Divided (Unguarded #2) - Ivy Stone Page 0,28

get your ass in the car without a fight.”

A sting sears my ass as she returns the favor. “Put me down, asshole. I said I’m sorry for wasting your time.”

The corner of my lips lift into a smile. This is what I admire about her. Through everything, she still has an attitude to match her strength.

“Forget it, Ali. Not putting you down till you agree to not argue with me. I’m taking you home to clean you up. Get out of these wet clothes and when that’s done, we can argue some more if that’s what you really want?”

I hear a sigh from behind me and her body becomes limp. “Okay, fine. Please let me down now before we both fall over in the wet.”

Her tone softens as does the sky. I curl my hands around her waist and lift her down from my shoulder slowly, careful, not to hurt her.

Big fucking mistake.

My cock hardens as her body slides down the front of me. Her stomach flattens against mine. Her tits brush down my chest. Hands explore my wide shoulders. Warmth floods me and shoots desire straight to my dick. Her lips part, breathing becoming shallow. Our eyes linger, one second longer than appropriate and the air between us changes.

My throat thickens. “Come on.”

I walk toward the car door and yank it open just as I hear Ali mutter under her breath, “You do have a nice ass.”

My head jolts up and I turn around, eyebrows furrowed. Her teeth shining through a huge smile and I tilt my head at her.

“What? It’s true.” She shrugs and climbs into the car.

My hands tighten around the doorframe and I narrow my eyes at her. “Don’t say things like that.”

She smirks and I shut the door on her.

This is gonna be a long night.

A shiver coats me with a layer of ice. Nerves. Desire. The coolness of wet clothes soaking my skin. My body can’t decipher which feeling’s more prominent.

I wrap my arms around my waist to gain warmth but it’s no use. I’m soaked through three layers of clothing and Roamyn standing a few feet away, back turned, taut muscles on display while he shuffles through his closet for another shirt isn’t helping. I blow out a breath and my reflection in Roamyn’s bathroom mirror catches in the corner of my eye.

I gravitate toward the bathroom, my eyes never leaving the girl staring back at me. My hand sweeps over my eye and I wince.

Roamyn appears behind me, dry, in a new tee and long pants. With a scowl etched on his face, he glares through the mirror at the purpling on my cheek.

“Ass up.” He chin lifts toward the vanity in front of me, and I turn around lifting myself up.

He kneels down, head between my legs and peers up at me with ocean blue hues mixed with the same dark greens of the overcast sky outside. My breath catches and the beating of my heart becomes a solitary sound. The only one I hear.

Roam drops his gaze and his invisible hold on me relinquishes. He reaches between us into a cupboard under the counter and pulls out a small medical kit. Standing up again, he traces his fingers over my knees. My skin flares under his touch. Color spreads to my cheeks and he pulls my knees apart so he can shift in between them. Ignoring my eyes gazing over at him, my chest rising and falling fast, he gets to work cleaning up my face.

My eyelids drift closed, soaking in the feeling of his tender hands, his caring touch. It should feel wrong.

Bad.

I should feel bad.

I called him and I shouldn’t have. Unease had wrapped itself around my heart then just as I can feel the pressure of it now. It was a risk even if I knew I wasn’t being followed. If Lucio had seen Roamyn—the more he gets involved—it could get us both killed. Roamyn doesn’t need to be dragged down into my mess. But the little broken girl in me doesn’t want to pull away from the only man who’s ever risked anything to save me. Cop or not. Maybe it stems back to Daddy issues because I could have called my sister. She would have been by my side in a heartbeat. But the ramifications of doing so weren’t worth the consequences bound to follow.

“I’m sorry for calling you in the middle of the night.”

Roamyn continues to wipe over my brow with a washcloth. Watching