with your… how did Ty put it?” He snaps his fingers in rapid succession and then dons a eureka expression. “Random stranger,” he spits the word like a curse.
My face flames, but I dig my heels in. “What did you want me to do? Announce it? It’s not as if anything can come of… us.”
His eyes narrow, and his expression grows even harder. “The only way that’s true is if everything that happened in Mexico was a lie.”
I suck in a breath and look down at the ground. He’s, unwittingly, given me the key to lock the door behind me when I walk away from him. If that’s the only way, then that’s what it will be.
“Well, then, maybe it was. I mean maybe it was nostalgia and pent up lust and a little too much sun.”
“Really?” His voice is low and dark and the hair on the back of my neck stands up. I can’t look at him and tell such a lie. I keep my eyes cast downward and nod.
I brace myself, waiting for him to say something. I should turn on my heel and run instead. His arm moves, fast as a whip, and wraps around my waist, as he drags me until our bodies are flush. He's rigid with anger, and yet, it’s the most comforting thing I’ve felt in months. I drop my head onto his chest.
He grips my chin and forces my face up. I close my eyes. “Fucking look at me, Regan.” His voice is a rasp of frustration.
I open my eyes, and my heart throbs with regret. I hate the shadows under his eyes, almost as much as I hate the naked pain in them.
“Was it a lie?” he demands, and I’m helpless in the face of his hurt. I don’t want to cause any more than I already have.
“I’m trying to do the right thing.” My words come out on a whimper.
“Me, too, dammit.” The flare of heat in his eyes and the low growl that rumbles between us is all the warning I have before his lips cover mine.
The heat of him, the divine taste of him, the way he kisses me like I belong to him – it makes my head spin.
He drags his mouth from mine and kisses his way down my face. “I told you that when I got here, I wouldn’t let you go.”
His words are like a splash of cold water. I won’t let another man manage me, tell me what to do, possess me.
Suddenly, his arms feel like a cage. I can’t breathe. I wrench away from his kiss, and without another word, turn and run for my life.
Out Of My System
Stone
It sets my teeth on edge with resentment to watch her run from me like I’m the man who hurt her. I’m not going to let her act like she’s the one who’s suffering. I follow her, my eyes on the long ponytail that swings as she walks.
And, of course, she looks good enough to eat. Her black slim fitting dress molds to her perfect ass and hugs her long lean thighs with each stride. Below the knee, her bare, shapely legs glow like they’ve got a spotlight on them. Her strappy gold heels slow her down and let me catch up with her, before she makes it to the door.
I wrap a hand around her bicep and spin her to face me. Her face is the picture of agony. But I tighten my hold on her and walk her backwards, until we hit her door. “You act like the world will end if people know that you fucked me. Are you ashamed of me?” I snarl.
Her eyes fly wide, and her full lips part to form a perfect circle. “ That’s not it,” she gasps, a hand to her heart as if she’s offended.
“Isn’t it?” I ask, shaking my head in disbelief. “I was good enough for an island fuck, but only if no one ever knows?”
“Stone!” she admonishes me in another pearl clutching gasp.
“Then tell me the truth. Because I know it’s not that you don’t want me.” I demand.
She crosses her arms and taps her foot, her expression turning frosty. “I’m surprised you even care. You and your girl seemed mighty cozy.” She puts the last words in air quotes.
“My girl? What are you talking about?” I feel like I’m in the twilight zone.
“I saw the pictures,” she growls, puts her hands on my chest and shoves me hard enough