Finding Pride (Pride Series) by Jill Sanders Read Free Book Online

was trapped in his eyes, she felt like her feet were glued to the floor. She could no longer see anger in his eyes, just concern.
     
    Pushing the light strands of her white tank-top aside, he exposed more colored skin. Lightly he took her shoulders in his hands and turned her around so he could view her back.
     
    She leaned her head farther down, exposing all of her neck to him. The bruises started at each shoulder and went below her shirt. He could see deep purple and blackish green skin through the light material. Large ugly colored bruises ran down the back of both her arms.
     
    After about a minute of silence, he stalked from the room leaving her alone facing the fire.
     
    Never had anyone made her feel like this – her stomach was in knots, she couldn’t move, couldn’t breathe. Not until she blinked did she realize she had tears in her eyes.
     
    It was important to her, she realized, what he thought of her. He had said that no one would harm her here. Why did she feel like he meant it? The shame and embarrassment flooded back to her. Just as her shoulders started to slouch forward in defeat, she heard him walk back into the room. She didn’t turn around this time, but quickly blinked away her tears.
     
    “No wonder you’re on edge, reading this,” he said bending and picking up the discarded book. Looking up he noticed her tears.
     
    He stood in front of her as she kept her head down looking at his hands. He had nice hands, not too big. She didn’t like big hands. His nails were short and clean. He had a small scar on his left hand just below his wrist. He had a book in one and bottle of dark liquid in the other.
     
    Dropping the book on the couch, he put his fingers under her chin. Pulling her face slowly up until their eyes meet. “Here now, don’t,” he said looking at the tears, he used his fingers to wipe them away gently.
     
    “I’m…” She started to apologize.
    “Don’t. Please. Will you let me help you? This will help with the sore muscles and bruises.” He held out the bottle, letting her see the label. “Trust me; I’ve had plenty of both.” He smiled a little.
     
    All Megan could do was nod again.
     
    “ Come on then, sit down here,” he said pointing to the couch.
     
    She followed him and sat at the edge of the couch with her back to him.
     
    “Lay down Megan,” he said softly. His voice was husky and rich and she couldn’t stop herself from obeying.
     
    He lifted her shirt to the point that half of her back was exposed. She heard him take a deep breath and started to tense again.
     
    “No, don’t, it’s alright.” He said trying to get himself under control.
     
    She could smell the ointment as he warmed it on his hands. He started working on her shoulders first. The muscles screaming from the contact however feather light.
     
    “Take deep breaths,” he said in a soothing voice feeling her tension.
     
    “When I was about thirteen, I decided I was man enough to help break one of my dad’s horses, Thunder, it was a Appalachian. It had been terribly mistreated before we got a hold of him. Needless to say, I snuck into his pen one day thinking I would just jump right up there, and we would be best of friends.”
     
    “Well, everything was going just fine, until my dad came running out of the house screaming. The horse took one look at him, and bucked me right off. I flew over the fence and landed backside down in the blackberry bushes. I still can remember my dad’s face as I went flying.” He chuckled a little but continued to rub slowly. “He tore those bushes out the next day.” He laughed to himself again. Even after all that, his back hadn’t looked as bad as hers did now. His smile faded.
     
    Working his way up and down her battered back he wondered what had happened to her. Had Matt know anything about this? No! He was sure he hadn’t. Matt was a lot like himself, he would have wanted blood before seeing this done to someone he cared about, or