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I grabbed his plate, and he followed me over to the sink. He leaned against the counter, not looking at anything in particular. I kept my mouth shut, waiting for him to finally tell me what happened the night I picked him up off the dirty floor of the bar’s bathroom.

Tex rubbed his arms as he spoke. “I’ve been wild my whole life.” He let out a dry laugh. “That’s an understatement. I was the kid other parents warned their children to stay away from. The ultimate fuck-up.”

I handed the rinsed plate over and he grabbed it and placed it in the dishwasher.

“I got into everything, and I mean everything. Soon I found alcohol wasn’t doing it, and I got into drugs.”

My back stiffened. Brycen’s face fluttered to the surface of my psyche for a second, but they were so different from each other. Brycen had never told me about his problem. Tex didn’t need to. I hadn’t asked for anything specific, but he was giving it to me all the same.

“Nothing on your record indicated that you were that bad. A few graffiti incidents but nothing more.”

Tex laughed. “Why am I not surprised you looked into me?” He didn’t sound upset. “My dad was a big-shot detective, and he pulled strings anytime I got caught.”

“The same dad that left a mark on your body?” I barely contained my rage. My hand tightened around the glass cup. Before I knew it, pain erupted over my fingers.

“Shit, Enzo.” Tex grabbed my hand, jerked it over to the other side, and turned on the water. “The fuck is your problem? Be careful.”

The cuts were shallow, and I’d had worse. Tex yanked me around the kitchen anyway until I was forced to sit down. No one had ever cared if I got hurt besides my brothers.

Tex ran around the kitchen, grabbing paper towels. “Where is your first aid kit?”

“Top right cabinet.” I was so stunned all I could do was answer him.

He grabbed the first aid box and was in front of me in seconds. I held out my hand for him, and he meticulously inspected it.

“It’s not too deep,” I said.

“Are you a fucking doctor?”

I blinked at Tex’s anger and the worry rolling off him in waves.

“No, but—”

“Then shut it. I’ve taken a first aid course.”

Warmth blossomed over my chest, and I found it hard to breathe as Tex checked over my hand. He picked out tiny pieces of glass. With every piece he pulled out, he stopped and stared up at me. I was too lost in the overwhelming possessiveness and want trying to consume me.

“Tex.” My voice was soft even to my ears. What was he doing to me?

“Does it hurt?” Tex asked, his blue eyes scanning my face as if he’d find the answer.

It didn’t hurt but something felt strange and it only intensified every time Tex was near me. I shook my head, my mouth too dry to speak.

“I’m almost finished.” Tex went back to cleaning the wound before bandaging it. “All done.”

The moment he dropped my hand, I gave in to the screaming voice in the back of my head. I grabbed Tex and crushed our mouths together in a heated kiss. Tex groaned, submitting to me.

I pulled back, my heart racing as the need to be inside of him dragged me further into the abyss of desire.

“And now?”

“And now what?” Tex asked breathlessly.

“Are you still spiraling?”

He stared at me for a long second that felt like an eternity. “Probably.”

I audibly swallowed. He wrapped his arms around my neck, and his fingers wove through my chocolate brown strands.

“But I’m not craving drugs or even alcohol.” He licked his lips as his eyelids lowered and his pupils dilated. “I found something far more intoxicating and just as deadly.”