I sure wish they did. The butterflies in my stomach agree, but I can’t get the look on his face out of my head. The one he donned after he came inside me and made me cry, then kicked me out.
This isn’t the man for me.
“No, friends don’t kiss,” I say firmly, stepping back. “You said you could handle it.”
“I’m just trying to figure out the rules, baby girl. I’ll do whatever you want me to do.”
Again, my stomach flips at the pet name. “Then the rules are as follows: my name is Alaina, we do not touch, and from the moment we walk out of here, we’re long distance acquaintances.”
He’s frowning again, but something about the expression that comes across his face tells me he’s far from giving up. “Am I allowed to have a rule too?”
No.
“Of course.”
“Use my number.” He steps closer, but this time he seems to be moving toward the exit. “Long distance acquaintances check in with each other.”
So he’s putting it on me. Good. “I’m fairly busy at the moment, but I will. Thanks for coming, Bash. I hated the way that all went down.”
He’s not leaving happy, but I can tell that is something we both agree on. “Me either. That’s not me, okay? I won’t pretend that type of asshole isn’t inside ofme, but that’s not who I want to be. I shouldn’t have bred you without your consent.”
That’s the part that bothers him? It takes all of the energy I have left not to roll my eyes. “Well, at least we got it out of our systems. It wasn’t exactly the ending I’d have preferred, but still.”
“Right,” he agrees sarcastically. “Out of your system. Got it. Use the damn number, Alaina. I may not be allowed to kiss you, but I’m allowed to call you out and tell you not to be hard-headed. What else are friends for, hmm?”
“Hard-headed? Bash, I came to talk to you. You shoved me face-first against a wall, fucked me, bred me, made me cry, then kicked me out with your cum running down my thighs. I had to drive home like that. After care? Never heard of her. So yeah, it’s out of my system. Sorry.”
Pushing past him, I mumble out loud to myself about entitled rockstars until he grabs my hand and tugs me back. “No,I’msorry. I keep fucking this up.”
He presses his forehead against mine in a way that’s not friendly at all, and I could murder my own nervous system for immediately resorting to shock. Fuck fightor flight, apparently my trauma response is as it's always been — shaking like a fucking leaf. “I’m sorry. It’s been a really tough day for me, some of the people here had worse stories than I do. I’m a little on edge.”
“And I take it that’s not something friends can help with?”
He brushes his thumpb along my jaw and lifts my gaze to meet his.
God, he’s beautiful. Those orange eyes burn holes right through me and make me forget what it felt like to leave his trailer that night, to leave the dinner in disgrace.
“What are you doing to me, Bash?”
“I could ask you the same thing,” he whispers, leaning in to ghost his lips against mine, and when I don’t immediately pull away, he takes it as consent to kiss me.
He holds my face with both hands as he deepens it, his tongue dancing with mine until every part of me gives into him. I shouldn’t, I know that, but this feels good in a way nothing else has.
I need this, and if he’s willing to give it, who am I to complain?
Chapter Seventeen:
The Death Of Peace Of Mind
Alaina
Kicking the door shut behind me, I wrap my arms around his neck and suck his tongue between my teeth. It’s not lost on me that I seem to keep wearing outfits with easy access when Bash is around, but in my defense, I didn’t know he was going to show up today when I woke up and put on this dress. Now, I’m grateful.
His fingers leave goosebumps behind as he slides his hands along my thighs, a groan leaving him when he grips my panties and begins to tug them down.
When his lips trail down my throat, I bare it without question. He’s good at this, so good, and I deserve it.
”Bash,” I whisper, fumbling with his belt as I drop to my knees. “Make me forget.”
