Fighting with family sucks. Big time. As much as I was pissed off at Mason and needed some space from him, it hurt like hell to fight like that with him. After that disastrous dinner I just didn’t feel like myself, whatever in the hell that meant. I felt withdrawn, and even more quick tempered, except when I had the tattoo gun or piercing needles in my hand. Work was the only thing that made me feel normal.

I hated it.

And what I hated even worse were the worried looks Mason sent me in those rare moments I ventured to the other side of the privacy shield. I didn’t need him or anyone else worrying about me. My life was my own and I took care of myself the way I had for most of my life. But that glimmer of worry in my brother’s eyes stuck in my throat, because I wanted it to be real. I wanted that concern to be over me, not over another problem he thought he’d have to solve for me.

Luckily for me Tuesdays were slow, and I had no appointments scheduled which meant I could sit inside the house with the blinds drawn, watching television from the comfort of my bedroom. Davis was pulling a forty eight hour shift which meant there was no one to encourage me to shower or get out of bed or leave the house. It was perfect, and I was deep into some pretty world class wallowing when I heard movement downstairs.

Please don’t let it be Mason. I wouldn’t put it past him to barge in just to check on me, but I would ream him if he did since I was officially a paying tenant now. “Mags, you here?”

Davis. Just the thought of his name had certain parts of my body standing up and doing a little dance. Two days was a long time to go without seeing him even though it was exactly what I wanted, okay not wanted, but it was what I needed. Getting too attached to Davis would make it hard to leave when the time came. I was still reaching out to people in my network, but Aunt Mae and her crew were still deep in sabotage mode.

Which meant divorcing Davis wasn’t going to happen. Yet. “Up here,” I finally called out, but not loud enough to be heard. It didn’t matter because his heavy footsteps grew closer and closer until his big, muscular body took up the doorway leading to my bedroom.

He smiled, bracing his arms on either side of the door. “There you are. How are you feeling?” His voice went all soft and manly with concern, blond brows furrowed with worry.

“I’m fine, Davis. You’re the one who should be dead on his feet. Stop worrying about me and go get some sleep.”

“I slept all night and got a nice long workout in this morning so I’m good to go. Hungry?”

“Nope.” That was a lie and about five seconds later my stomach roared with all the ferocity of a bear, giving it away. “Okay, maybe.”

“Meet me downstairs in ten. And Magenta?” His gaze scanned the bedroom, landing on my two bags that were half packed against the wall, the small flat screen TV that sat on a plain pine table and the queen size bed. The room was furnished, but undecorated.

“Yeah?” I held my breath, waiting for him to suggest that I add a few personal touches to the room or something similar.

“Take a shower before you come down, you’re starting to smell.” I tossed a pillow at his laughing face but he easily dodged it.

“I do not!” Though just to be sure I gave myself a quick armpit check once his footsteps retraced the steps through the house.

“Maybe. Maybe not. But I love the way you smell fresh from the shower!”

Yeah okay, that was a good reason. Ten minutes later I was showered and dressed in jeans and a tank top as I made my way to the living room. “I smell pizza and buffalo sauce.”

Davis looked over his shoulder with a smile, his gaze giving my body a long heated perusal. The male appreciation in his eyes warmed me through and through, searing the spots his blue gaze lingered on. “I brought food to make you feel better.”

Arms crossed and immediately defensive, the words were out before I could stop them. “Who says I need to feel better?”

“Mags,” he sighed and patted the spot beside him on the sofa. When I took the seat, reluctantly, Davis wrapped a big arm around me and tugged me close. “Brothers suck.”

His words made me smile. “Yeah, they do.”

“I hear the best cure for that is pizza, wings and beer.” His proud grin drew my attention to the coffee with an extra-large pizza box, a box of wings and a big bucket of beer.

“Didn’t know there was a cure, but I’m down to try a treatment or two.” Reaching forward I froze and pulled back, swiveling to look at Davis. “Thank you for this. You didn’t have to do it, but I’m glad you did.”

His gaze softened like I mattered to him, and I could admit that it was a good feeling. An addictive one that gave me a hint of what Vivi and Maddie felt. Trish too, I could admit. Reluctantly. “You’re too lively Mags, too much woman to ever be sad for long.”

I wasn’t sure if that was a compliment or not, so I smiled and put a hand to his cheek. “Thanks for giving a damn, Davis.”

“Always.”

I tried not to let that word matter. Always. It was a word people used with no intention of ever seeing it through. Everyone promised they’d always be there, always look out for you, always give a damn, and they never did. As far as I could tell, ‘always’ had a shelf life that ranged from a few months to a couple years, and no more. But I didn’t want to break the cocoon of intimacy between us, so I didn’t say that. I flipped open the box of spicy ginger wings and bit into one.

“That’s so good.” The tangy ginger along with the hot sauce hit my tongue, sending off explosions of flavor that pulled a moan from me.

“Works like a charm. Every time.”

I couldn’t remember the last time someone who wasn’t Mason had brought me food just to cheer me up. It was kind of nice. Too nice. The kind of nice that would be easy to get used to, which meant it would hurt that much worse when it inevitably ended. “I don’t feel cured, but I do feel better so thank you.”

We ate in silence, but it was comfortable. Not that oppressive kind that had existed a few weeks ago. I ate two slices of pizza and at least half the wings before tapping out and leaning back with both hands cradling my belly. “That was delicious.”

Davis chuckled and dropped a hand onto my thigh. “And you even left some food for me. So sweet.”

I cut a glare at him. “There’s plenty of pizza left for both of us. If you wanted more wings, then I suggest you move faster, old man.” I let out a low moan when his fingers dug into my leg, kneading gently.

“Who you calling old?”

“If the walker fits, decorate it with tennis balls.” His affronted look sent me into a fit of uncontrollable giggles.

“Very funny, Mags.” He grabbed me by the arm and pulled me close until I straddled his lap. “Food really does put you in a fantastic mood doesn’t it?”

I gave an exaggerated nod, admittedly feeling a little bit better than I had before. “Hot wings and stringy mozzarella really do it for me.”

“I guess it’s a good thing I stopped to get that sexy mozzarella costume, isn’t it?”

He was too irresistible, especially when he was making jokes to relieve the tension I felt. “I’ll let you know once I get a look at it.” I pushed back to move from his lap but Davis tightened his grip to keep me right where I was, cradled against his hard, and growing harder by the second erection.

“Maybe later.” His words came out a soft, seductive whisper as he pulled me close until our lips touched, teased, tangled together. The whole room grew hotter by the second, my skin was singed on the surface even while my body fought to get closer to the fire, needed to get closer to the fire even knowing I would get burned.

Davis teased me with his tongue, his lips and his teeth, kissing me like every stroke was a declaration of something big and important. Something I wasn’t sure I wanted, but couldn’t back away from just the same. So I stopped worrying about it as his hand slid under my shirt, hot rough hands gliding over my delicate skin and I threw myself into the kiss.

Into every fiery moment, every glide of our lips and every sweep of our tongues, because it was the kind of storm you couldn’t run away from. It stranded me right there on the precipice of the storm, unable to escape. I got so swept up in the kiss that before knew it, my hips were grinding up and down the length of him.

Davis pulled back first with a deep growl. “Magenta, you make me forget myself.”

“Good.” I couldn’t hide the smile his words caused even though I knew I should have. Letting Davis seem me go all soft and gooey would only make him think I could do this. “Come here and forget some more.”

“Later. Right now, we have plans.”

“We do?” My brows arched in confusion.

“Yeah, we do. Get some shoes on, I’m driving.”

“Says who? I’m perfectly capable of driving.” It was a stupid reason to argue, but I was weak where Davis was concerned so I had to push back where I could.

“I know that you stubborn woman, but I’m driving since I know where we’re going.” Big hands gripped my ass and pulled me close, so I took the hint and ground on him some more. “Ah, Magenta.”

“If you tell me, then I’ll know too.” We kissed again. God, the man kissed the way he did everything, with skilled precision and total focus. Breathless, I pulled back. “So where are we going?”

He smiled. “It’s a surprise. Put on those boots you love so much, they’re perfect.”

I stopped myself from arguing again and slid back until my feet hit the floor. “Fine, but don’t get used to me being so easy.”

“I love that you’re not easy Mags, it makes it so much more rewarding when you finally give in. In and out of bed,” he clarified and stood, brushing another kiss across my mouth before waltzing away. “This train leaves in five minutes.”

I wondered where we were going, and then I realized I didn’t give a damn. Being with Davis was the best part of my days lately.

Another fact I didn’t want to examine too closely.