She licked her lips, but didn't answer. She could believe it. Boy, could she ever.
"Did you go to the cops?"
He nodded. "I did--but I'll be honest. It was a close call. Brian's damn lucky to have any bones in his face."
She swallowed, quite certain that wasn't meant as a figure of speech. "Why didn't you?"
One shoulder rose and fell as he made a derisive noise in the back of his throat. "Because it was on me, too. I trusted him. Gave him way too much control. And I didn't pay attention. I'll toss the law at him under those circumstances, but since I was negligent, too, he got to keep his face. But damn, do I wish I had another excuse to put the fucker in the ground."
Her chest tightened. She knew damn well that if he ever found out the truth, she'd be that excuse.
"My turn, Angel," he said, his voice laced with gentleness. "What happened to you?"
Her blood turned to ice. "What do you mean?"
"You can tell me it's none of my business if you want to, but if we're going to keep sleeping together, then I think maybe it is. Am I right?"
She studied her fingernails.
"It's okay." He laid his hand over hers. "I'm not going to push. But if someone hurt--"
"I was roofied." She looked up to see pure rage burning in his eyes, seeping into his skin, so thick it seemed to come off him in waves.
He pulled his hand back, then clenched it into a fist so tight that when he relaxed, she saw the indentions in his palms. "Who?"
One word, and yet it held all of her pain. And the promise of painful retribution.
She thought of Brian. Of what Spencer had just told her. "I--I don't know."
His brows rose.
"I was at a party," she lied. "There was a guy and he was chatting me up. Then he got me a drink and--"
She pressed her lips together but kept her eyes wide open to fight back the tears. Stupid, foolish tears after all this time.
"Did he tie you up? I saw how you looked at the bed," he added hurriedly. "In the hotel."
She shook her head. "No. At least, I don't think so. He didn't--hurt me."
"The hell he didn't."
She laughed mirthlessly. "Well, you know what I mean. I didn't have cuts or bruises. And I didn't catch anything."
"He raped you."
"Yes." He stole her control. Violated her trust. Destroyed a friendship.
For a moment, Spencer simply breathed, and she saw the pain in his eyes along with the hint of tears. And seeing it, she almost lost her shit all over again.
"I'm okay now," she said, taking his hand, giving him back the comfort that seeing his anger and pain had given her. "Truly."
"No," he said gently, taking her chin and tilting her head up to look at him. "You're not. But I'd like to help. Is there anything I can do to make it better?"
"You already do," she said honestly, her chest swelling from the tenderness in his eyes. "But maybe right now you could kiss me."
Something like regret flickered in his eyes. "I don't think this is the kind of thing I can kiss and make better. But, Angel," he added, pulling her close, "I'm definitely willing to try."
Chapter Sixteen