A Billionaire in Shining Suit (TBB 4)

Scars and Baggage and Morning Breath

Chapter 17 - Scars and Baggage and Morning Breath

ZACHARY DANVERS

Zachary woke up to the sunlight filtering in through the window. Something squirmed against him and he looked at the woman beside him.

She had snuggled so close that there wasn't any space left between them. Their legs had tangled and she had her face pressed to his chest, his arm around his waist.

He raised up on his elbow and rested his head on his hand. He loved the way she looked. So innocent, so beautiful. Without any anger or unhappiness on her face.

Her long lashes swept her cheek. Her hair spread on the bed, behind her in waves.

He smiled.

And it lasted for a whole of one minute until his eyes fell on the random small circular burn wounds that started at her shoulder.

He pushed the hair that were on her neck and frowned at the white scar that clearly said she'd gotten stitched a long back for something.

Last night the moment they were inside, they were onto each other. Until she froze.

When he'd grabbed the hem of her baggy tee to pull over her head, she'd stiffened.

"I don't think this is a good idea."

"Why not?" He'd asked.

"You might not like me after what you see."

"Darling right now I'm not liking this tee of yours that's coming in between us. It has to go."

She stood there, clenching her fists until she sighed and closed her eyes.

"Fine. You wanna see me. Fine. But don't say I didn't warn you."

She grabbed the hem herself and closed her eyes.

"Don't say anything. Just walk outta here and save me the humiliation." She murmured, her eyes shut tight.

The minute she'd peeled that shirt off, he muttered a quiet fuck. He couldn't even stop the string of curses that followed later.

Every inch of her torso was covered in white, puckered scars. All over her breasts, down her abdomen, around her waist, disappearing down the jeans.

"Well there's more if you want. But I guess this is enough for you."

Without opening her eyes, she straightened out her tee when he said "Turn around."

"What?" Her eyes flew open in shock.

"I said turn around."

His voice came out raspy. Rage surged through his veins at the things she suffered from. She reluctantly turned around and fuck that was not what he'd expected. Long scars crisscrossed her back. A horizontal scar that cut across her neck.

"Who did this?"

"Please don't. Just go away. Please."

The anguish in her voice had him wounding his arm around her waist and pulling her towards him.

Her back to his chest he leaned and kissed her cheek. Her now wet cheek as tears made tracks as they flowed in a stream down her cheek.

She let out a surprised gasp and he smiled.

"It'll take a lot more than a couple of scars to scare me away, doll."

When she still stood frozen, her muscles rigid, he held her tighter and had muttered. "I wasn't lying. I want all of you. Scars and all."

That moment she'd spun around and pulled him in a bear hug. That was the moment he swore to fucking kill the motherfucker.

He was moving his finger unconsciously over the cigarette burns on her shoulder when her eyelashes fluttered.

Letting out a moan, she slowly opened her eyes and smiled at him.

"Hey, beautiful."

"Hey yourself." She mumbled and flipped on her back, pulling the sheets upto her nose.

"Shy?"

She shook her head at him.

"What?"

She pointed her thumb towards her mouth.

"Silly." He chuckled pulled down the sheets and leaned in to capture her lips in a deep kiss.

"Let me at least brush my teeth."

"I just don't care." He mumbled against her lips. The smile on her face just made his day.

Once he pulled back, she looked up at him and said, "You're not what I expected."

Throwing his arm around her bare waist, he said "Well, I'm taking that as a compliment."

"You should."

A comfortable silence spread between them as he stared at her just as she stared at him.

Then she froze.

"Umm, your... umm waist..."

"Yes, my hand is on your waist."

"You're touching my scar."

"I want to kiss everyone of your scars because they're a part of you. And also because I wanna take the pain away from you."

Tears sprang in her eyes and he pulled her in. A warmth spread all over his body as she snuggled against him. He loved how she fit just right. As if she belonged there, in his arms, in his world.

"You're a good man, Zach. But I come with baggage."

"So do I. I have been living a life all by myself. And now that I've got you I'm not leaving you."

He pressed a kiss on her forehead. "I want all of you Kari, your scars, your baggage and your morning breath."

"Well I draw the line at the morning breath. Yours is so horrible," she pinched her nose. "I'm gonna faint."

"Well we wouldn't want that now, would we?"

"Nope." She murmured as she tried to stifle her laughter but ended up laughing so hard that Zach joined in too.

"I don't wanna get out of this bed, Zach. I'm happy here. I don't want this happiness to go away."

"It won't. Don't worry. I'll look after it that this smile." He tapped on her nose "never goes away."

Pressing a kiss to his chaste she muttered a small thank you and got down from the bed.

"Go cook me some nice breakfast Mr. Danvers. All that sex had made me hungry."

"Of course. You need to have your fill, after all I was just getting started last night."

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- Nami