So much for hating everything he stood for. If I wasn’t so wasted, there was no doubt I’d be sporting wood. And hell, even now, I was resisting the urge to drop to my knees and properly thank him for his generosity.
“I think I left my hoodie at Jordan’s apartment.”
Jack’s brow furrowed, and he drew in a few slow, deep breaths. “You can get it back from him tomorrow.”
“You don’t understand. I have no way to get into my place.”
Jack’s right hand slid down my chest before he reached into his own pocket. My eyes grew wide when I saw my key ring dangling from his fingers.
“I knew it was time to get you out of there.”
I closed my eyes, replaying the end of the night, trying to figure out how he’d gotten my keys. Oh yeah, I’d practically dared him to dig in my jeans for them
“Sorry, I guess I forgot.”
After tucking the keys back into his pocket, he reached up and threaded his fingers through my hair. “You confuse me, Slade. You run so hot and cold, it’s hard to keep up with you.”
“You think that’s bad, you should try living in my head,” I blurted out. Instantly, I wished I could take back the words. I really needed to learn how to keep my mouth shut.
Jack cupped my cheek, tilting my head back so I had no choice but to look at him. “Don’t ever hide from me, Slade. I know it’s difficult for you, but there are people who would love nothing more than to help you.”
I shook my head as my eyes drifted closed. God, how I wished that was true. But when you allowed other people to help you, they either expected something in return, or they would cut you off the second you didn’t toe the line they had drawn.
“Look at me, Slade.”
Even my case of whiskey dick was unable to ignore that command. My cock twitched in my pants, but I didn’t grow hard. What I did do, however, was open my eyes to find him staring at me.
“Where did you go just then?” He turned to face me, erasing every inch of distance between our bodies.
I inhaled sharply, wishing I knew the name of the cologne he was wearing. I wanted to find it and spray it on my pillows at night so I could remember this one. Long after Jack dumped me into my apartment and took off, I wouldn’t forget how he had watched over me when I was too far gone to take care of myself.
“I’m a huge pain in the ass,” I admitted. Jack threw his head back and laughed. I smacked his chest, allowing my hands to linger over his heart. “I’m serious, Jack. And I know you were just trying to be nice by giving me a ride home. You don’t have to pretend it’s anything other than a random act of kindness.”
“Let’s get one thing straight, boy.” His hand slid around to the back of my neck, the tips of his fingers digging into my flesh. How in the hell was he so warm when it was cold as balls tonight? “There are very few things I will do out of obligation. I’m not here because I pity you or because I thought you needed to be rescued. I am not standing out here, freezing my ass off, because I was doing a favor for my brother’s boyfriend.”
“Then why are you here?” I pressed my chest against his, craning back so I could still look at him. His eyes fluttered and then closed as he bent down.
“You’re going to be the death of me,” he muttered under his breath a split second before his lips pressed against mine. I whimpered, my lips parting, inviting him to take things further. Now, I regretted drinking so much for an entirely different reason. Jack struck me as the type of man who wouldn’t allow anything to happen while I was inebriated. And once I sobered up, my brain would engage again, and I would run for the hills.
Jack pulled away, frowning. Well, that was one way to keep a guy’s ego in check. I tried taking a step back, but Jack tightened his grip on the nape of my neck.
“Don’t run from me, boy,” he commanded. “And don’t sit there assuming you know anything about my motivations or what I’m thinking.”
“You have to admit, seeing the guy who just kissed you, frowning, isn’t reassuring,” I told him.
Jack scrubbed a hand over his face. “I’m not doing this with you tonight, Slade. Not when you’re drunk.”
No, no, no. He was not going to do this. Didn’t he understand it had to be tonight? Didn’t he realize that a drunk mind spoke the truth we were too scared to admit when we were sober? At least mine did.
This time when I took a step back, I twisted my body, so Jack had no choice but to release me. I held out a hand. “I can get it from here.”
Jack didn’t respond, other than to walk to the front door of my building. He grumbled something under his breath and shook his head before pushing open the door. “You should live in a safer building. They need to have a security door at the very least. This isn’t a great neighborhood.”
“Yeah, well, shit like that costs money. If they worried about security, then they’d jack up the rent, and that would make this building unaffordable for the type of people who are willing to live here.”
“And what type of people is that?” Jack held open the door and ushered me inside. I didn’t look back as I walked down the hall to my apartment. For the first time in a while, I was truly ashamed of where I lived.
With Jack, I couldn’t bring myself to get defensive. He was intense, but there was a sincerity in his concern. He might not like my living arrangements, but I didn’t get the impression he was judging me. I stopped in front of my door and waited until Jack turned the key. Before he could push the door open, I placed a hand over his.
