18
CHARLI
“C’mon, get up,”a soft voice coaxed, awakening me from my sleep with little kisses of pleasure trailing along my nape. “Let’s go.”
“Go where?” I mumbled, refusing to open my eyes.
“For a run.”
I was so sure my foggy mind deceived me, or maybe I’d become hearing impaired during the night. Well, Ihadcried out many times because this man of mine sure knew how to make me scream after we got back to the beach house yesterday.
“I did enough exercise last night,” I grumbled, burrowing my head under my pillow.
Soft laughter broke free, and it eased me, especially after what happened at his foster father’s house. “It’s why I want to build your strength, then we can go all night long.”
He had to be freakin’ kidding me.
My cell on the nightstand vibrated.
“Aren’t you gonna answer that?” he asked.
“No.” It was probably my mother. I wasn’t ready to deal with her so early in the morning.
“It’s annoying.”
“Good.”
He laughed, and the ringing stopped.
The next instant, it beeped.
“Hell, your caller’s persistent.” He reached for the device, and I sighed, enjoying his weight on me, then he stilled. It was like lead had fallen over me. I turtled my head out from under my pillow. He moved off me, and as I turned over, he dropped the phone on my chest.
Frowning, I picked it up and glanced at the display. And a single line of text flashed.
Babe, I’m sorry.
Not my mother, but the number was familiar. I bit back a curse and deleted the text.
“How often does he call you?”
Crap. War knew who it was. “Twice. I don’t know what he wants.”
“Youdidn’t getthatafter he waylaid you in town a few days ago and kissed you?” He got off the bed and stalked to the bathroom.
Dammit. Because I was with War now, a known sports star, he wanted me back?
The jackass. The urge to kick Craig in the nuts grew. I scrambled off the bed and hurried into the bathroom. War stood near the basin, in his boxer briefs, brushing his teeth.
I swept back my heavy fall of curly hair and stopped at his side. “War, look, I don’t care what he wants. He hurt me deeply with his cheating—”
War spat out the foam, rinsed his mouth. “Yes, because you were in love with him while I forced you to be with me. Big difference.”
Christ, I rubbed my temples. This wasn’t helping at all. No, I hadn’t said anything last evening about my full feelings for him—that I loved him, too—I didn’t want him thinking I only said it because I felt sorry for him or some such crap after he revealed his past to me. Maybe, I made a mistake waiting?
“Perhaps, it was how it started with us. But not now. Not anymore. I like being with you, I—”
“I’m going for my run.” He stalked off. No invite to join him again.
