No one ever said I was nice.
“How’s school?” I asked, changing the subject. My mind was made up, and she knew it.
“I’m liking it. It keeps my mind busy. Thinking about asking Asher for a waitressing job. Marta said I should come to the club, and I thought it was a stupid idea at first, but then thought about how I hate being home ...”
A growl bubbled in my chest, but I did my best to tamp it down. “It’s my club, babe. You can ask me.”
“Would you say yes?”
“Nope.”
“That’s why I’m going to ask Ash. He’ll say yes.”
I shook my head in disbelief, annoyance rushing through my veins, anger boiling in my blood. “Lynx, you’re not waiting tables in my club. You want a job? Get an internship or apply at one of the boutiques. You’ve spent enough time with your goods on display.”
“I thought you ran a reputable place.”
“I do, but you’re fucking mine. In case you hadn’t noticed, I’ve been holding my heart in a bulletproof case for you since you disappeared. I put up with certain shit before, and now I’m not.”
“You didn’t really,” she said, stumbling over her words.
“Didn’t really what? Put up with certain shit? Damn straight I did.” My blood pressure was shooting up, pressure pounding in my temples. This whole lazy morning was heading in a direction I didn’t like.
“I mean, you didn’t exactly hold all of your heart.” She flicked her hair behind her, the whooshing mimicking the air rushing out of my lungs.
“No, not exactly,” I said in self-disgust. “It wasn’t a smart thing, but Marta knew the score and I was lonely. Fuck it, I was an ass, lonely or not.”
“I don’t really care. No one, including me, knew if I was ever coming back. Now, I’m back and I’m a mess.”
“I care,” I said in a whisper that came out hoarse. “I knew it was wrong. Felt it deep in my gut, but part of me wanted to save Marta in a way I didn’t save you.”
“Whatever. Plus, you put up with all that other certain stuff, so I guess we’re even,” she said, tossing my own words back at me.
My truck veered right into the curb as I yanked it over. “Don’twhateverme. I hate myself for doing it. Probably will never forgive myself. And if you don’t, I get it.”
“Well, it’s not like I wasn’t with Zayid, so it doesn’t matter.”
“He was a job. A mission to find Sammy. Marta was more ... I cared for her. Not in the same way I love you, but she was—”
“Is,” Lynx said, correcting me.
“Isa friend, and she knew where my heart belonged. With you.”
I traced her jawline with my thumb, my hand shaking. “I know what you’re doing, this push-pull shit. You’re not damaged goods, or whatever you’ve talked yourself into believing.”
Her gaze remained cast downward, but I could feel her pulse beating throughout her body.
“You’re a beautiful woman, even more beautiful on the inside, life beating vibrantly through you. And you’re mine.”
I didn’t wait for a response. I was sick of waiting.
Wanting.
Begging.
Searching.
Leaning in, I replaced my thumb with my lips, running the length of her jaw and back, up her cheek and over her lips. Closed mouth, my lips melded to hers, and I inhaled deeply, breathing my fill.
