don't need me out here to see you ride away," she said.
He shifted, leaning his shoulder against the house so that he could see her. She'd put on a robe, and her hair was wet. It hadn't taken her long to wash him off her body.
"Faye..." He exhaled harshly. "I'm—"
"Don't you dare apologize." She pulled her robe tighter and crossed her arms. "I'm not a child. I never coaxed you into sleeping with me, and you weren't drunk. Don't make excuses this time."
He flinched. Would he ever be able to make the past up to her? Would he ever be able to let go of what he'd done?
"I thought this time it was different." Her voice broke. "Go in front of Priest and the others and let them know I'm no longer your woman. I can't keep living like this. You give me you, and then you go away."
"You were right there with me, taking my cock, moaning my name," he said.
"Of course, I was. It's no secret that I've always wanted you. God, Curley. Everyone around us can see how I feel about you," she blurted.
"You shouldn't."
"If you would stop being such an asshole, you'd realize there is nothing wrong with how we feel about each other." She sighed. "And once again, you've left me feeling pathetic and ashamed about my feelings. I'm tired of living this way. I rather you split and go through whatever it is you need to do to get rid of me."
"You're mine." He searched in his vest pocket for his smokes, wishing he was cuddled up with a whiskey bottle at home. "I'm not giving you up."
"Why?"
He straightened and stepped in front of her. Close enough, the fresh scent clinging to her after her shower hardened his cock again.
"That's my business." He hooked her neck, dragged her to him, and captured her mouth.
Her lips softened, and she took his tongue before she squirmed and clamped her teeth together. He held her close and repeated, "You're mine."
Backing away from her, he forced himself to turn and walk toward the driveway. He was asking too much of her to quietly be with him without asking why he wanted her. The best thing he could do was keep his distance.
In the dark, a shadow sailed by his head. He ducked, pulling out his pistol when something landed in front of him with a broken crash. He squinted his eyes, making out the scattered remains of a ceramic garden gnome he remembered seeing in the flowerbed beside the front door over the years.
He looked over his shoulder. Faye bent over, picking up another gnome from Grandma June's collection.
"You better think twice before you throw that at me."
Even from ten feet apart and only the street light dimly lighting the front porch, Faye glared. She brought back her arm and hurled the figurine through the air. He sidestepped, watching the gnome shatter on the concrete beside him.
Before he could reach her, she'd picked up another one. Grabbing her wrist, he squeezed until she dropped the gnome. She fought him. Opening the door while her smaller fists pummeled his shoulder, he used his body to push her back into the house before the neighbors called the police at the noise going on after midnight.
"Go home." She shoved him.
He never budged. Instead, he picked her up and hauled her to the bedroom, tossing her on the bed.
She scrambled to a sitting position, ready to come at him again. He shucked his vest.
"Don't move," he barked.
She stilled. Her gaze swept over him as he took off his clothes. Down to his jeans and boots, he sat on the edge of the bed and bent over to undo the laces.
"What are you doing?"
"Going to bed."
"Here?"
"Yeah." He kicked off his boots, caught her before she could get off the bed, and tossed her back on her side.
He had his jeans and boxers off and had settled on the mattress before she could find another way to escape. Pulling her prone beside him, he wrapped his arms around her.
"Go to sleep. We have a bar to whip into shape and open. We both need our rest." He inhaled deeply, realizing the room was still lit up from the ceiling light. If he got up, she'd leave the bed, and it'd take another fight with her to get her to go to sleep. "Close your eyes. You won't even see the light."
Several minutes passed. He relaxed when she stayed beside him.
His breathing and thoughts slowed