Encore (The Black Eagles Series Book 2) by Kat Green Page B

bastard.’ She was laughing as the relief rushed through her. ‘Do I beat Zoe?’
                  Toby’s eyes closed and he muttered something under his breath, then rested his forehead against hers. ‘Megan, for the love of my sanity will you stop being so down on yourself.’
                  Megan knew it was her worst habit, but she couldn’t seem to control it. ‘Sorry.’  
                  ‘Listen to me and don’t interrupt. Yes, Zoe was attractive, and the others I’ve been with. Yes, I could have whatever I wanted from them. The reason you beat all of them is I didn’t love them. I didn’t care what they did once they left me. I wasn’t bothered if they didn’t come back. You, I love, You, I do care what you do and I do care if you come back. The last time I was with Zoe was just before we got together.’ Megan turned away from him. She didn’t want to know. But he wasn’t letting her stop this conversation: she needed to hear it. ‘Every kiss I shared with her, the sex and after she left, I only had one person on my mind. You.’ Megan smiled at him and he told her again how much she’d driven him mad with her playing hard to get. ‘For the first time I am with someone I love. I adore you, would do anything for you. You’re kind, sweet, intelligent and beautiful. You knock them all right out of the stadium. You shouldn’t have been so scared about disappointing me. I thought it was perfect.’
                  Megan said nothing as she embraced him, pulling him to her. She was no longer scared. She wanted more.
    *****
    Beth was pacing the living room trying to decide if she should drag Lyla out of bed. The girl hadn’t come out since the previous day, and apart from her using the bathroom they’d seen nothing of her. She wouldn’t eat or talk to anyone.
                  ‘She needs to deal with this. I’ll give her another hour then I’m dragging her out,’ Beth said, her decision made.
                  Dale nodded. He wasn’t happy with Lyla and would prefer her not to be occupying their spare room. It was attention they didn’t need and that was his main concern. It wouldn’t be long before she was tracked to their house. They had been lucky lately and hadn’t been harassed as much, but this would change that. All eyes were on Luke and Melissa these days, as always, hence they had chosen a top floor apartment. They could escape a little.
                  ‘How long is she staying?’ he whispered.
                  ‘I don’t know. As long as she needs.’ Beth knew Dale felt uncomfortable about it. ‘I’m sorry, honey. I can’t kick her out. I just can’t. She just reminds me of Liss, and the scandal.’ Beth felt sorry for her, despite the girl having brought it on herself. Lyla had been used and abused and it was disgusting.
                  Dale nodded and took her hand. ‘It’s fine. I’m just worried about being hounded. They’ll find her here soon enough.’
                  ‘Don’t be too hard on her. That scumbag has destroyed her, poor girl.’
                  Dale promised her that he would remain neutral. He did feel for the girl. It was disgusting how Jay-Den had used his power to treat people like this. He wondered how many other girls were out there in the same boat as Lyla, too scared to tell the truth and risk losing everything. It made him shudder. ‘You’re a sweetheart. I wish people could see this side of you,’ he said.
                  Beth laughed. ‘Are you kidding? And lose my reputation. No chance. I save this me for those worthy of it.’
                  Dale pulled her to him and kissed her. ‘I love you.’ They stood like that for a while, finding the silence settling. It wouldn’t last long and they were making the most of it. Dale kissed her for a long time. He’d always kissed her in