Edge Of Darkness (Arrow's Edge MC #2) - Freya Barker Page 0,20

I ignore. I’m all for equal rights and all that shit, but I draw the line at letting a woman pay for me. I don’t much care what that says about me.

We’re watching the news while eating when Lissie suddenly turns down the volume on the TV and turns to me.

“Why did you knock on my door?” I turn to look at her. “I’m asking because I almost stopped at yours.”

“Not sure,” I tell her honestly. “I was restless. Then I heard your truck and wanted to see you.”

She nods at that before she asks, “Why did you kiss me?”

I just shoved a bite of pizza in my mouth, which gives me a minute to think about an answer while I chew.

“Wasn’t a choice.”

She looks surprised first, then annoyed.

“Well, you didn’t exactly trip and fall on my face, Yuma.” She jerks her gaze back to the TV.

I bite off a grin at her snippy response and slide off the stool, sitting down on the couch beside her. I reach out and, with my fingers lightly on her chin, turn her to face me.

“It was instinct.” I lean in and lightly brush her lips. “As natural as breathing.”

“Then why did you stop?”

I lift my head up a little and study her face. She’d seemed very matter-of-fact earlier when I pulled away from her, but now I see the confusion in her eyes.

“Because you could easily become my next addiction, Lissie.”

“Oh.”

I lightly brush my thumb along her jaw, as she appears to process my words.

“Doesn’t it worry you?”

She shakes her head. “No, I don’t think so. I drank to numb myself from life. It almost cost me everything I worked hard for. Numbing myself is furthest from my mind when it comes to you…to this…whatever it is.” She waves her hand between us.

“They advise against relationships the first year of sobriety.”

“I’m aware of that,” she acknowledges.

“Especially between two recovering alcoholics,” I add.

“I’ve heard that too.”

I’m getting frustrated; it would be easier if she agreed this isn’t a good idea. Instead she seems almost flippant, and that annoys me.

“I told you before I’m not a good person, Lissie. Sobriety is new to me. Was hard to get even to this point. I’m scared every day I’ll screw it up. I know people around me are waiting for me to screw up. Fucking feels like having to learn to walk all over again, but at every bump in the road, my first thought is a drink. I’m not sure I trust myself.”

Don’t know why me spilling my guts has her smiling, but it does. She pulls a leg under her and twists her whole body toward me, grabbing my hand.

“And yet tonight you knocked on my door. You didn’t go to a bar and stare into a shot glass all night in some kind of dare with yourself. You came here.”

“You’re a temptation.”

That makes her grin wider.

“Perhaps, but I’m not out to hurt you and if I tempt you away from a drink, then what’s the harm in that?”

I try to think of something, but nothing comes to mind right now. Hard to be sensible when a gorgeous woman is smiling at you with heat in her eyes.

“Sex and booze always went hand in hand for me. Quick and easy.”

She comes willingly when I pull her on my lap, her hand immediately going for my face as she leans in and brushes my mouth with her lips.

“Then we’ll take it nice and slow,” is her easy response.

CHAPTER 8

Lissie

“WHERE ARE YOU going?”

Lisa’s granddaughter, Kiara, is standing at the top of the stairs; her pink backpack slung over one shoulder.

“To work. Are you going to school?”

“Yes. I’m in kindergarten already,” she says proudly.

“That’s amazing. Do you like it?”

She nods with a serious face. “Ms. Jonkers is da bestest teacher. She got a guinea pig. I’m gonna look after it for a whole weekend next month.”

“Really? That’s exciting.”

Just then Lisa walks out, almost dragging Ezrah behind her.

“Ezrah is in trouble,” Kiara explains, talking in an ineffective stage whisper that is not fooling anyone. Least of all Ezrah, who glares at his little sister.

“Shu—”

“Do not finish that, boy,” Lisa admonishes him sternly. “That would be another strike against you, and trust me, you don’t want the consequences of that.” It serves to quiet her grandson but doesn’t stop him from scowling angrily. Lisa clicks the remote on her old Toyota. “Get in the car, both of you. No lip, Ezrah.” She wags a finger in his face. “And