Chapter 28
CHAPTER
TWENTY-EIGHT
KENNEDY
As soon as I wake the next morning, I get up, change, then head downstairs for the keys. It’s not until the cool metal is in my hand that I remind myself to stop.
I only saw him last night.
I won’t be too eager.
I can do this.
Even if all night, I’ve been haunted by the memory of him riding my face.
I’ve always, always wanted to do that, and it makes sense in a way that Ziggy was the first person to let me.
We’re meant to be. I just know it. Most of the people I’ve been with haven’t been into ass play, and the ones who are either weren’t comfortable with potentially murdering me with their ass, or we weren’t together long enough for me to suggest it.
Ziggy climbed up and gave me exactly what I wanted.
Like he’s made for me.
My head drops back on a groan, and I make it as far as the front door this time before I force myself to stop. The pull I have to him is indescribable. Sure, I’ve been off in horny land before with people, but this is next-level. It’s not only that I want more sex; I want to see him.
His snarky little expressions, that soft, raspy voice, the way he hides behind his hair, and the even hotter moments when he doesn’t. When he meets me head-on. When he reminds me of what a confident person he is by making the first move and taking what he wants.
He’s perfect.
I pause, hand on the driver’s-side door of the SUV, with no memory of walking out here.
Fuck.
I let it go like it shocked me.
The whole time I’m waiting for my brothers to wake up, I try making coffee, try making breakfast, all of it broken up by me pacing back to the car every few minutes and then having to tear myself away from it again.
Ziggy’s probably not even awake yet.
I’m obsessing over nothing.
“Did someone finally fuck your brains out?” comes Hart’s dry voice.
I whirl toward where he’s walking down the front steps. “What do you mean?”
“You’re lurching around out here like a zombie. I didn’t know whether to grab a gun.”
“You have a gun?”
He snickers. “No. You wouldn’t let us get one, remember?”
I’m not sure whether to believe him or not. Unlike me, Hart is a fantastic liar.
“What are you doing?” he asks.
“Ignoring my instincts.” When it’s clear he has no idea what I’m talking about, I elaborate. “I’m not going to see Ziggy.”
“Okay.”
“I mean it.”
“I believe you.”
“In fact …” I toss him the keys. “Keep those on you.”
“Got it.”
We stand there watching each other, my hands twitching together. “You know what, this is ridiculous. I can hold on to the keys without going there. Give them back.”
“Yeah … no chance.”
I almost roll my eyes. “Come on. I’m not some uncontrollable monster.”
“Uh-huh.”
“Keys.”
“Nope.”
I scowl at his stubbornness, and Hart almost manages a smile.
“Tell my future niblings to thank me one day.”
“I can’t believe you think so little of me.”
“Sure you can.” He pockets the keys. “Because I think even less of myself.”
Having the option taken away from me only makes me want to see Ziggy even more.
“I really am pathetic, aren’t I?”
Hart squints at me. “This feels like a trick question.”
It’s the longest day in history.
Hart keeps the keys hidden from me, and I get through a whole day without seeing Ziggy. I pull out my phone more times than I’ll willingly admit to message or call him before I remember he doesn’t have a phone.
Ziggy shows up to work the day after, and it takes every last scrap of willpower I have not to follow him around like a puppy. I leave him to do the work he needs to do, while I get on with mine. Well, mostly.
I’m so distracted all day that I’m useless and even end up managing to put a nail through my thumb. I’m lucky that it only catches skin and I haven’t done any real damage, but it’s a wake-up call. A very painful wake-up call.
My instincts are assholes.
If I hadn’t listened to Hart’s advice about whether Ziggy would have gotten sick of me by now.
Would things already be over if I could call and text him anytime I wanted?
Maybe Wilde’s End and its shitty reception is a good thing.
Maybe I actually have a chance out here.
In the wild. Where Ziggy has no other options.
That does not make me feel good about myself.
I tug at the bandage I’ve wrapped my thumb up with, annoyed that even though I know how stupid I’m being, I still want to see him anyway. I kissed him hello this morning, gave myself some time to flirt, and then forced myself to walk away.
I thought it would be enough.
I should have known better.
Knowing Ziggy is next door is eating at me.
“You okay?”
I jump hard at the soft voice and whirl around to face Ziggy. “You scared the shit out of me.”
That gets a sly half smile from him.
“Sorry, I was zoned out.”
The look he gives me says he already knew that.
“What are you doing? Done already?”
He doesn’t answer, just searches my face from behind his thick hair like he’s the one who asked the question.
I give in to the urge to move close. To reach up and brush all that hair back from his eyes.
The tightness in his expression fades, and it settles something in my chest.
“Hey, Zig.”
“You busy?” he asks.
I should be, but with how I’ve been working today, I think I’ve caused more issues than I’ve fixed. “Not really.”
“I …” His eyes cut away while he swallows, and then he meets mine again with determination. “W-will I see you tonight?”
Hope strangles me. “Do you want to?”
He quickly nods, and the relief I’m hit with makes me feel like I might float away. This is what I was waiting for. I’m letting him lead. Letting him decide when he wants me around. “Then yeah, of course.” I try not to sound too eager, but I don’t know if I pull it off. “At your place?”
Sure.
“Cool.” I go on grinning because my face doesn’t want to do anything else.
I’m mesmerized by him. That sweet, angular face, his abnormally large brown eyes, the thick hair, and the guardedness he only ever lets slip around me.
Hart’s rules can go fuck themselves for a second because I can’t resist cupping his chin and brushing a soft kiss over his lips.
Ziggy pulls back, cheeks red, tongue piercing tapping against his teeth. He checks behind himself like he’s worried we’re being watched.
“Ah, don’t worry about my brothers. They already know we’re together.”
His eyes fly wide.
“Ah … I mean … is that okay?”
Ziggy does nothing but blink at me, but I haven’t yet figured out what a whole lot of blinking means. Is he mad? Upset? Surprised?
“Blink three times if it’s okay and you don’t hate me.”
Unfortunately, that makes him stop blinking at all.
Then, a laugh hiccups from him.
“I don’t know how to translate that.”
“It’s okay.” He steps forward, taking my hand and wrapping his fingers through mine. “Explains why they were staring.”
“Staring? I’m going to kill them.”
He’s not exactly smiling, but his eyes are happy when they meet mine.
“You can’t blame me,” I point out. “You’re hot. I had to make sure neither of them started getting ideas.”
His lips purse tighter, and I can read him this time. Yeah, right.
“Don’t argue with me. You’re a catch, and I won’t hear another argument against it.
Got it?” I cup my ear, but I’m too fast for him, even if he wanted to argue.
“Got it. We’re agreed. Good. Now, where are you taking me tonight?
If it’s not a five-course meal with fireworks after dessert, I’m not interested. ”
Doubt clouds his eyes, but I don’t let him get away.
“I’m kidding. If you’re there, I’ll be happy.”
I could say so, so much more than that, but I force myself to stop. I’m being cool. Collected. Nothing to see here.
His brow crumples, and he grabs my other hand, turning it to see my bandaged thumb.
“Hazards of replaying our memories from the other night,” I say, just to see him blush. Then I tap the Band-Aids around his fingers. “Looks like you had the same problem.”
He pulls his hands back and tucks them behind him. “Tonight?”
“I’ll be there.”
Even if I have to tackle Hart to the ground to get those keys, nothing will keep me away.