Kendall Ryan - When I Break

Knox Bauers life has unraveled to the point of no return. Fighting to fill the emptiness inside himself, he seeks solace in unfamiliar beds with unfamiliar women. As guardian to his three younger brothers, he cant seem to do anything right. But this cant go onthey look up to him in every way, and all hes done lately is prove how messed up he really is. Needing a change, he attends a local Sex Addicts Anonymous meeting, where he finds himself tempted by the wholesome yet alluring instructor, McKenna.

Twenty-one-year-old McKenna is trying to make amends. After losing her parents in a horrific accident, she knows if she can just be good enough, maybe she can forgive herself for what happened. With her newly acquired degree in counseling, she begins leading a sex addicts group where she meets the troubled Knox, and her life takes on complications she never bargained for. She doesnt have time for a bad boy who only wants to take her to bed, even if her body disagrees. The fixer in her wants to help, but trusting Knoxs true motivations might take more courage than she has.

When I Break is Book 1 in a new series by best-selling author Kendall Ryan.

Warning:

Contains a stubborn alpha male with addiction issues and loads of sexual tension between two damaged characters. Read at your own risk.

Due to mature content, it is recommended for ages 17+.

Knox

Pain exploded in my hand and I fell back onto the scuffed wooden floor. I stared down at the blood dripping from my shredded knuckles, and it took me a moment to place the shrill noise coming from behind me.

Knox! a girl screamed.

She knew my name, but I couldnt remember hers.

The girls voice wasnt familiar. Probably because we hadnt done much talking when I brought her home last night. I wondered if the screams and moans she let out during sex would be more familiar to me. Probably not; I was pretty wasted when wed gotten here.

Through blurry eyes, I looked at the girl for the first time, trying to remember where Id picked her up. At the moment she was topless and wearing only a glittery pink thong. Images of her shaking her ass in that thong flooded my brain.

Tears welled in her eyes and she crept closer to me. Are you okay?

The G-string she wore jogged my memory. Lap dancedollar billsshots of Cuervo burning a wicked path down my throat until my mind was just where I needed it. Oblivion.

Knox, oh my God. What did you do? She looked down, inspecting my hand more closely.

I closed my eyes for a moment, willing her to quiet down before she woke up my brothers. When I opened them again, I looked down and took stock of myself, naked and sitting sprawled on my bedroom floor. It wasnt one of my finer moments. I straightened my fingers, then hissed through clenched teeth as I inspected my injured hand in the dim light. Shit. I wasnt sure if it was broken, but it throbbed like a bitch.

Im fine, I bit out. My heart pounded in my chest and I was breathless, as if Id just finished running a sprint. Blood smears painted the wall where Id taken out my aggression, and a ragged hole gaped in the drywall. As I took deep breaths, trying to calm myself, I realized Id been having a dream about what I would do to my father if I ever saw him again.

Do you want me to get you something for the pain? the girl asked.

A distant memory flooded my brain, probably what brought on the nightmare in the first place. Images of my leg, broken and twisted when Id fallen from a tree as a boy, suddenly came back to me. I remember putting on a brave face when my dad referred to pain pills as bitch mints.

I shook my head. No, Im fine. I didnt need them then and I didnt need them now.

The girl sucked her lower lip into her mouth, her eyes welling with tears. There was nothing I hated more than seeing a girl cry.

Come here. I reached my good hand toward her.

Her expression wary, she crawled over to where I sat on the floor. When I rose to my knees and stroked my lengthening dick, her eyes locked onto my movements, darting back and forth between my face, my bloodied hand, and my cock, trying to understand what I wanted.

Come suck me off. Yeah, it was a dick move, but it was the only thing that would calm me down right now. It was either that or liquor, and I knew my cabinets would be empty. If Id gone out earlier, it was most likely for alcohol, pussy, or both.

She frowned. What about your hand?

Fuck my hand, I ground out. I want your lips around my cock.

Wordlessly she obeyed, crawling the rest of the way toward me and leaning down to take me in her mouth. I fisted my bloodied hand in her hair, watching the curve of her back as she moved up and down over me, liking the feel of raw power and satisfaction it gave me.

Within minutes, I tapped her on the shoulder and she moved away as I finished with my hand, spurting into her open mouth. Good girl. I petted her hair and she blinked up at me.

I rose and headed into the bathroom to clean myself off. You can go now, I called out to her where she still sat on the floor, looking confused.

But its three in the morning.

I dont care. Get the fuck out. You got what you came for. I tossed the bloodied towel to the bathroom floor and inspected my hand. The skin was torn at the knuckles, but nothing felt broken as I spread my fingers apart and rotated my wrist. Id live.

You dont have to be such an asshole, she yelled, gathering up her clothes and dressing hastily. Theres something wrong with you, you know that?

Her hurt expression should have caused me to feel something. Remorse, regret, sympathysomething. But my battered body and fucked-up mind had stopped responding to normal human emotions years ago. I lived according to my baser instincts now. It was just easier that way.

I know, I murmured. There was more wrong with me than shed ever know.

The following morning I woke up late, my hand still throbbing. Crawling from bed, I twisted open a bottle of Jack that Id found conveniently tucked under my pillow and took a healthy swig, then tucked it back under my pillow for safekeeping. I might be a mess, but I didnt want my younger brothers to pick up my nasty habits.

My cell phone vibrated from the rickety table by the door. The cell phone was new, as was my number, so I couldnt figure out who might be calling me. I glanced at the screen. Fuck. It was my therapists office, reminding me of my appointment that afternoon. The last thing I wanted to do was go in and talk to some dickhead therapist about my feelings. But it was all part of my plea bargain. I had my choice: therapy or jail. Fucking DUI.

It just didnt seem fair. Id tried to do all the right things since our father leftI worked hard all week, took care of my brothers, and paid the bills. But when I sought a little relief during my free time, I always found myself in a pile of shit.

But I couldnt think about that right now. If I did, Id start drinking and either show up drunk to my first appointment, or not show up at all. Neither of which was a good option.

When I arrived at the office, the soft music and scattered couches in the waiting room already had me on edge. I didnt want to be here. Knowing I didnt have much of a choice, I approached the receptionist at the desk, a meek little thing with brown hair pulled into a ponytail. Big green eyes looked straight up at me.