Chapter 24
Rooster
I blink down at her, finding it insane that just happened.
When her grip on my cock tightens, it brings me back to reality.
It would be so easy to continue, and with all of my hormones raging right now, it's a battle to pull my hand from her breast and take a step back.
"He didn't look happy," she says, seeming rather reluctant to pull her hand away.
I want to cry out with disappointment when it falls away. I can feel the dampness at the tip. Watching her mouth as she licks her lips makes me want to run it over that sexy mouth of hers, but it's going to have to wait. We have time, and we don't have to rush this.
"No, he didn't," I say, watching her face. "Does that upset you?"
"He told me he liked me once," she says, and I do my best to school my face so she doesn't realize that I overheard their conversation back at her house the other day. "I told him I wasn't interested. I feel a little bad for him. I wouldn't want to see a guy I liked in the arms of another woman even if I knew there was no chance for us."
"That's very compassionate of you," I say, and I mean every word. "I'm going to have to go talk to him."
"Okay," she says with a swallow. I can tell on her face that she doesn't want to stop any more than I do right now, but I think it's for the best.
I'd go all the way with this woman if I were certain there was something for us in the future. But I get the feeling that she might be incredibly horny right now, and that doesn't translate into a future with her.
I didn't even know that was something I was looking for, but I just can't get the idea out of my head that if she gave the idea of us a little thought, she might be on the same page as well.
Instead of just walking out of the room, I lean in and sweep my lips across hers once last time.
Her hand immediately goes to my hip, and that simple touch has me questioning if I'm doing the right thing by pumping the brakes right now. That's a sign that my body is trying to lead things, and I can't let that happen.
"I'll see you soon," I whisper against her lips before pulling away.
My feet feel like lead weights as I walk toward the closed bedroom door.
"You gonna put on a shirt, or you just gonna go out there all oiled up with an erection?"
I think I'm fully obsessed with her playfulness, and my smile is wide when I turn back around and grab my shirt.
"I'll have to grab a shower later," I say as I pull it back over my head.
"And the erection?" she teases, her eyes dropping to the front of my boxers.
"That hasn't gone away since you pressed your hand to my chest the first time." I toss her a wink and leave the room.
The entire way down the stairs in search of Twisted, I can't get past the hope that she'll still be in my room when I get back, although I know that's not what either of us needs.
We haven't been living here together for very long, but I tend to watch people and mentally log their habits. It's how I know exactly where I'm going to find Twisted.
Twisted is beating the heavy bag with frustrated fists when I open the door to the gym.
I know he senses me in the room. A man with his training knows when someone else is around, but he continues to punch the bag rather than acknowledge me. As frustrating as it is, I fully understand. Morgan is one hell of a catch, and although he never had her, I can only imagine he still feels some sort of loss where she's concerned.
Once again, I'm torn about how to handle this. The last thing I want is trouble in the house or one of the guys not trusting me because of some misperceived connection he has with a woman, but I know just from the limited time I've spent with Morgan that she's worth a little trouble.
"Want to talk about it?" I ask, stepping up beside the bag.
He doesn't respond but his punches get a little harder.
"We can't let this fester."
He freezes, his eyes meeting mine very slowly. There's something a little threatening in the way his right cheek twitches when he looks at me. There's a very real chance this guy is going to punch me in the face.
"I'm not going to apologize for what you walked in on."
"Is this where you tell me not to open doors before you give me permission?"
"That goes without saying," I mutter.
I might have had to seriously beat his ass if he had walked in a few minutes later. I can't even imagine the rage I'd feel if we were further progressed with what I know would've happened had we not been interrupted. If he's seen her even partially naked, I might have to rip his eyes out.
I pull in a deep breath. I'm not usually a rageful guy, but there's something about Morgan that makes me want to protect her from everyone in the world, including teammates who don't know how to wait for a door to be opened.
"What are your intentions with her?"
"Do you really feel like you have a right to that answer?" I challenge, my irritation growing with every passing second.
He straightens, and I don't miss the way his fists clench at his sides. I straighten, too, getting ready to act if he decides to take this in a different direction than us talking this out.
"I think that she's recently had a trauma, and it's a shitty thing to do if you're just trying to get in her pants."
I can't help the humorless huff that rushes past my lips.
"That is not what you walked in on," I assure him.
"Her hand on your dick isn't you trying to get in her pants?" he growls.
"I really like her," I counter. "A lot. It's not just about getting her naked."
His eyes search mine for a few long seconds. I don't know what he sees, but there's a switch in him.
His shoulders sag, and he looks a little defeated.
"Okay," he mutters before turning around and walking out of the room.
It leaves me standing there wondering what in the hell just happened. I know better than to chase after him, but we haven't settled anything either.
I'll give him the time and space he needs, but I know this small conversation won't be the end of it.
I'm not concerned that he's going to do something crazy, but at the same time, I'm starting to feel a little more protective over Morgan than I had before. I don't think he's the type of man to push his luck and make her uncomfortable.
The walk back upstairs is slow, but instead of going to the conference room and finding some work to do, I head to my room.
The strobe light is still flashing, and the chair Morgan sat on is still in the center of the room. Although I know we needed to pump the brakes, I still feel a little disappointed to find my room void of her.
I stand in the middle of the room, hands on the back of the chair, wondering if I should go knock on her door and pick up where we left off. I know it's best to get a little separation and to let things cool down, but having that knowledge doesn't make me crave her any less.
I feel as if the woman is in my blood somehow, each pump of my heart making me think of her. It's obsessive and a little too strong, making me want to pull back some because I still can't forget that Henry put her in my path for a reason. It'll always be in the back of my head that she's some kind of pawn in a sick joke he's making me live through.
Instead of staying in the room and questioning what I should or shouldn't do, I head back downstairs, grab an energy drink from the fridge, and go to the conference room.
It isn't long before the guys from New Mexico come in, glad that their wives changed their minds before they went to the show.It gives me the exact distraction that I need to keep me from finding Morgan and doing something we both might regret.
Everyone is sitting around the conference room chatting and having a good time. When Kincaid asks where Twisted is since he's the only one absent from the room, I keep my mouth shut.