Chapter Fifteen
Addison had taken a shower and put on leggings and a t-shirt.
She wasn’t expecting anyone, so she hadn’t bothered drying her hair or putting on makeup.
She was looking forward to a lazy quiet day.
That was abruptly ruined when she heard the rumbling engine coming down her street.
She expected it to pass by, but it got louder until it cut off.
She made her way to the front door to peek out the window, but the sharp knock had her jumping back. What the hell? She angled her head toward the window, seeing him standing on the porch. She opened the door, glancing up at Cross.
“What are you doing here?”
“You left.”
Of course she did. Had he expected her to stay? She backed up when he started forward, practically barging into her house. “Yeah, sure come on in, Cross. Don’t wait for an invitation.”
He circled around her living room and stopped in the center, grasping his hips. “We need to talk.”
“Okay.” She slowly closed the door. “About what?”
He lifted his chin. “You like being in my bed last night?”
She sucked in a breath. Could he get more forward with his line of questioning? No. Heat spread from her chest to her cheeks and she rounded the coffee table, creating distance. A barrier of sorts. Truthfully, she didn’t trust herself around him.
“What kind of question is that?”
He arched his brow. “A yes or no one?”
It wasn’t that simple. Considering their history, admitting anything left her in a vulnerable position with a man who ran hot and cold at every turn. But honestly, yes, I liked it. A little too much.
“Well,” she swallowed the lump in her throat. “I could ask you the same thing. Did you like having me in your bed last night?”
“Yeah. See how fucking easy that was.” He narrowed his gaze. “And I would’ve liked you there this morning. But you fucking took off.”
What the hell is happening? He wanted her to stay? Then shouldn’t he have mentioned that at some point? I’m not a goddamn mind reader.
“Wait a minute,” she held up her hand, a wave of fury rushing through her veins. “You ordered me to stay last night, Cross.”
“Yeah.”
She widened her eyes. “There was never a mention of this morning and since we’re on the subject, if you want me in your bed, how about an invitation rather than an order.”
His jaw squared. “You want that written or verbal?”
She scoffed, twisting her lips. “You’re being an asshole.”
“At least, I’m fucking honest.”
She flinched as if she’d been struck. What the hell was he talking about? She’d been honest and more vulnerable with him than most people in her life.
“And I’m not?”
His scowl deepened. “That night at the clubhouse. Why did you leave?”
Addison snorted. “Are you serious?”
Everything in his expression confirmed he was, but he didn’t answer. Instead, he sent a seething scowl her way.
“You told me to leave your room.” She lifted her brows, mockingly. “Remember?”
“Also told you I’d come find you. You said you’d be at the bar.” His jaw hardened. “You weren’t.”
Wait, did he actually look for her? Don’t get distracted! The two of them hate-fucked, then he dismissed her. And somehow, he’s mad? Her brain couldn’t handle another mindfuck.
“You got a lot of nerve questioning me about that night.”
He lifted his chin. “How do you fucking figure?”
Really, Cross?
She folded her arms. “Well, let’s see. You hate-fucked me on your dirty couch where you’ve probably had hundreds of women.
Then, instead of walking me out, you tell me to basically go wait for you.
A dick move but I went along with it. That is until keg-girl filled me in.
She wanted to make sure I didn’t get anything twisted.
A true girls-girl looking out for me.” Her tone was laced in sarcasm.
“So, I was informed that I shouldn’t feel special ’cause you fucked everyone on the couch, and while I may have been the first of the night, I certainly wouldn’t be the last.”
His gaze darkened. “That’s bullshit.”
“Well, she didn’t get the couch part wrong, Cross, did she?”
He drew in a breath, dragging his hand over his mouth.
She held up her finger. “And I know I wasn’t the last woman that night with you. But out of curiosity, was she?”
He dropped his hand to his side, glaring. “What the fuck are you talking about?”
Addison snorted. “Are you seriously going to deny something I saw with my own eyes?”
“You’re full of shit ’cause that never fucking happened. I was only with you. Spent the rest of the night with Cue and Ghost at the clubhouse. And Cleo. You don’t believe me, ask her. She’ll tell you.”
“I saw you!” She shouted, losing all semblance of control.
“What did you see?”
“Keg-girl walked down to your room and knocked. And then you let her in.”
He stilled and angled his head. “That’s not what you saw.”
This man was unbelievable. Was he trying to gaslight her? That was absolutely what she saw.
“Yes, it is.”
“No!” he barked and stalked to her. “What you saw was her knock on my door, and then she let herself in.”
Addison replayed it over in her head. Keg-girl did reach for the door knob. She wouldn’t have done that if Cross had opened it for her. She shook her head. I won’t get caught up on a technicality.
“Well, you obviously told her to come in.”
“Yeah, I fucking did, because I thought it was you.” He pointed at her. “And when she came in, I kicked her ass out seconds later.”
Oh. Addison had left after keg-girl walked in, so she had no idea if he was telling the truth. But he did offer up Cleo as a witness. Why would he do that if he was lying?
“I searched the whole house for you. Then Cleo came in and said she got your text that you were sick or some shit and left. You want to know what that told me? You regretted being with me, and you bolted.”
What?
“I didn’t regret it.” She muttered, clasping her hands.
He lifted his chin. “What about last night?”
She circled around the coffee table, stopping a few inches from him. “I don’t regret that either.”
Cross shook his head and a small smile emerged. “Then, why the fuck are we fighting about this?”
Addison chuckled, shrugging. “I don’t know.”
Could this all have been one giant misunderstanding? Cross seemed to think so and showed no signs of leaving. She watched as he glanced around the room and his features eased. Something was happening between them. Bigger than either of them could’ve ever expected.
“This is probably a mistake,” she said.
Cross’s lips twitched, and he gave a careless shrug. “Maybe.”
“And it’ll probably complicate things.”
“It might.”
“And knowing all that, you still want to hate fuck, huh?” Her tone was dripping with sarcasm, in an effort to lighten the mood.
Cross stepped closer, forcing her back to the wall. “I think we’re beyond the hate.”
She pouted. “But hate fucking was so much fun.”
Cross sighed, shaking his head. “Baby, I have no doubt you’ll piss me off again. You can definitely count on another hate fuck in your future.”
“And they say romance is dead.”
She slowly reached out, clasping his hand. Cross stepped closer, tightening his grip and grabbing her neck, stroking her jaw with his thumb. He was moving too slow for her liking. I want more!
Addison lunged closer, pressing her lips against his mouth.
Making the first move had never been her MO.
Until now. There was no resistance on his end.
Cross kissed her with so much passion; there was no denying this was what they both wanted.
They never broke from the kiss as he walked her down the hallway.
When he veered right, she grasped his shirt, pulling him into her bedroom.
Had she known she was having a guest, she would’ve straightened up.
It was an odd thought since Cross didn’t seem the least concerned about the state of her room.
His hands gripped her jaw as his tongue tangled with hers. Getting naked was her only agenda. Or so she thought.
When he reached for the edge of her shirt, Addison turned her head and grabbed his wrists. She hadn’t thought this far. Her heartrate spiked, and her belly twisted into a tight knot.
“There a problem?” His husky tone sent a shiver down her spine. Up until this moment, the only problem had been her incessant need to get naked. Now? It was as if she’d been doused with a bucket of ice-cold water. For anyone else, this wouldn’t be an issue. But for her? With Cross? It’s a problem.
“No” —she cleared her throat, releasing his wrists and stepping away— “I’m gonna leave my shirt on.”
His brows furrowed. “Why?”
She sucked in a breath. Addison didn’t want to explain herself. It would worsen the already uncomfortable situation. Think!
And just like that, she came up with an alternative. She reached behind her back, under her shirt, and unclasped her bra. She pulled the straps through the arm openings on either side, taking off her bra and tossing it onto the floor at his feet.
Cross looked down then lifted his gaze to meet her stare. Addison forced a smile.
“That’s my compromise.” She wasn’t sure what she thought would happen, but her reality was awkward with Cross standing a few feet away, clearly not happy.
“What the fuck is going on?”
Addison shrugged, doing her best to play it off. “Nothing. I prefer to keep my shirt on. I did it the first time and last night. You didn’t have a problem with it.” She paused. “It shouldn’t be an issue now.”
Confusion marred his features. Of course it would. Most women would get naked for this man without hesitation. And they certainly wouldn’t need to use any bargaining tools. But I’m not like them.
“Yeah, well, it is.” He eyed her suspiciously, his gaze shifting over her chest. “Take it off.”
She swallowed the knot in her throat. “No.”
Cross stared at her, and she was half expecting him to leave. After ten seconds, she was kind of hoping he would. This had become way too awkward. The shirt had now become the focal point, and sex had been sidelined. Where’s the fun in that?