“You’re too young to talklike that,” Fox said, as though he was a wise old sage dispensing advice from amountain top. I knew he’d seen a lot, and done a lot, but…
I didn’t want to beangry at him. Iwasn’tangry at him.
He was right. The way myuncle treated me wasn’t fair. Butlifewasn’t fair. I’dalways known that.
Putting up and shutting upwas the only path forward, as far as I could see, and I didn’t need thereminder that it was painful.
“I didn’t mean to yell atyou,” I said, the adrenaline of being grabbed by my uncle starting to fadeback. “I…I’msorry. You didn’t do anythingwrong.”
“But you don’t need alecture,” Fox repeated. “I know. And you’re right. You’re not a child or anidiot. I just don’t want to see you hurting.”
“He’s gone.” I shrugged. “And…you make things easier. I think he’s even a little afraid of you,” I teased.
Fox glanced at the elevatoragain. “Heshould be,” he said, mouth set in a hard line. “He wouldn’t want to run into mein a dark alley.”
“Please don’t murder myuncle?” I asked, fairly sure Fox wouldn’t actuallydoit. “He’s not a niceman, but he’s not like… evil, or anything. He just has a short temper.”
“Ihave a shorttemper,”Fox said. “He’s got a mean streak. But just because you asked, I won’t murderhim. I just want to help.”
If there was still any angerleft in me, the look on Fox’s face as he said he wanted to help drained thelast of it away. He meant that. For whatever reason, I’d gotten lucky enough tomeet a man who liked me, wanted to be there for me,andeven thought Iwas cute.
“You do help,” I said. “Youhelp a lot, actually. And you’re helping me nudge the rules aside, and you makeme feel better about myself. That’s what I need right now. Someone to just… bethere. And I know it’s asking too much, but—”
“It’s not asking too much,”Fox interrupted, smiling another one of his warm, indulgent smiles at me. “You’regorgeous, and you’re a sweetheart. Forget what I’m meant to be here for, allright? I’m here for you. To solve your problems.”
I swallowed.Wow.
Fox was offering me so much.And I knew it was temporary, I knew this was the equivalent of a summer fling,but…I still wanted it. It didn’t have to be forever to be good, right?
“I don’t deserve you,” Isaid, because I didn’t. I didn’t think I’d done anything to earn Fox’s loyalty,but I apparently had it anyway.
“You deserve much better,”Fox said. “But I’ll try my best.”
He looked up and down thehall, and then turned back to me again.
My heartbeat sped up as heleaned in, all my senses opening up as his lips brushed against mine. Ibreathed in the scent of his aftershave and tasted a hint of sugar on histongue, my stomach bottoming out as his neatly-trimmed stubble rasped againstmy jaw.
Kissing Fox was like beingtaken away to another world where I didn’thaveany problems,where the only thing I had to care about for a handful of seconds was how goodit felt to be around him.
“I want you,” I murmuredwith a surge of lust and confidence as he backed away.
Ididwant him. Iwanted everything he’d give me.
“Then you shall have me,”Fox replied, his voice a low purr that seemed to vibrate in the pit of mystomach as he spoke. “And you’ll enjoy every minute of it,” he promised. “Onceyou’ve gotten through today.”
A shiver ran down my spine atthe thought. I could get through today if Fox was my reward.
***
“Oh fuck,” I gasped as myback hit the wall, winded by the force of Fox pinning me there. He swallowedthe complaint down, soft lips sealed over my own, the rough edge of his scarteasing.
“Sorry, love,” Fox murmuredinto my mouth, hips pressed into mine. His hot, hard cock rubbed against methrough our clothes, arousal making my whole body flush.
Fuck.
Fox was so hot, and I hadhim all to myself.
“Don’t be.” I swallowed,hands pressed against the wall behind me, nails threatening to scratch thepaintwork. My stomach was tight with nerves and need, Fox’s patient gaze boringinto me as he held me in place.
