Chapter 29 #2
“I dare you,” he whispers darkly. “I fucking dare you to say you aren’t mine.
” Dayton’s threat hangs between us, my breath growing choppy as heat builds in places that have lain dormant for far too long.
“We’ve been dancing around our attraction to one another for weeks, sharing flirty comments and sidelong glances, but it’s more complex than lust. This thing between us has been building since I inserted myself into a phone conversation you were having with yet another man, demanding your time and attention.
Neither of us ever had control of where this was going to lead.
I’ve been losing my goddamn mind, trying to rationalize the depth of my feelings and how they grew so rapidly in such a short amount of time. ”
“Want to know what conclusion I’ve come to?
” His breath fans my cheek as he leans in closer, trailing the tip of his nose along my jawline.
“You were made to be mine, just as I was made to be yours. So excuse me if I refuse to sit back and let some washed-up piece of shit steal the best thing that’s ever happened to me.
I’ve had to give up everything once already, and for good reason, but walking away from you isn’t something I can bring myself to do. So please don’t ask me to.”
There’s no time for me to wrap my mind around Dayton’s outright claiming.
His mouth meets mine in a heated kiss, my lips parting on a shocked inhale, giving him the perfect opportunity to slide his tongue inside.
He’s the first person I’ve been intimate with that isn’t Tobias, and the heat I’m feeling far exceeds anything I experienced during our good times.
Dayton threads his fingers through my hair, tightening his hold so he can control the angle of our kiss.
I’d be lying if I said my panties weren’t growing slick with my desire, the hunger he’s stoking forcing me to press my thighs together to alleviate the ache.
Breaths are hard to come by, but who needs oxygen anyway?
Abruptly, he severs the moment, leaving me bereft and stumbling forward, desperate to finish what we started.
“Yeah, you’re mine alright,” Dayton chuckles, satisfaction dripping from the pleased smile contorting his face.
It’s on the tip of my tongue to deny his presumptuous statement, to clarify that sharing a singular kiss does not, in fact, mean I belong to him.
As if he can read the stormy thoughts taking up residence inside my head, he shoves the plate of burgers into my waiting hands, then spins me towards the door.
“Time to go, Butterfly.” His slap to my ass causes a squeak of indignation to escape me, my glare falling flat when he shoots me a wink.
I stomp the entire way back to Raiden’s apartment, taking a moment before entering to school my features and wipe any trace of desire from my face.
I breeze through the room with an air of confidence I don’t feel, my chin tipped high, paying no mind to the tingling sensation still pulsing between my thighs.
I place the plate of burgers on the kitchen counter, avoiding eye contact with everyone bustling around me as I struggle to regain control of a body that’s overrun with hormones.
The last thing I want is for someone to notice the flush heating my cheeks and start asking questions I’m in no way prepared to answer.
I grab some basic condiments from the fridge, determined to keep myself busy until I’m certain there are no lingering traces of Dayton’s effect on me.
“What the fuck, man?” Raiden barks, his sudden outburst causing me to jump. I spin to face the living room, trying to get a visual on what has the guys squaring off, knowing the slightest infraction can have them at each other’s throats in the span of a few seconds.
“Your ass was in my face. I asked you to move. Nicely, I might add. You refused, though your grunt can hardly be called a proper response. Either way, that’s how I chose to interpret it,” Briggs announces, not the least bit bothered to be on the receiving end of so much hostility.
He double-taps the button on the drill for emphasis, continuing his task of assembling the storage cube for Hudson’s room.
“So in your fucked up brain, the appropriate reaction to me not doing what you demanded of me is to spin a power drill against my asshole?” The vein in Raiden’s forehead thumps angrily, his pointed scowl promising retribution.
“Calm down, Detective Hardass,” Briggs scoffs, waving his hand dismissively. “I barely pressed it, and you have jeans on. Maybe do what I ask next time, and I won’t have to resort to such drastic measures.”
“There’s something seriously wrong with you,” Raiden gripes, training his focus on the box of clothes he’s preparing to take next door.
I hate that he’s being forced from his own home, once again, but it’s too much of a risk to have him officially living here.
At least until CPS has made their decision.
Once we’ve gotten them off our backs and appeased the judge that’s overseeing our case, I couldn’t care less if he moves back in. We’ll make it work.
“Yes, I’m well aware,” Briggs deadpans. “You seem to share the same sentiment as my therapist. Perhaps the two of you would like to date since you have so much in common? Or maybe just a quick fuck? Whatever floats your boat and unlodges that stick from your ass.” Raiden’s gaze cuts to mine, his jaw flexing in agitation.