And considering the options she’s had before were limited as fuck, I’m not surprised she ate the flirting up like the world’s sweetest candy.
But—I may have underestimated just how deep the feeling ran. Because I’ve never witnessed something so intense in my life. I’ve never seen my parents fight. They don’t fight. They would have to care to fight.
I’ve never once been broken up with because I don’t commit to anything to break off. The girls I’ve been with have always known what it was.
So the passion I saw on both of their faces last night—it took me aback. What’s it like to feel that deeply?
I don’t think I’ll ever know.
But I can’t lie and say I didn’t feel at least a little guilty for instigating the whole thing.
And now the guy is sleeping in on a workday. I mean, the sun is actually rising in the sky right now as I stand here in his loft apartment, just staring at him sleeping in his bed.
He’s sprawled out on top of the comforter, still dressed like a psycho. He still has his shoes on, for Christ’s sake. I notice the black eye he’s sporting, and he’s wearing a scowl, even in his sleep.
Kelly sent me up here to wake him up for breakfast. She’s worried. It was written all over her face—not her usual bright smile.
“Get up,” I say loudly, but he doesn’t stir. I huff and walk closer to the bed, kicking the mattress. There’s no frame. He just sleeps on a mattress on the floor of the loftapartment. I guess you can call it that because it does have four walls, but really, it’s just a room with a bed. And what I’m assuming is the world’s smallest bathroom in the corner. “Get up,” I try again.
He groans and shifts a little on the bed, but his eyes stay closed, even the one that isn’t swollen. “Go away.”
“Kelly’s worried about you, and the sun is rising. You can’t let your precious cows wait. They’ll think you’re cheating on them.”
His good eye pops open, and he winces—I’m guessing because the swollen one tried and failed. He sits up, his hand absently going to his black eye. “Very funny.”
I should apologize for last night.
Should. But don’t. “Let’s go.”
He stands up and then makes his way to the door in the corner, tugging it open and walking inside. I was right about it being a bathroom, and he doesn’t even bother closing the door as he takes his morning piss. I see him walk to the sink and wash his hands before he brushes his teeth.
As he walks back into the room, he looks like death, lifting his shirt up and off before walking over to the rickety old dresser next to his bed. I try to ignore the way his back muscles move, but it’s kind of distracting.
Not because it’s hot or anything, but I can appreciate a good physique. His body is different from the guys I knew who spent hours in their home gyms going overboard. But every muscle is heavily defined from hours of hard labor out on the farm.
His biceps are massive, and I find myself watching as they flex. When he turns around, I stare far too long at the way his stomach muscles move and the light trail of dark blond hair going from his belly button into the hem of his jeans.
He pulls a shirt on, and I’d like to say the trance breaks, but it still takes me a second to actually look away, hoping I pull off a bored expression. I don’t really know what the hell that was.
“What are you looking at?” he asks, and damn.Busted.
I finally get it together and switch over to casual disinterest, shrugging my shoulders. “Just trying to find out what the beautiful Lucy ever saw in you.”
I can feel the rage coming, his good eye glaring at me and his nostrils flaring, but I remain calm and walk slowly off. Takingmy time to climb down the ladder and jump down onto the barn floor. I hear him behind me as I push open the barn doors and walk out into the fresh country air.
That part isn’t so bad about being here.
“Don’t you dare ever say her name to me again,” I hear from behind me and spin around to look at him, keeping my expression bored.
“Look, I just mean the girl is beautiful and sweet.” I sweep a hand in an upward motion from his chest to his face. “And you...”
He grabs my collar and pulls me to him. I startle for a moment. Not because I’m scared—not even close. My entire body goes on full alert at the close contact with him. At the seething rage I see in his expression. The passion.
Our faces are close together, and for a moment—just a brief moment—I think about what it would be like if he took all that passion and turned it into something besides anger.Would I want that?
My dick says yes.Which is... not ideal.
Not because he’s a guy—but because it’s this guy. A guy who looks pretty homicidal right now.
