Rage (Damaged #1)

by J.S. Cannon

All I know is, I stopped giving a damn and I live my life in survival mode. I have mommy issues. I have daddy issues. I have issues with being touched.

Most children are terrified of the monsters under their bed. I prayed they would snatch me from my bed and take me to their world.

As time went by, my thoughts became darker, my heart and soul slowly disappearing. I was a shell of the girl I used to be, until I had enough.

“You cunt, I’ll kill you for this.” Tears trickle down his reddened face as he attempts to stand. Moving behind him, I jerk his head back by his hair, raising my blade, slicing it across his throat. “I beat you to it, dickhead.”

That’s not how things work in my world. If you take, be prepared to pay with your life. Some people may think it’s extreme, but I call it balance.

He slowly steps forward, like he’s approaching a feral cat. “What was his sin?” Tilting my head to the side, I smile. “He touched me.”

“I’m Jase, by the way. I’ll be seeing you around, Rage.” I don’t know why the thought of seeing him again makes me grin.

I watched in wonder as the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen slit a man’s throat and dropped him to the ground like a sack of shit. Fuck. My cock was hard as a rock.

The fact she can protect herself, kill rather than be killed, she’s the whole damn package.

I made the decision to follow her home. Knowing she can handle herself doesn’t mean I want her to. One look at the beautiful slayer and I’m willing to kill anyone who dares to look her way.

Was it only last night I saw her glowing in the moonlight, her beautiful body covered in blood? I ache for her in ways I didn’t know possible. One look at her and I’m obsessed. One touch from her and I’ll be ruined.

My feet move backwards on instinct. He has me pinned against the wall, but he isn’t touching me. Interesting. I’m caged in, but not really. On reflex, my fight rushes forward but I freeze at the dark look in his eyes. “I’ll respect your boundaries, for now. I know you don’t like being touched. That will change soon. You’ll beg for

“Tell me killer, are you wet for me?” A low whimper sounds in my throat.

“I do. I see the way your eyes rake over me when you think I’m not looking. You’re dying to see where this ink leads to.” I grin as a pink flush spreads across her face and chest. She jumps up, her chair sliding across the floor, banging into the wall. “You’re off your fucking rocker!” Fuck. Seeing her riled up like this does things to me. I want to pin her against the wall and fuck the attitude out of her.

“Why do you hate me so much, killer? Is it because I make this little pussy wetter than it’s ever been?” My face heats and I slap him across the cheek.

He smiles wickedly, running his tongue across his bottom lip. “Do it again. I liked it.” I thought I had problems.

“I never claimed to be sane, little slayer. That’s why we’re perfect for each other.” He leans forward, and my thighs squeeze together at his closeness.

If ever a man looked like Lucifer himself, it’s Jase in this moment. His beauty rivals a thousand fallen angels, coated in blood after killing someone for me.

“We’re going to discuss you standing outside my apartment at three o’clock in the morning.” He sounds pissed but he doesn’t stop sliding his warm tongue across my skin. “You weren’t outside my house.” I throw back, my breathless words holding no heat behind them. He groans against my neck, sending shivers down my spine. “Did you miss me, killer?”

Going against everything inside me, I obey him. “We don’t do anything you don’t want to. You understand me?” His heated gaze says he wants me as badly as I want him, but he’s sacrificing his needs for mine.

“You’re playing with fire, killer.” His raspy voice is a beacon to my pussy, already dripping with my need for him. Flipping over in his arms, our eyes lock. He’s the sexiest man I’ve ever seen but he’s fucking gorgeous in the morning light. Hiking my leg over his thigh, I grin. “Maybe I want to get burned.”

His chest rumbles as he looks me over. “I’ve never seen anyone as beautiful as you. You’re fucking perfect and all mine.”

“Fuck, Rage. Your cunt is almost too beautiful to ruin.” His eyes dart to mine and he smiles wickedly. “Almost.”

This feels too damn good. “Jase, it’s too much. I can’t-“ His warm breath reaches my ear as he squeezes my ass harder. “You can and you will. Your body is mine, killer. Now be a good girl and beg for my cock.”

Killing someone wasn’t part of the plan but fuck it. He got what he deserved when he touched what’s mine. I will always protect her and kill anyone who dares to hurt her.

Hovering above her, she looks sated and dare I say happy. I’d burn this fucking world to keep a smile on her face.

“Don’t threaten me with a good time, little girl. I’ll wear your mark and you’ll wear mine.”

“I’m not a virgin anymore.“ She moans, grinding her pussy on my cock. She gasps as I slam inside her, bottoming out. “No, you’re not a virgin anymore. I made sure of that. Your body is mine and your blood is mine. You belong to me.”

My body relaxes as his words, a sigh leaving my lips. “You sweet bastard. I still want to punch you.” He rolls to the side, taking me with him. “Punch me anytime, killer. You know I’ll like it.”

Jase matches my crazy in every way. It’s like we were meant to find one another. Does that mean we were made for each other? My mind wants to fight it, but my damaged heart is surrendering.

“I hate you.” She whispers and the organ in my chest pounds against my ribs. She loves me. “I love you, Rage. Keep telling me you hate me, though. It keeps things interesting.” I grin to ease the tension surrounding us.

I’m a hunter after all and she will always be my prey.

“You’re mine. I’m yours. This isn’t high school boyfriend and girlfriend shit. We’re two halves of the same soul. We belong to each other. It’s the only way we’ll ever be complete.” His tongue darts out, tracing my lips slowly. “Yours.” I whisper, lost in his feelings for me. Or am I lost in my overwhelming feelings for him?

“What do you want to eat, killer? There’s a burger joint in the next town over. We’ll take my truck.” “Now you’re speaking my language. Feed me, my other half.”

“Oh my God! That was so good. I never knew about this place. Middle of the night burgers should be our thing.” He chuckles, pulling out of the parking lot. “Okay, this is our new thing, killer.”

Climbing onto his lap, I palm his face roughly in my hands. “No, I’m not scared. You have my trust. You have my loyalty. You have me.” His body tenses beneath me just before he grips me by the throat, jerking me closer. “You’ve sealed your fate, killer. You fucking belong to me.” He kisses me roughly, punctuating his words. “Your body.” Kiss. “Your blood.” Lick. “Your breath.” He squeezes my throat, kissing me again. “Your heart.” Bite. “Your fucking soul.” He growls, and I melt against him, surrendering to the beast.

“If you were any more gorgeous, it would be painful to look at you. Your beauty is only rivaled by the darkness inside you. Your pain is beautiful. It’s shaped you into the fearless woman in my arms.”

“Darkness is all I know. You embrace it. You appreciate it. You’re more than I could’ve ever asked for, Jase.”

Hearing a faint click, I look down, finding her straight razor in her right hand. Meeting her gaze, she grins. Beautiful fucking psycho.

Our gazes lock and the energy in the room shifts. My girl’s mask has fallen, her face full of fury. The dark angel has risen, and she’s pissed the fuck off. My God, she’s a fucking sight.

“I’m yours, huh?” She spins around, pushing me against the wall. “You’re mine and no one gets to kill you but me.”

“I wake up for you. I breathe for you. You fucking own me. There’s no way I’ll survive without you. We can end this life together and start again in the next one. I could live a thousand lives, and I will always find you in every single one of

them. Your soul calls to me like a beacon. Without you, I’m nothing.”

“Because you’re my queen. As long as there’s breath in my lungs, I’ll always worship you. I’ll always love you.”

Pulling the ammo from the bag, I show her how to load them. Once we’re finished, I offer her a pair of ear plugs, but her stubborn ass shakes her head. “I want to hear the boom.” Lunatic. Fuck, I love her.

“Good girl.

Removing my fingers, I skim her pussy with the gun. “I’ve stood here, watching you be the bad bitch you are and now I want to fuck you with my gun. What do you think, killer?” She wiggles closer, her eyes darting to my lips. “I’d be disappointed if you didn’t.” Fuck.

We haven’t had sex since the shooting. We’ve both been healing and didn’t want to take a chance of hurting the other. Okay, not really. I’ve wanted to jump him at least ten times a day and he won’t cooperate because he’s worried about me.

“Do you understand now? I can’t live without you. When I thought I’d have to, something inside me broke. The nightmares are slowly fading, but maybe you’re right. Maybe I do have PTSD. Either way, I need you. I need us. I love you, Jase. I love you so fucking much.” A stray tear falls down my cheek, landing on his chest.

“I love you, killer. The past few months have almost killed me. I’ve been dying to touch you, but I will always put you first. Your needs and your well-being will always come first, whether you like it or not. Understand me?”