Smug Bastard - Stacey Marie Brown Page 0,31

desire, aching to be touched. The craving between my thighs thumped like a heartbeat. Logic tried to put in Marcus, my ex, even a celebrity, but my head kept seeing him. The fantasy of Smith noticing me watching him, his strong body rising up and sauntering over to me, his eyes sharp on mine, leaving no doubt what we both wanted. His physique crawling over me, the feel of his skin and weight as I wrapped my legs around him. His mouth over my body, on my lips as he sank deep inside me, both of us moaning, giving in to the desire.

“He was a total asshat.” His deep voice jolted me out of my reverie and back to the present, my head jerking to him, flooding my cheeks with heat.

If he only knew I was not thinking about Marcus but what I had seen the night before. It was all I could think about, straining the air with anger, embarrassment, shame, and the worst… raw need. Smith was off limits. Someone I didn’t even like. It was just because we were put in this situation, spending long hours together.

“I promise the next douchebag we meet, I’ll let you screw until your heart’s desire.”

My mouth twisted, his sentiment causing more irritation to stab up my spine, shifting me in my seat again. I wanted to yell, scream, and I didn’t even know why.

He peered over at me when I didn’t respond, ire curling over his features as he shook his head. Agitation coiled the space between us. His phone buzzed, tugging his attention to it. An angry sound rumbled in this throat, and he tossed it on the dash, as if he’d like to do the same to the person on the other end.

“One of your many girlfriends?”

“I wish,” he muttered, adding to the prickles shooting off my skin.

“Oh. The ex then.” Jesus, did that sound as snotty as it did to me? Why was I so irritated? He could have as many girlfriends and exes as he wanted.

“You could say that.”

“What does that mean? You aren’t actually broken up?”

His brows furrowed, his gaze going to the side window, his non-answer turning my stomach.

“Oh.” The single word felt like a bomb, sounding much more turbulent than it should have.

I shouldn’t have cared at all what his relationship status was. Except Kasey would be very upset, her latest text still sitting in my messages wanting me to send her a picture of him, asking what he was like now.

“It’s complicated.” He stared out the window.

“Always is.” Okay, who was the bitch hijacking my voice? I. Don’t. Care. But my mouth kept moving. “When you have a girlfriend, on a trip alone with another, and was about to sleep with someone last night… I could see how things gets complicated.”

“First, you know nothing about me or what’s really going on.” His head snapped to me, fury igniting his eyes. “Two, I wasn’t going to sleep with that girl.” Total lie. I saw them together. “And last… there is nothing to worry about here.” He motioned between us. “Nothing is going on or ever will. You’re like a little sister to me.”

Ouch.

Acid bubbled up my esophagus like a volcano, charring everything as it filled my mouth, pushing out my response like a dragon. “Good thing.” I snapped. “Because I feel the same. Worse, actually.”

“Good thing then.”

“Yep, good thing.” I popped my lips, my fingers gripping the wheel so tight it hurt.

Tension sprang around us like thorns, tearing at our flesh. The silence sat on my chest, squeezing the air from my lungs. My mind rolled around insults and thoughts until I swore they could be heard out loud.

We drove in silence, the friction so palpable Goat moved around like he was upset, popping his head between us with a whimper.

Smith automatically started petting him, cooing softly. His sweetness to my dog only brushed at my skin wrong, locking my teeth together.

I hate him. I hate him.

The problem was I didn’t have anything to back it up anymore—or maybe ever. And I wanted to… needed to. Desperately.

I couldn’t be attracted to Smith. The Smug Bastard himself. No. That was not an option. Holding on to my twelve-year-old hate for the arrogant guy was in my best interest. And honestly, he hadn’t seemed to change. Still the same cocky asshole.

“Turn in there.” Smith jabbed his finger at a rest stop not far away.

“What? Why?”

“Just turn in,” he huffed, spiking the need to push on my