I patted her shoulder, ignoring how good it felt to simply touch her. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d touched a woman and paid attention to how it felt. The majority of my interactions with women were sexual, and none of them left a lasting impression. It was more about sating the urge and moving on—for them and me. Not many women were interested in a man who didn’t talk. Once they realized it, things usually became awkward. Rarely did I meet a woman like Laikyn who was willing to put forth the effort to communicate on a deeper level. Not that I was complaining. I didn’t give a shit. I had Rule, Rhyan, and the twins when I needed to converse, though those were rare, too.
“I know I shouldn’t,” Laikyn said, snuggling closer, her hand resting on my chest, her head on my shoulder. “But I like him. I think there’s more to him than meets the eye.”
I was glad she did because Rule deserved that. He was a tortured soul who did his best to keep his distance from everyone. The four of us were the exception, but he didn’t open up to any of us either. Not the way he should. And that wasn’t for lack of trying on our part.
“When I say I like him, I don’t mean I want him to fall in love with me,” she continued, but I wasn’t sure she was talking to me so much as trying to work through the problem. “I’d like to fuck him, sure. But I also like him. I think we could be friends. Definitely fuck-buddies.”
I smiled to myself. I liked that she was brutally honest about her desires. It was refreshing.
At the same time, I got the sense she used sex as a coping mechanism. Similar to the way Rule did. As a distraction. They’d turned the act into something that was only supposed to be felt, not accepting it as an experience that allowed you to get closer to someone.
Laikyn yawned, her body relaxing against me. I knew I should’ve excused myself, but I didn’t. I remained where I was, staring at the television screen and doing my best not to fall for the sweet woman who was simply trying to follow the new course set for her.
“I like you, too, Jinx,” she said softly, patting my chest. “More than I should.”
The feeling was certainly mutual, but rather than text that to her, I held Laikyn until she fell asleep. It was my intention to carry her to her bedroom. It would’ve been the noble thing to do.
Instead, I stretched out beside her and fell asleep with Laikyn in my arms. The couch wasn’t the most comfortable place to sleep, but I slept better than I had in years.
11
Rule
“What in theever-lovingfuck isthis?”
Her voice grated on my nerves, pulling me out of a restless sleep. I shifted, every muscle in my back spasming.
“Don’t tell me you slept here,” Rhyan scolded, her footsteps heavy as she moved to the windows.
A moment later, I was blinded by the morning sun.
I grunted and pushed to a sitting position, silently cursing the hard fucking couch.
“It’s morning, and we’ve got shit to do,” she announced as though I didn’t already know that based on the harsh sunlight beaming me in the face.
I leaned back, dropping my head against the wall and closing my eyes.
“Why did you sleep here? Where’s your wife?”
“Why can’t you shut up?” I grumbled in response.
“You don’t pay me to be quiet.”
“I will if you’ll shut the fuck up.”
Rhyan laughed. “Seriously? Problems in paradise?”
“Get me some fucking coffee,” I snarled, eyes still closed.
“Get your own fucking coffee,” she said snidely as she walked out of my office.
I took a few deep breaths, then forced my eyes open. The world came into focus, and the sun wasn’t quite so harsh. I glanced down at the couch and silently cursed the damn thing. My body hurt like I’d gone ten rounds with a heavyweight and lost. I was getting too fucking old for this shit.
“Are you drunk?” Rhyan shouted from the other room.
I didn’t bother answering her. She knew I wasn’t. I didn’t drink. Not because I didn’t long for the void I could find in the bottom of a bottle. At times, I craved it more than air. The same way I craved nicotine. But I knew from experience a bottle wasn’t going to solve problems, only cause more. I’d witnessed it on more than one occasion, and while I was clearly a glutton for punishment—marrying a woman who tempted me in a way no other ever had just so I could save her from her ruthless bitch of a mother was proof—I wasn’t a fucking moron.
“Why are you here?” Rhyan asked.
