Page 68 of In Your Wake

“To test something out. Tuck, I’ve thrown myself at you, more than once. You don’t want me. And that’s fine. You take your time and save yourself for someone else. Someone who fits the idea of what you want in a woman. But I have needs. Needs you’re not satisfying.” I walk around him and open the front door wide. “It’s been nice.”

Standing in the middle of my kitchen, he stares at me for a minute. His glare isn’t icy or angry, but neutral. A tad creepy, too, and it sends a weird shiver down my spine.

He steps out, stopping in the doorway. “If you ever want a mature and serious relationship, give me a call.”

I scrunch up my nose. “Nah, thanks. I’ll take sexually satisfying over mature and serious any day. Oh, and watch out for that brother of yours,” I reply, slamming the door in his face.

Grabbing my emotional snacks of sugar and booze, I carry them to the living room, trying to ignore my disappointment in another failed relationship, as well as my unsatisfied needs. The Oreos do nothing to kill my sadness, and a quarter bottle of minty alcohol only makes it worse. Not to mention tastes god-awful.

I text Zayne.

Me

Dumped Tucker.

Zee

You deserve better. Want to come over? You could help me beat my solitaire score.

I laugh to myself. I could probably go to the inn and confide in Zayne, but I’m positive there’s no way I’m leaving this couch.

Me

Shouldn’t you be studying?

I’m taking a break. The offer still stands.

Thanks, but I’ll pass. We’ll talk tomorrow.

K. Love you.

Love you, too.

I turn the TV on and flick through the stations, landing on some porn. Staring at it, I lose myself to the completely idiotic storyline and horrible acting. My eyes droop shut and I’m not surprised to picture Mitch, his big, broad body coming to mind, especially him in that light gray tee stretched tight over his muscles.

Last night, when his hands gripped my hips tight, a small part of me longed for him to lift me up and pin me to the wall.

I remember falling into his lap at the brewery, feeling him hard beneath me. The way his hand felt pressed against my back—strong and firm. The security and comfort that spread through me when I was locked within his arms.

I think of how he sometimes swipes his tongue across his lower lip and looks at me as if I’m pissing him off, but also, like he sort of loves it.

My thoughts drift further, and I imagine us alone on the brewery’s mezzanine, only this time I’m wearing a skirt and no panties. Mitch takes me by the hips, spinning me around so I’m straddling his lap and facing him. He slides his big, firm hands beneath my skirt to cradle my ass, his thick fingers digging into my flesh and pushing me down, letting me grind against him, knowing I need this. The fiery lust in his green gaze becomes scorching as he watches me rub my aching core against his hard cock.

Meanwhile, in the safety of my living room, I reach a hand into my pants and stroke my wet pussy. I’ve never been this aroused, this hungry for an orgasm. It’s so close, right there on the outskirts of my mind.

All the while, I know Mitch is the last person I should let into my fantasies. He doesn’t belong here. He isn’t worthy of the sparks lighting up the base of my spine or the beads of sweat dotting my skin.

I can try to avoid it as much as humanly possible, but there’s no denying it; I’ve only ever felt this unattainable yearning to come when imagining fucking Mitchell Adams.

But this is my little secret. No one but me knows how close I am, how hard I’m rubbing my core, or pinching my clit. Cupping my breasts, tweaking my nipples. I’m being rough, abusive, as if channeling all my anger from the last couple of days onto my body.

I’ve all but forgotten the movie playing in the background when a knock at my door chases my orgasm away in a single breath.

I roll my eyes and release a growl. “You’ve got to be fucking kidding me.”

Annoyed as hell, I walk to the door, telling myself that this time, I’ll just strip naked and make Tucker fuck me.

How dare he tease me, lead me on, leave me hanging, only to interrupt me while I’m about to come?