Chapter 21 #2
Her features softened momentarily. “Then fine.”
“Fine.”
“Good.”
“Good.”
With an exaggerated huff, she moved to grab her bags. I beat her to it, trying to yank the straps from her hands. Of course, the brat pulled away, snarling as she did.
I tugged them closer, the momentum pulling her as well.
She tried to jerk them one more time, but I was finished playing games, tugging her even closer until she was forced to rise onto her toes. Damn it. My thoughts drifted to kissing her soft lips, holding her close and fucking her like a wild animal.
That did it. The vision of my wolf broke the wired tether.
We continued to glare at each other until the poor girl behind the counter cleared her throat.
“What?” Sloane’s answer mimicked mine or maybe vice versa.
“There’s someone trying to check into their room.” We’d terrified the young woman, her finger shaking as she pointed to someone behind us.
Sloane finally allowed me to take the bags. “Thank you.”
I yanked them into one hand and stomped toward the door. “You’re welcome.”
Just before I walked outside, I heard Sloane commenting to the girl.
“Men.”
* * *
This just wasn’t going to work.
At this rate, I’d need to head to the hospital myself and find out if someone spiked the coffee with Viagra.
That’s how hard my dick had been since Sloane had slipped into the cab of my truck.
I was doing my best to ignore her during the drive to my place, even turning on my favorite country music, but between her constant giggles from my attempt to sing along and her slight tosses of her long hair in the breeze, even my balls were hanging low.
No, I couldn’t sing a note. I was pretty certain birds flew to South America early when I tried, but damn it, I needed a distraction and in close quarters, there was little else.
“Stop laughing,” I growled, thanking some god that I’d turned onto the street where my house was.
“I’m not laughing.”
“Yeah, you are.”
“I’m enjoying you trying to sing along with Lainey Wilson.” Sloane’s voice had a distinct teasing quality. I knew the tone, the inflections, and how strongly it affected me all too well.
“You know your country music.”
“Do you think because I’m from Chicago I wouldn’t?”
“How the hell would I know? You try singing the song if you’re so damn talented.” I twisted my hand on the steering wheel.
“Hmmm… Okay.”
When she started singing, I almost lost control of the truck.
I’d be damned if she didn’t have an incredible voice. She knew every word, the sound so powerful I thought for a few seconds I was at a concert. The song ended just as I pulled down the long gravel driveway.
While I remained in the seat with the engine running, completely dumbfounded, which was totally unlike me, she managed to jump from the truck. I only managed to react when out of the corner of my eye I noticed she’d almost tripped. Then I was reminded she’d been injured in the accident.
In a flash, and I meant faster than any human was capable, I gathered her into my arms.
“What are you doing?” Her accusatory tone was stern enough I snarled.
“Protecting the patient. What does it look like I’m doing? Doctor’s freaking orders.” I took long strides toward the house, making it onto the porch before she could think of a nasty counter.
“It’s like you’re carrying me over the threshold after getting married.”
As I unlocked the door, I stared down at her. “I think we both know otherwise. Don’t we?”
“Shortest marriage in history.”
Why had I thought that maybe we could get along for a couple of days? Not with the chemistry or history we shared. I’d offer her a roof over her head and maybe help her get back to the airport. Other than that, I planned on staying far away. I’d need to or I’d lose my mind.
After easing her onto her feet, I backed away like she was on fire. No, I was. My skin prickled from the excessive heat, my palms so damn sweaty they were dripping.
“Don’t go anywhere. I’m going to get your things.”
She saluted while wearing a wry smile.
I grabbed the bags, taking a few extra seconds before returning inside. She was nowhere to be seen. Damn the woman. She was going to be the death of me. Dropping the bags and frustrated as hell, I found her in the kitchen, scanning the room as if already disparaging my space.
“Don’t touch anything. You might burn yourself.” The words left my mouth before I could stop them.
“You honestly think I was planning on lighting a match?”
The thought of spanking her all over again had me drifting my gaze to the wrong place for a red-blooded boy like me. “It’s my brother’s house. I’m thinking about buying it.”
“Which brother?”
“Ford. As if Cole could afford it.”
“That’s right. He moved to Portland and purchased a house with his wife.”
“Fiancée and you don’t need to know anything about my family.” The harsh tone lingered and the brief hurt-filled look on her face didn’t bother me a bit.
Okay, the haunted look in her eyes bothered me enough I felt like a shit for my nasty attitude. But I couldn’t let my guard down with her or she’d eat me alive.
She lifted a single eyebrow while folding her arms. “I was just going to get a glass of water. Is that okay or are you afraid I’ll poison the water source?”
I grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge, handing it to her. Why was it that every time our fingers collided it felt like she’d scalded me? Even so, I couldn’t seem to take my hand away. She was forced to pull back, taking a deep breath as she did.
“I’m not going to make this hard on you, Beck.
I know you don’t want me here and I certainly don’t want to be anywhere I’m not wanted.
As soon as the doctor releases me and I’ve dealt with the police and insurance, I’ll be out of your hair.
Maybe you can give me the name of the officer you talked with. ”
“Yeah, you will and I didn’t contact the sheriff. Private property.”
“Oh, the big man handling everything on his own. Okay. Fine. But it’s a rental car.”
“I’ll handle it.”
Her eyes opened wide and while she wanted to argue, she chose not to. Good for her.
“Okay then. Any chance I could get a shower? I feel… dirty.” The glare indicated the filth was all about me.
“Sure. We can make that happen.”
“No, we won’t. I can shower all by myself, thank you very much.”
My sigh was based on sheer frustration. “Come on. I’ll get you some clean towels.”
Just her being close meant the heat between us continued to build to an explosive point. I grabbed some towels, avoiding touching her when handing them over and before she was safely locked behind the closed bathroom door, I scampered away.
Sweat rolling down both sides of my face.
Minutes later and with her safely out of my hair, I grabbed a beer. Why the hell not? Having her in my house, in my space, and going through my things hadn’t been on my weekly bucket list.
As I stood by the kitchen window, staring out at the woods, I realized I kind of liked having her close. At least I didn’t need to lie to myself, but she’d never learn the truth. The lingering remnants of her perfume alone were enough to drive this big boy crazy.
Ground rules were needed. Lots of ground rules. After her shower, we’d sit down and I’d lay them out for her.
I took another deep pull on the brew. Then another. Every muscle remained tense. That’s what she did to me.
At least the spare room had a bed. It was clean with new sheets thanks to my sister’s insistence. So we were set. Yeah, set. My ass.
A shrill scream less than ten minutes later and I flew into action again without thinking, rushing toward her terror-filled cry.
When I threw open the bathroom door, I hadn’t been prepared for the sight in front of me.
Her naked body glistening from the shower, her towel in her hand and she was swatting at something.
“What is going on?”
“A bug! There’s a bug the size of a small dog.”
Noticing a beetle the size of a peanut on the bathroom counter, I leaned against the doorjamb. I’d finally found something she was terrified of.
And I had to admit that I loved having control over her. “You’re afraid, huh?” I could stand here all day.
“Aren’t you going to kill it?”
I’d preferred staring at her luscious body, every curve exactly as I remembered. Yet I wouldn’t mind ensuring my fingers hadn’t lost their touch.
With my dick beating the same rhythm as the song against my zipper, I reminded myself of all the reasons this arrangement wasn’t going to work.
However, with the fear in her eyes, her strangled terror struck a nerve. Instead of killing it, I scooped the little insect into my hand, giving her a heated look.
As I was leaving the bathroom, her retort was classic Sloane.
“Once a hero, always a hero.”