Damaged (Boys of Winter #2) - Sheridan Anne Page 0,44

cell without Carver’s arms around me, I sleep peacefully, the monsters kept at bay.

CHAPTER 11

Grayson leans back in his chair, his eyes roaming over my body as though he doesn’t even realize that he’s doing it. The confusion seeps out of him, but it’s clouded by intrigue. I watch him back, wondering just what he’d do if I was to cross the room and straddle his lap. Would he push me away or pull me in? All I know is that three nights ago, his lips were only an inch from mine, and kissing him is all I’ve been able to think about. You know—when Carver isn’t taking up all the space inside my head.

Cruz’s scoff from the dining table breaks our trance and I look his way, watching as he rolls his eyes at Grayson. “Get in line, bro,” he tells him. “I’ve been trying to seal the deal for three days, but Carver keeps cock blocking me.”

“You’re more than welcome to go and fuck in your own house,” Carver calls from the living room.

“With my parents and my little brothers knocking at the door? Yeah fucking right.”

Carver grumbles under his breath. “At least you’ve got your brothers.”

Cruz’s face twists with a cringe just as I feel like I’ve been shot straight through the heart. That one stung. Both Cruz and King glance my way and I shake my head, not wanting to see their pity. Every time I’m reminded of what Carver lost to save me, a little piece of me dies inside. I still can’t believe that he sacrificed his family for me. He gave up the one thing I’ve always wanted, and it’s killing me that he won’t just give me two seconds to talk to him about it. I don’t know if he’s too hurt to even think about it, or just being a stubborn asshole, but I need to fix this. I just don’t know how.

Letting out a sigh, I get up from the table and make my way into the living room, feeling the guys’ eyes on me, carefully watching my every step, but I don’t care. I’m determined to fix this. If only I could get him to loosen up. Maybe then he’ll be happy to talk it through.

Carver sits back on the couch, his feet up and looking like the best kind of meal in his white long-sleeved shirt with his sleeves pushed up to his elbows and showing off his strong forearms. My mouth waters just looking at him, but when he raises those dark stormy eyes to meet mine, my heart shatters.

He raises off the couch and walks toward me. His heavy stare remains locked on mine, and with each passing step, the tension in the room intensifies until he’s right before me. He passes so closely that the soft material of his shirt gently grazes my arm, and as he goes, that manly scent teases my senses.

I spin around, watching as he goes. “Seriously?” I demand. “That’s it? That’s all I’m going to get from you?”

Carver scoffs and turns on his heel, stepping back into me. “What do you want me to say, Winter? You want me to wrap my arms around you and tell you that it’s all going to be okay? You want me to just forget that you killed my father on a fucking dance floor in front of every member of Dynasty? You want me to pretend that you didn’t fuck everything up for me?”

“I—”

“No. It ain’t going to happen. You can’t just wave your magical little pussy around and make everything go away. That’s not how the real world works, babe. You forced my hand, and yet somehow, you come out of this looking like the innocent little victim.”

“Carver, just—”

He grabs me, pushing me up against the wall and stepping right into me, so close that I can feel the rapid beat of his chest under my hand. “Every time I see your fucking face all I can think about is my hand wrapped around your throat, squeezing it until you couldn’t fucking breathe. That’s what you did to me.”

He stares right into my eyes, both of us breathing hard until Grayson steps in behind him. “Come on, bro. Take a walk. You both need to cool off.”

Carver clenches his jaw, absolutely hating when one of the guys tells him when to back off, but right now, I’m grateful for it. My fingers curl into a fist, capturing his shirt in my hand,