“No,” he mumbles, rubbing absently at the back of his smacked hand.
My stomach twists and my lip lifts.
“What the hell,” I say low and grab his wrist to inspect the red mark blossoming across his tawny skin. Guilt scrapes along the bottom of my stomach and I roll my eyes.Why do I do this to myself?“I’m sorry.”
His hand grows warm in my grip, and I resist the urge to tighten it when he pulls away.
“Just startled me is all.”
Huffing, I look him over once more before turning back to the trail. At this rate, it’ll be nightfall soon, and we won’t be any closer to the post.
He follows me in an odd silence that grates on my nerves more than his chatting did.
“Look,” I snap when his lack of chatting does the fucking opposite I want it to, and spin on him. “I said I was sorry. Can we move on now?”
His face scrunches up, curls framing the shitty look staring up at me.
“And why do you assume any of this is about you? Narcissistic much?” he snaps back with hurt he hides with his snark.
I growl low and long and though he keeps that shitty look on his face, I watch it become forced. The façade slips. Mask falling.
“Then hold your hand out.”
“Ew, no.” He leans away from me, hand cradled to his chest like it’s a precious thing in need of protection from me.
He’d be right. He does—it.It does.
“Amo,” I growl and open my palm to him, my eyes narrowed to slits. “Show me you trust me.Hand.”
The muscles in the corners of his jaw feathers, his eyes bouncing all over the place like he doesn’t know where to look. What to think. How to respond.
Goddammit, he’s too youngto know what he wants.
Which means he doesn’t realize what a sexy little thing he is, either.
Thin features, wild curls to his chin on one side, golden skin that would look so good beneath my hands. Reddened from my grip. Blossoming from my bite.
Clicking my tongue when he stands still as a statue, I pat the flush on his cheek. It grows redder, hotter, a reaction that has my balls clenching.
“Knew you wouldn’t be able to follow instruction.”
His lips smack open and I have to turn away from him to hide my chuckle.
He’s too easy.
“What kind of fucking instruction is that? You were gonna smack me!Hey, come back here.”
Chapter 3
Fuck the Man
Amo
What a fuckin’ jerk.
A real goddamnjerk.
No wonder no one ever wants to be around his handsy ass.
