he lays me back down on his bed he takes a beat and slows.

"I thought I'd lost you..." he whispers, letting his eyes trail down my neck, my chest, my stomach.

I shake my head. "Never. You're stuck with me, Harrison. You'll never get rid of me." I touch his face. "I love you."

And on my first night of freedom, Harrison makes love to me in our bed, and then fucks me roughly in the shower.

And it's perfect.

Chapter forty-eight

Harrison