“Good, there’s hope for you yet. I knew there was a decent guy in there somewhere.” I attempted to smile at him.
He didn’t smile back. Instead, he leaned in and glowered down at me.
“I wouldn’t be too hopeful, snowflake. Do yourself a favor and quit deluding yourself into thinking there’s anything even remotely decent about me. I make the guy your daddy warned you about look like a little bitch. I get high, I drink, and I like to fuck. If you’re as smart as I think you are, you’ll jog your pretty little ass back to Pleasantville and stay away from me.” He licked his thick lips in emphasis before he lifted his beer and downed it like it was water.
“You just proved my point. Only a nice guy would give a girl like me that kind of warning.”
There was more to him than just sex, drugs, and music. I’d gotten a glimpse of the decent guy he kept locked inside. He could try and hide from me all he wanted, but I knew the truth. He was good. He could’ve left me to die, but he didn’t. He could’ve taken full advantage of me in his room that night, but he didn’t.
Sometimes when he looked at me, I saw more in his eyes. I wasn’t sure what it was, but it was a spark of something that begged to be released. It wasn’t the delusions of a girl with a crush. I wasn’t seeing things that weren’t there.
He moved quickly and pressed me up against the wall. His large hands captured the sides of my waist and gently squeezed. My ribs ached and protested, but I didn’t show any pain. Leaning down, he ran his lips up the side of my neck until I could feel his breath against my hairline. He nipped at my earlobe and then planted a soft kiss behind my ear. My legs wobbled and my eyes closed.
“You’re doing it again, pretty girl,” he whispered. The smell of vodka roamed around me. “You need to understand the nature of the beast. Even a rattlesnake hisses in warning before he attacks.”
I swallowed hard and took a deep breath. “You wouldn’t attack me.”
“You bet your sexy khaki-covered ass I would.”
“Then do it.” I dared him.
He leaned back and looked down at me with an arrogant smile.
“Nah, you haven’t earned it. Plus, I have a thing for redheads.” He fingered a strand of my hair.
And just like that I was pissed off. He was so annoying! He thought he was all that with his overconfident ass smothered in sexiness. He thought he was God’s gift wrapped in tattoos and piercings. It was like he expected women to drool over him. Well, damn him and damn me for doing exactly what he expected. I could practically feel the drool on the side of my mouth.
Did he think because he was baked in red-hot lust and seasoned with pheromones he could talk to people any way he wanted? Did he think because he could play the guitar all the women around him were just supposed to turn into Zeke groupies?
Sure, I totally wanted to throw my panties at him every time he played, but the point is he didn’t know that.
“You’re so aggravating. It’s like you live to piss me off and I’m over it, all of it. So go get your slutty little redhead. I’m glad she wants you so badly, because I sure as hell don’t. I really couldn’t give a shit less about what you do with her. I hope you fuck her until her face falls off. ” I turned away and flicked my blond hair with the back of my fingers, making sure it whipped him in the face.
He grabbed a fist full of it and gently tugged me against him. His warm body was pressed against my back. His strong heartbeat slammed into my shoulder, reminding me how tall and big he was. His breath tickled my cheek as he pressed his lips to my ear. Goosebumps invaded every inch of my skin and I shivered. He felt my shiver and chuckled softly. It was deep and dark… sexy.
“Spit all the lies you want, snowflake.” His hand snaked around me and under my shirt. My abdominal muscles clenched, making my ribs ache as he ran his finger around my belly button. “Your body spoke my language the other night and it said differently. I’m not stupid. I see the way you