Hell, I could be a nice guy and let it go. I could even take up the offer of whatever poky box of an apartment she’d so sweetly offered. But I wasn’t nice. I always walked where I shouldn’t. And when it came to this gorgeous and insecure girl who thought she was too old for me, I had no qualms about not being fuckingnice.
“So you think it’s wrong, me wanting you?”
“Yes.”
The fact that she said it without hesitation twisted my stomach.
“And I have a date. Tomorrow,” she added.
Irritation surged through me. No more, I was done playing.
“I see.” I eyed her for a second. “Okay, then. One kiss. Can’t hurt, right, with you dating someone else?” I killed the end bit of my smoke on a nearby wrought iron table and tossed it away. “And I want it all, Logan, since it’s probably the only thing I’ll get from you.” Sliding my hands into my pockets, I rocked on my heels and waited.
“You’re crazy!” She spun and headed back for the stairs.
“Scared?” My soft word floated in the night. Accusing.
She stopped dead. A low growl escaping her, she pivoted and stomped back to me. Grabbing my tee, she yanked me down to her and slammed her mouth on mine.
It wasn’t the kiss I wanted, but it pierced me all the way to my hardened heart.
Before she pulled away, I slid my arms around her waist. “Not so fast. That’s not the kiss I want—this is.”
Gently, I slid my mouth across hers, and she stilled. I kissed along her jaw, nipping her lightly on her stubborn little chin. Her breath caught. I’d probably shocked her by not simply taking my kiss. But I wanted her, and no fucking obstructions she put in my path would stop me.
Finally, I moved my mouth back to hers, nibbling and licking the lush lower lip while my hands stayed on her hips, not daring to move any higher or lower. I wanted to crack through the shell she wore around me, not have her running again. I wanted the grins she gave those idiot posers. All her smiles belonged to me.
“Open, Logan,” I murmured, sucking on her full lower lip. Angling my head, I increased the pressure, my tongue stroking the seam of her mouth. She inhaled sharply, her lips parted. I deepened the kiss, licking inside, stroking her tongue with mine. A low moan escaped her, and she sank into me, as if trusting me to hold her if she fell.
I slipped my hand beneath her tank and stroked the smooth skin of her back, pulling her even closer. When she sucked on my tongue, my heart expanded…
Suddenly, she pulled away. Her eyes were huge, and she stared at me as if in shock. Then she was gone.
Goddammit! I jammed my fingers through my hair in frustration. What the hell would it take for her to admit she fucking wanted me, too?
Chapter Seven
Max
I groaned and sat up on the couch, dropping my feet to the floor, the sheets sliding to my waist. I rubbed my face and winced at the pain in my jaw. Not my smartest move, letting that hood get in a hit. My eyes were raw and gritty. Sleep had eluded me for most of the night again, and my head ached this morning, hot nails pounding into my skull.
Three days of resisting pain meds. Enough. I needed relief, or I’d be a vicious bastard to anyone who attempted to talk to me.
I retrieved the pills from my tote and swallowed two. Hoping a cold shower would ease the pounding in my head—worsened by last night’s events—I trudged upstairs for the bathroom.
Ten minutes later, a towel slung low on my hips, hands clenching the basin, I stared into the mirror. The bruises on my brow and knuckles barely registered, my mind slipping back to last night. Hell, it was all I thought about since sleep evaded me.
Fists clenching, I left the bathroom, only to bump into Logan leaving her room. Then I remembered she’d have to go back to work and stare at pencil-dick’s naked body. Not in the mood to hash this out again, I walked past her.
She grasped my arm. “Max, wait.”
“I’m late.” Yeah, my run time was very important, because if I stayed, with this crater deepening inside me, I might just do or say something I’d later regret.
A shocked gasp escaped her. “Your face—”
Obviously, she hadn’t noticed the bruises last night. “I’m fine.” I leveled her with a stare, dared her to ask why I’d gotten into a fight.
“No, you’re not. Your jaw’s bruised, your brow’s split. Let me see to it—”
