;stay soft, it looks beautiful on you

I never knew how much I wanted to spend Christmas in New York City until this week - as a result, I want to spend every Christmas here. With Bella.

I woke up with freezing fucking balls that were so cold, I could of swore they shrivelled that much they ended up in my abdomen. Oh, and light snowflakes dropping on my nose.

Turning my head to the left, I see Tori's bare tanned shoulder peaking out from under the white faux fur blanket - she's laid on her side and the only movement is her tiny body gently rising then caving. A small smile tugged at my lips - even the back of her was so damn beautiful.

The snow fall was getting faster, barely visible against the white blanket. How had she not woke up freezing!? But I guess after last night she would be exhausted. I did put her through four rounds of balcony sex.

I shook off the cold and swung my legs over the futon style garden sofa and pulled on my boxers. After another glance down at Bella's sleeping form, I wrapped her in my arms - blanket too - and carted her inside. Reaching the stairs, she began to stir awake - fluttering her long lashes and revealing those beautiful autumn eyes.

"Hey." She smiled lazily, her voice hallow and low.

"Hey, beautiful." I replied.

She dropped her head back on my shoulder and left it there until we reached our bedroom.

Jeez, our bedroom - how fucking domesticated.

Dropping her on the bed - gently, of course - she pushed herself into a stretch. Her naked body on full display and I sure as hell wasn't complaining.

"I can't believe we fell asleep outside, it's fucking freezing." I grumbled, flopping down beside her.

She giggles and it's so freaking sweet. "You're such a sunshine baby."

I roll and drop my dead weight on her.

Bella gasps, "get off me you fat asshole! I can't breathe!"

Flailing her arms, and attempting to push me off - I couldn't help but chuckle and taunt her.

"Aw, poor baby can't breathe? Whatever will you do?" I teased.

"Maddox!" She exclaims, shoving and pushing against my shoulder.

I roll back over and bring her with me.

She glares daggers my way, "you're such a child sometimes."

I shrug, guiding her leg over my waist so she's straddling me, then rest my hands on her thighs.

"You look gorgeous."

Shades of pink and reds rush her chest and cheeks.

"Everyone still asleep?" she asks, looking back at our closed door.

I nod. "Think so."

"Shall we go get some breakfast?" An impish smirk on her plush lips.

✫✬✫

After waiting an hour for Tori to get ready, we were finally on the way to some bakery Bella claimed was the best in NYC.

I don't doubt her taste, I mean, everything she's cooked for me and the guys has been top notch, bursting with flavour.

The walk wasn't far, and I got to see more of the city under a fresh blanket of crisp, white snow. Our boots crunching under us as we made refreshed footprints.

We arrived at the bakery and it was a cute little out the way shop. Fresh bread filled the air and the shelves held an arrangement of loafs, cakes, cream buns, foreign pastries.

"Welcome to Bree's Bakery. What can I get for you guys today?" the perky blonde behind the counter asked, wearing a huge greeting smile, dark eyes looking me up and down.

Sorry, honey. My attention and heart is taken by the feisty brunette next to me. Watch your back and don't let her see you.

Tori ordered and I paid.

Like I'm gonna let my girlfriend pay.

I grabbed our order ten minutes later and we were headed out.

As we stepped outside the bakery in the cold New York weather, Tori had her to go coffee cup wrapped in her tiny hands, assumable to keep them warm.

The steam fogging up the lenses of her black framed glasses slightly, cute button nose a shade of red and her cheeks were flushed pink from the bitterness of the weather. The black woolly hat covering her pert ears, as her dark curls cascaded down her shoulders and over the black fur of her winter coat. She looked so fucking cute. Like my own personal ski bunny.

"The coffees good, huh?" she smirked, looking up at me through her glasses.

I sip and nod at the same time.

Bree's Bakery really did serve some nice freaking coffee.

Before we could take off, a body bumped into Tori, knocking her forward, and into my arms. Just as I was about to go all protective caveman on this jackass, Bella placed her hand on my chest to hold me back. I threw her a confused look to see her face had dripped of any colour, her eyes fixed on the person who bumped her and her chest began to rapidly bounce - even under the thick layers she was wearing, it was still visible.

I follow he gaze onto the bright blonde, olive skinned, green eyed guy in front of us. A couple inches shorter than me and muscular but more of a lean kinda way. Dressed in a grey woolly knee length coat, buttoned up and a red and grey scarf wrapped his neck. Light eyes focused on Tori's.

My stomach is strangled with jealous from the way he's looking at her. It's like no one else exists apart from those two. Before I get the chance to snap Tori out of it she slaps the random guy across the face, his head jerks left but he doesn't budge his body, just turns his head back to her wearing a shit eating grin that reaches his eyes and ears.

The fuck is going on?

"Nice to see you still remember me, sweetie." his voice is smooth and deep, but his tone is taunting.

I don't like it. But I'll wait a second before I lay him out cold.

She raises her hand and slaps him again across the same cheek.

Petit red hand print decorated his hallowed cheeks.

He doesn't seem to care though as a sinister style laugh leaves his throat.

My fist is clenched white the other is squeezing my coffee cup so hard I'm surprised it hasn't split.

"Oh, come on. Why you gotta be like that, Tori?" he smiles, then turns his attention to me, "not going to introduce me to your friend?"

I narrow my eyes and furrow my brows at him. Dick.

"I'm going to break your jaw if you keep talking. You don't look at him, don't even breathe near him. Understand?" she fumes, gritting the words through her teeth. "Stay the hell away from me or be acquainted with my brothers fists again."

The guy purses his lips, a smile curving the left corner. "How is Eli?"

She snorts, "still hates you."

Not that he cares as he responds with a smile and a shrug. "So, you're back? Should we take some more picture while you're here?"

"Jack. Don't talk to me like we're friends, you don't exist to me. You're dead and that's how it's staying." she's so void of any emotion, speaking eerily calm. "wish I could say it was nice seeing you, but, yeah, y'know." she smiles.

Grabbing my arm she tugs me away from the guy and takes off walking down the street.

"You know still love me, Tori! Run all you like!" he called after her.

Then it clicked in my slow working fucking brain.

Jack.

I spun round, threw my coffee cup to the side and tackled him to the cold concrete floor, planting my fist into his jaw, once, twice, three time, four.

It took Bella catching my wrist to stop going in for the fifth time.

"Maddox, please!" she pleaded. "Maddox!"

I can't resist. I lay one last punch to this pricks face then shove him as I stand up. Not even giving him a last look before grabbing Tori's arm and dragging her away from the dick on the floor.

I'm breathing something animalistic. White puffs of air flying from my nose as I keep my hand tightly clung on to Tori's tiny one, ripping her through the hustle and bustle streets of New York.

"Maddox! Slow down, I can't keep up." She whines. "Maddox!"

I grunt then slow down, this isn't her fault. It's that prick Jack's.

Instead of going back to the apartment, Tori keeps walking and leads us to a small, downtown style bar, swinging open the doors and storming through.

Slamming her hand on the bar and ordering us both three tequila shots each.

Shit, she must be rattled after seeing him.

And I wanna know why.

Knocking back the first two, I put my hand over the third.

"What did he do? And what did he mean by pictures?" I challenged her.

Trying to pry the shot from under my hand, I snatch her wrist and hold it against my chest. "Bella. Talk to me."

She's shaking her head, looking everywhere but me. "I don't wanna talk."

"I don't give a shit. I've let you dodge and dive the conversation every time he's come up, I'm no longer running with patience. Tell me, or I'll make Eli." I warn her.

She looks up at me, first she glares, then her hazel eyes soften and twinkle beneath the blue bar lights, "how about this? Let me get drunk, and I'll spill my entire life story." cocking a perfect eye brow, "deal?"

Best offer I'm gonna get. And I'd be a liar if I said I didn't wanna know everything about her.

"Fine." I remove my hand, and she snatches the shot, throwing it back. "Yo. 6 more shots." I call out to the bartender.

It took nine shots of tequila, three whiskies and a beer for her to tell me everything, except what happened with Jack.

Walking back to the apartment, the sun was beginning to set, snow was still falling coating Tori's dark hair with snowflakes. Her eyes were glazed over and hooded. She was white girl wasted.

She's singing loudly into the busy street, not a single fuck given as people gave her the side eye as they passed.

"I can feel your touch, picking me up from the underground, and I don't need my drugs. We could be more than just part time lovers! " she wails into the air, head tipped back and eyes closed.

My arm being the main support to keep her up.

Finally, we reach the apartment, but Tori is half arsed, sliding down the wall and onto the floor outside the door. She looks so sad, eyes welling up as tears rim her bottom lashes.

"He violated me, Hunter." She whispered. "He drugged, touched and recorded it."

My chest caved. My heart stopped. My lungs were constricted. I fell beside her.

Exhaling a large breath, I pulled her into my arms, took the bottle of wine she was nursing and swigged it.

"We dated briefly, it was cool, y'know, but he started to get impatient with me, because I wouldn't sleep with him." she begins, her voice low, she looks off like she's not even here anymore, "After a game we went to a party at his teammates house, it was chaos the entire night, I wanted to call it a night and go home, but Jack wouldn't let me. He said we should stay another hour and then he'd take me home, or unlock his friends bedroom and stay with him for the night."

She takes the bottle out my hand and takes a big gulp, stray tear rolling down her cheek. Swallowing, she places the bottom between her legs and stares at it like it's the most fascinating thing around.

The landing was silent, not even a peep was heard from inside the apartment.

"He didn't take me home, he didn't unlock the door. I pleaded with him to take me home, it was late and everyone was outta their minds. He told me to relax and have another drink. So I did. Anyway, after finishing the drink I started to feel weird, like I couldn't feel my arms and legs, my head was pounding - Jack found me on the staircase and took me upstairs. I was so lucid that I didn't even protest when he started to undress me, I just let him. Then it came to my underwear, he tried to pry my bra off and I hit him, told him to stop, but I only made him angrier." She sighs, looking up at me. "He recorded himself touching me, took pictures of me naked and sent them to his friends on the team. I was so embarrassed, my senior year was ruined and I was known as a baller slut. From that day on I promised myself I'd never go for another baller - basketball, football, baseball, none of them. No jocks, period."

"Until me." I finished for her.

She nods slowly, the tears still straying.

"And that's why you didn't care I took a picture of you when we first had sex?" I asked.

She shrugs. "I trust you." she admits, rolling her head against the wall to face me "So don't give me a reason not too."

"Never, baby."