Don't Need You - Lilian Monroe Page 0,6

turn the heat up higher as I speed away from my twin brother’s house, glancing in the rearview mirror.

Kit is tall, and even as I speed away, something clutches at my chest. Heat seeps into my veins, settling somewhere between my thighs.

My brother never mentioned Kit’s gorgeous. Out of this world. Strong jaw, broad shoulders, and ugh, that uniform. What is it about a man in a uniform? When I saw him at the airport, I had to hide behind the whole roommate schtick just to get over the fact that my core felt like it was on fire. I can still feel every stitch of clothing against my sensitive skin, especially the damp strip of cloth clinging to the space between my legs.

Kit smells like wood smoke and pine. Spicy and comforting, safe and dangerous all at once. When I wrapped my arms around him in the airport, I wasn’t expecting to feel the heat emanating from his body.

To someone who’s perpetually cold, it felt good. Too good, maybe.

As I stop at a red light, I put my hand over the car’s air vent to try to warm up my frozen fingers. I know it’s pointless—I’m always cold—but it feels good. From the inside out, I’m frozen. My whole body is one solid block of ice.

I wasn’t always like this. When I was young, they called me hot-headed. I had a fire burning inside me all the time. I could go outside in late November in a T-shirt and not even have goosebumps over my skin.

Now?

Frozen. Shivering. Wrapped in three layers of sweaters and still persistently glacial, right down to my cold, dead heart.

When I get inside my apartment, I drop the box of cannolis on the table and pinch the bridge of my nose.

I’m just embarrassed. Kit didn’t even seem that taken aback. He agreed to let me stay—but it’s the principle. What kind of first impression did I make? I’m supposed to live with the guy after an introduction like that?

He probably thinks I’m some kind of maniac.

Okay, I’ll admit. There was a tiny thrill in the depths of my belly when I saw Kit standing next to my brother. The way he looked at me made all my lady bits tingle, and not in an entirely innocent way.

And when I hugged him? That smell still lingers around me, like it’s been etched in my memory after only a few moments near him. My lady bits went from tingling to straight up thumping with every beat of my heart.

All I know is my gut clenched, and the thought of living in Kit’s house was suddenly a lot more exciting.

Now, though?

Fucking cringe.

When I blurted out the word roommate, his face went from interested to horrified. I wanted to shove my foot in my mouth. Or Robbie’s, with a bit more force.

I’m supposed to just spend all weekend with him and pretend I’m not mortified.

Thanks, Robbie.

I let out a sigh, standing in the middle of my apartment, trying to get a grip on myself. Sure, Kit’s attractive. There’s no denying that. He smells like man and looks like sex in a well-tailored uniform. His hands are broad, and they feel good splayed over my back. Or, I imagine, smacked across my ass cheek.

That’s not why I need to stay with him, though. Sex should be the last thing on my mind, no matter how much he makes my thighs clench. I’m not supposed to be interested in men. Jumping into bed with anyone is a disaster waiting to happen. I should be chaste right now as I try to get my life back together.

But life has a way of falling apart at every turn, doesn’t it?

For example, right now, when the lock on my apartment door clicks. The door swings open, and the one man I never want to see again steps into my apartment. My space. My sanctuary.

Angelo’s upper lip twitches and cold fear grips my spine. My ex-boyfriend has a mean temper, and he definitely shouldn’t have a key to my place.

“What are you doing here?” My voice trembles more than it should as fear sends a shot of ice water rushing through my veins. “Give me that key.”

“Nice to see you too, bella.” Angelo says the last word through clenched teeth. He steps into the apartment, closing the door behind him.

“You need to leave.” I do my best to stand straighter, but fear makes me want to crumple. Somehow, my body feels colder, like it’s slowly