“Damn right. You’re King Grudge, dude. You don’t let shit go. We were in a good place and there was no chance in hell I was going to ruin it. Not for her. I thought she was out of our lives for good.”
I’m on Josh the next second, knocking him from his chair. Shocked gasps resound throughout the restaurant.
“I’m sorry.”
“Not good enough.” I jerk him up by his shirt and throw him onto a nearby table. The occupants scream and scramble for cover.
“Fight back!” I yell.
He rights himself. “No.”
I tackle him, sending us both crashing through the big glass window. I come to my senses and push to my feet first.
“Get the fuck out of Florida before I commit first-degree murder.” I wave towards the broken window. “And you’re paying for this.”
I have to devise a plan to lure Cin away from her guardians. It’s not my fault Josh didn’t speak up until now. She’s not perfect. We’ll both need to get over the past and focus on our future.
After some convincing, Anneli picked Mom and the boys up and left for North Carolina without me. They’re afraid Art will find out I’m home by myself, but I alleviated their fears by promising to stay inside and keep my car in the garage. Visiting family in a sour mood wouldn’t be fair to anyone. I’m not very jovial this holiday season. I’d rather wallow in sorrow alone. The pain of losing Art has knocked me on my ass. For the most part, I spend my days crying. I try to put on a strong face for Sebastian and Mason, but it hasn’t been easy. More than a few times I’ve stopped myself from calling him. I miss Art so damn much. It hurts to be with him, and it hurts to be without him, so either way I’m fucking screwed. My soul whispers to me that we’re two pieces of one unit and cannot be separated, but my mind says the exact opposite. Logically speaking, we make as much sense as an antelope and a lion being together. Ultimately, one is destined to kill the other. I’m also horny all the time.
When the house has settled down for the night and all is quiet, I slide my hands between my thighs, imagining his mouth on my clit. It just scratches the surface of my itch, nowhere near sating my carnal needs. Though I’ve been lying in bed since sunset, I’m wide awake. Sleep eludes me. It’s become a luxury hard to come by these days.
Finally, I begin to doze off to sleep, but a creaking sound startles me. Sitting up, I glance towards the doorway.
Get a grip, Cin. You’re hearing things because you’re tired and this is the first time you’ve stayed the night in the house on your own.
Suddenly, a figure shrouded in darkness enters my bedroom. Alarmed, I leap from the bed and scream at the top of my lungs.
“Calm down.” Art’s deep timbre washes over me, sending shivers coursing down my spine.
I click on the lamp, and my eyes eagerly eat him up. He’s dressed in all black. His T-shirt clings to impressive muscles, and jeans encase his strong legs. “What the fuck are you doing here?”
“Claiming what’s mine.”
My treacherous pussy throbs, betraying me. God… his words make me want to lie down and spread open for him. But I won’t fall under his spell.
“I’m not yours.” I backpedal as he advances.
“Your nipples tell the truth while your mouth speaks lies.” Art reaches out and rubs a taut nipple through my thin cami top. “Your body knows who it belongs to.”
I bite my bottom lip, moaning in ecstasy from his simple touch.
“You’ve hidden from me for nearly three weeks. That’s how long you’ll be on your back, getting fucked.”
The wall stops my retreat. He dips his head into the crook of my neck, grinding his heavy erection against me while licking along my rapidly beating pulse.
“No,” I whisper, pushing him back, accomplishing the feat only because he lets me.
“Is that your final answer?”
“Yes.”
“Do you think I’m going to accept that?”
“You have to.”
“Wrong.” He holds up a syringe.
Reacting instantaneously, I elbow him in the face and a battle ensues. I’m wrestled to the bed, quickly subdued by his powerful thighs straddling my chest and pinning my arms to the sides.
