"Well, you changed your clothes." I shrugged. "I figured your balls got too heavy and maybe ripped your pants or something, and that's why you had to change your clothes."
When Jack started to reach for me, I stuck out my chin and gave him a glare that basically dared him to follow through with whatever he was thinking of doing.
Jack growled again, spun, and stalked out of the room.
"He is going to kill you one of these days," Ian said. "You know that, right?"
"Yeah." I grinned as I winked at Ian. "But I'll go out in a blaze of glory."
Ian chuckled as he shook his head. "You do like to live dangerously, my friend."
I wiggled my eyebrows.
It wasn't so much that I liked to live dangerously, but more that I derived great satisfaction from yanking Jack's chain. I had no idea why. Every time I knew I was going to see Jack, I promised myself I'd behave, and the moment he came into view, my promise went straight to hell. It was petty, but I just couldn't seem to help myself.
"Jack's not a bad guy, you know."
"I know." Hank wouldn't allow him anywhere around Ian if he was. "He's just so fun to mess with."
Ian snickered. "Your funeral, man."
I'd heard that before.
"I'm going to go up and get some sleep. Wake me if anything happens."
"Can do," Ian replied.
I'd been driving all day long after running through the woods. I needed to close my eyes, even if it was just for a few hours. I trudged up the stairs and headed for the room I usually used when I was here.
I'd have to ask Ian if he had something I could borrow to wear in the morning. My clothes were a little rank, and I didn't relish putting them back on, especially since I planned to take a shower before going to bed. There was no way I was climbing into those nice clean sheets smelling the way I did.
I was starting to offend myself.
I was really glad Ian and Hank had a house with guest rooms. I liked having my own space when I came to visit and it was better than sleeping on the couch.
I went straight for the connected bathroom when I got upstairs. I stripped my clothes off, dropping them on the floor, then climbed into the shower. I didn't realize how sore I actually was until I turned the shower on and stood under the hot water.
I have no idea how long I stood there. I didn't really care. I knew Ian had installed an extra large water heater so he and Hank could take showers together. There was plenty of hot water.
Still, I eventually had to stop just standing there and wash up. I wasn't positive just how much longer I could stay on my feet. I grabbed the shampoo and washed my hair then scrubbed down my body. I couldn't believe how good it felt to get all that road grime off my body, not to mention whatever I'd picked up during my run through the forest.
I turned off the shower then reached for a towel. I dried off as best as I could then reached for another towel. I wrapped it around my hips, tucking the end of the towel in so it wouldn't fall off. I was in my own room, so I wasn't too worried about it, but still, things happened.
I groaned when I looked in the mirror. I had a delightful set of dark bags forming under my eyes. I knew it came from exhaustion, but yuck. I did not look good.
I brushed my teeth. Ian kept a box of spare ones under the sink just for guests. He also kept spray-on deodorant, toothpaste, and cologne in the same small mesh box. He was a very good host.
Knowing the best thing to get the bags forming under my eyes to go away was to get some sleep, I headed for the bedroom and the dreamy bed just waiting for me to sink into.
I grunted as I was grabbed just as I stepped into the bedroom and slammed into the wall next to the bathroom door. For a moment, a brief breath, fear strangled my ability to do anything except panic. But that same breath was enough to tell me who had me pinned to the wall.
I relaxed, knowing I wasn't in danger.
"Something you wanted to say, Jack? You could have just told me over breakfast."
Jack's upper lip curled back as he leaned in close enough for me to feel his hot breath blowing out across my skin. "You need to stop disrespecting me." His voice was cold and exact.
I narrowed my eyes as I looked at him. "You want my respect? You earn it."
