Page 41 of Finding Storm

My hands find my hips. Those striking eyes follow the movement down. “Did you know that cigarette butts are the single biggest polluter of the ocean?”

He moistens his lips. It’s insanely distracting. “I thought it was plastic,” he speaks before bringing his shocking gaze back to my face.

And his voice is … yum.

Deep. Husky.

Like molten molasses. The kind of voice that whispers dirty words into your ear in the dark of night while he fucks you good and proper.

Sweet Lawd.

My nipples have hardened, and there’s definitely no cool breeze at the moment that I can blame it on.

I cross my arms over my chest and clear my throat. “Nope. Cigarette butts. I read an article on it last year. They’re the forgotten plastic pollution. Butts or filters are the most littered item on the planet. We focus on straws, plastic bags, disposable coffee cups, but cigarette butts are just as bad. Well, worse. Did you know people like you burn through five trillion cigarettes a year, and two-thirds end up littering our world? And also”—I’m on a roll, and I cannot stop. Why can’t I stop?—“did you know that it’s been scientifically proven that cigarette butts provide no health benefit at all? They’re just a marketing tool. They make it easier for a person to smoke.”

He’s staring at me like I just landed in from another planet.

To be fair, I did go off on him about the damaging effects of cigarette butts on the environment.

Why do I know such random shit?

I really need to stop watching nature shows and reading the news. I’m such a dork.

“I did not know that.” His tone is dry.

And now, I feel like a total dick. “If you don’t believe me, Google it.” I shrug like I didn’t just lecture the hell out of him.

“No. I’m sure you know what you’re talking about.”

Yep, that was definitely mocking I detected in his voice.

I don’t know why, but it instantly annoys me. Like a cattle prod to the spine.

Maybe it’s because he’s hotter than any man legally should be.

But it just sets me off again.

“You really should stop smoking. Not only is it bad for your health and those around you, but it’s also bad for marine life.”

Please stop talking.

Another pause.

His brow lifts. I hate it when people do that. Only because I can’t. There’s seriously no single movement up there. It’s both or nothing at all. And if both go up, I either look surprised or confused. Neither is a good look on me.

“I’ll take it into consideration,” he says slowly.

“And you should also pick that butt up and dispose of it responsibly.”

Now, he’s looking at me like I’ve lost my damn mind.

I think I might have. Horny brain cells killed my good ones.

I don’t break eye contact with him even though I really want to.

His eyes really are something else. Intimidating and exciting, all at the same time.

I watch his lips lift at the corner. He’s got nice lips. Kissable lips. They’re surrounded by a good week’s worth of stubble. Defined cupid’s bow, lower lip slightly fuller than the upper. I could imagine sinking my teeth into that bottom lip.