Chapter 15 #2
Hayden’s eyes linger on me for what feels like forever before he turns back to him.
“I actually just stopped in to pick up my food, so I’ll have to try that drink another time.
” He flags down the bartender as his name is called, accepting the to-go bag as he slides off the barstool.
“See you.” He gives us an awkward little wave and bolts for the door.
“Told you it was futile.” I sip my beer, watching him retreat.
“Yeah, you did. You could’ve said you wanted him for yourself, though.”
“I’m not into dudes.”
Deacon cocks a brow at me. “Almonds?”
Spinning to face him, I don’t even try to hide my eye roll. “I have to stand near him every damn day. Of course, I know what he smells like.”
“Of course,” Deacon agrees with a wicked grin. “You corrected me, though.”
“So?”
“So, why bother? We were supposed to be testing if he’d hate me, but you said something to make him like you. Or signal that you’ve been paying attention.”
I rub my temples with my hands, trying to drown out his words. “Fuck, man. Stop talking in riddles. You’re making my brain hurt.”
“Then get your head out of your ass.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“He turned me down.” Deacon swallows the last of his beer.
“Again, so?”
“People don’t do that, man. I can get… They just don’t do that.” He spins his empty glass on the bar, and for a second, I’d swear he almost looks conflicted. The image clears when I shake my head.
“The only thing he feels for me is hate. It’s mutual.” I finish my drink and slap a few bills on the counter as I stand.
“Where are you going?”
“Home. Where I can drink without you or anyone else trying to mindfuck me.”
I stalk toward the door, not caring when a lady holding a kid sidesteps me with wide eyes as I storm past. Fucking Deacon. When the hell did he get so nosy?
So, I recognize what Hayden smells like. So what? All that means is I see him way too much, and it’s not like I have a say in that. And he didn’t turn Deacon down because of me. He turned him down because he’s uptight, which will totally backfire since Deacon probably sees that as a challenge.
I should warn Frosty about that. He may be a pain in my ass, but he’s good to Max, so the least I can do is tell him to watch out. Deacon may be my friend, but Frosty is my boss—sort of—so life would be a whole lot easier if Deacon didn’t take him for a ride and leave me to deal with the fallout.
That doesn’t mean we’re friends, or even that I like the Ice Prick. It just means I don’t want any more drama in my life than necessary. At least for the next few weeks, until I’ve paid my debt or whatever.
Just as I come to that decision, I realize my feet have carried me back to the adaptive center instead of the bus station.
I can’t even begin to process why that is—I just need to get it over with and get out before this crazy ass day drags out any longer—so I barge through the door, causing Hayden to jump from where he’s standing behind the rental counter.
“Stay away from Deacon,” I bark, pointing my finger at him for effect before I spin toward the exit, my good deed done.
“What?” The venom in his voice has me rooted in place as he rounds the counter and barrels toward me so fast, I take an involuntary step back.
“You heard me.” I recover, standing my ground.
“Who are you to order me around?” He stomps right up to me, so our chests are practically touching, and I have to look down to see his face.
“Not ordering. Warning.”
“I think I’ve proved that I can take care of myself. You didn’t come with a warning label either, and I’m doing just fine.” His arms brush against my stomach as he crosses them over his chest. It makes me lose my train of thought for a second.
“You’re doing fine because I’m not trying to get in your pants. Deacon is. He’s only looking for a bit of fun, nothing serious.”
Frosty’s eyes narrow to little slits, making me think this was a bad idea. Then they get this wicked little sparkle as he pastes a saucy grin on his face. “Who said I want something serious?”
Now he’s just being a brat. Bring it. “Come on, Frosty, you don’t have a spontaneous bone in your body.”
“You don’t know anything about my body… I mean me.” He licks his lip as color floods his cheeks, but to his credit he doesn’t look away after that little slip of the tongue.
Pretending not to notice his unfortunate word choice, I rattle off a list that’s sure to piss him off. “I know you’re organized as fuck, your schedules are color coded, and you don’t break the rules. None of those traits screams spontaneity.” I look down on him with a smug grin.
“I broke the rules just today. For you.” The venom is back in his voice, but it’s the words that have me reeling.
My back hits the door as I inhale a ragged breath, my mouth so parched it’s hard to get the words out. “What rules?”
“Mine.” Hayden presses his mouth into a firm line and holds my gaze, telling me he’s not lying. Fuck.
Squeezing my eyes shut, as if that could make this whole scene disappear, I mutter, “You shouldn’t do that shit for me. I told you I’m not worth fixing.”
“Maybe I disagree.”
I feel him enter my space and slowly open my eyes. “Maybe you don’t know what the fuck you’re talking about.”
“Then tell me.” It’s barely more than a whisper. A plea. And it sounds so genuine I damn near confess why the mountain that used to sustain me is now slowly killing me. Then his tongue darts out to lick those plump, pink lips, and my mind goes blank.
Grabbing him by the back of the neck, I pull him to me and crush my mouth against his.
Hayden’s body goes rigid for about half a second, then I feel his hands sliding up my stomach until they find my chest. Instead of pushing me away they clutch at my shirt, so I tilt my head, urging him to open for me.
The first swipe of his tongue along mine sends a jolt of lust straight to my balls, and a growl rumbling through my chest. He answers with a breathy little whimper that wakes up a primal need to devour him, and I obey, pulling him flush against me.
One hand in his silky brown hair, the other molding the globes of his ass, I take my fill of his mouth. The faint taste of mint is a sharp contrast to the cherry, almond scent filling my nose, and it’s such an unexpected combination that I keep chasing it, delving further as I search for more.
Deep in my chest I feel a tiny prick, a pang of something I don’t recognize. It’s not painful, but I’m not sure it’s pleasant either. Each time my tongue brushes against Hayden’s it flares up, demanding my attention, but my hardening cock steals my focus.
I rock my hips forward as I pull his toward me, nearly collapsing in a heap on the floor as the friction from his rigid cock travels up my dick. Shit, that’s different. And hot as fuck. I do it again, searching for another hit of bliss, when his sultry little moan stops me cold.
Fuck! I push Hayden away and drop my hands to my side, struggling to keep my chest from heaving. A glimpse at his swollen lips nearly has me wanting to reach for him again, but that foreign knot in my chest keeps me rooted in place. Without his body next to mine to muddy my senses, I recognize it.
It’s the cost of doing what I want, what I swore not to allow myself to do since my brother will never get to experience it. Desire. Comfort. Affection. And that ache of betrayal will only get worse unless I walk away.
Pasting a scowl on my face I point at him again, and say the only words that come to mind. “Stay away from Deacon.”
Frosty’s jaw drops as I give him my back and stomp out the door.