Full Contact (Worth the Fight #2) - Sidney Halston Page 0,2

began to cackle. “You know in school when kids trace their hands to draw a turkey?” He shrugged uncertainly, and she continued. “You have five fingers perfectly imprinted in bright red on each cheek. It looks like one of those hand turkeys. They slapped you good, playboy.”

“Ha. Ha.”

“I can’t believe they were ready to fight like that over you. I mean, really, you’re great to look at and all, but seriously? I mean, have some self-respect. And that smile. Oh, please. How could they fall for the world’s cheesiest, most insincere smile? You need better-quality women, Slade.”

“Don’t laugh, sweetheart. First, it was completely sincere. Second, I think you got a little jealous there and you’re using humor to deflect.”

“I am not jealous. You just got bitch-slapped and it was funny as hell.”

He rolled his eyes, ignoring her comment. “And third, if you’d had me, you’d fight for me too.” He cocked his scarred eyebrow.

Then he gave her the smile. The corners of his full lips tilted and curved up; his perfect white teeth sparkled. The amusement lit his face all the way to his blue eyes, which crinkled at the corners.

And…she went all gooey inside. He’s right. I’d totally slap a bitch right now. Damn him.

In an attempt to break herself out of her smile-induced trance, she shoved his shoulder. “I don’t know about that. No offense, but I couldn’t date someone who had a harem.”

“I don’t have a harem.”

“I beg to differ.”

“Well, I bet if you finally gave in to what we both know you want and went on a date with me, you’d be falling all over yourself if you thought another woman was sniffing around.”

“Cocky bastard.”

“Mmm…I like it when you say cock.”

Jessica laughed so hard she had to wipe the tears from her eyes. “Pig. And anyway, I don’t get jealous.”

“Bullshit. Everyone gets jealous, especially women.”

“Not me. It’s not in me. Never been jealous.”

“You probably just haven’t been with a man you’ve really liked.”

“Arrogant.”

“I prefer cocky,” he said.

She grinned. She loved Slade’s sense of humor. His light and carefree disposition in general was such a breath of fresh air.

“Slade, you’ve been awesome. I’m so grateful that you’ve been taking care of me and driving me to physical therapy almost daily for the past couple of weeks, but really, I think it’s time I went home.”

“Of course I drove you to PT—the therapist kept hitting on you.” Slade smiled. “Okay, well, if you’re feeling better and want to leave, then you owe me a date. You know, for being on my best behavior for the last two weeks, and for putting up with the uncomfortable bed…it’s only fair, don’t you think?” he said with an impish grin.

She thought back on the past few weeks. When she’d been discharged, he practically picked her up and dragged her to his house. He’d refused to leave her alone even though she said she could manage. The first day or two had been a little awkward. The mutual attraction that had been there since they met still hummed in the background. But Slade really had been amazing.

When they had arrived at Slade’s house, the first thing Jessica had wanted to do was take a shower and get the hospital off her skin. Slade had set her up in his bedroom, insisting that he was fine with staying in his sister’s old room. Jessica struggled to get undressed, but her shirt kept getting tangled up around the cast on her arm. She tried in vain to take the shirt off but ended up knocking her elbow into the dresser instead. “Shit!”

Slade must’ve heard her yelp, because he rushed into the room without so much as a knock. Even though she wasn’t completely nude, she crimsoned as soon as she saw him, watching as his eyes trailed down her mostly naked torso. She tried to shoo him away, but he just walked closer to her and gently finished removing the shirt. Then, if she wasn’t already embarrassed enough, he unbuttoned her jeans and lowered them. If she had not protested, she was certain that he would’ve helped her with her panties and bra too. He was still on his knees, eye level with her crotch, when she saw him close his eyes and heard him groan. “Will I sound like a completely sick son of a bitch if I tell you I’m thinking about how easy it would be to take advantage of you now that you don’t have use of that hand? And