I’M FURIOUS WITH MYSELF OVER the fact that I wasn’t able to stop myself from fucking Tegan, even with the thought of my best friend possibly catching us. He would’ve beat my ass for touching his sister after he warned me not to.
Stopping wasn’t an option for me at the time, because after seeing Parker place his lips where mine had just been, all I could think about was being inside her again.
I wanted her to feel me; wanted to be able to make her feel something that son of a bitch couldn’t tonight.
She might’ve told me that she planned on stopping him from kissing her, but I couldn’t give her the time she needed for that earlier, because the moment I saw his lips on hers, I saw red.
Who the hell was he to kiss her not even five minutes after my lips tasted and owned hers?
He didn’t know . . .
“Shit, I need to think rationally.”
I angrily toss my dirty shirt into the bathroom and sit on the edge of my bed, my head reeling.
I’ve never been overprotective and territorial over a woman before. Not to mention that I’ve never wanted to be with a woman more than once.
One night has always been my limit, because anything more and things get complicated. Feelings grow and attachments form and I just went and did that with Tegan.
It pisses me off that things have changed for the one person I was never supposed to touch in the first place.
My hands grip my hair as I try to figure out where to go from here. Do I pack up all my shit and leave before I’m able to fuck things up even more?
If I do that then Alexander will know I’m leaving for a reason, and I can’t have him angry with both of us.
It’s my fault that we’re in this situation to begin with.
I’m screwing with family by letting my heart win over my damn head, but . . . I’m addicted.
To her.
To her taste.
To the way she wants to get to know me.
To the way she feels beneath my body.
I’m completely fucking strung.
Get some air. You just need some air, Micah.
I stand and walk over to the dresser, pulling out a pair of shorts to run in.
I can’t sit here knowing that she’s upstairs alone in her bed, covered with my scent.
Hell, I didn’t even use a condom. I’m everywhere on her.
Once I hit the beach I run for hours.
I run until my muscles and chest aches.
It doesn’t even matter that I’m supposed to be at Vortex in less than six hours. I know I won’t be getting any sleep tonight.
I managed to go the entire day yesterday keeping my distance from Tegan. It makes me feel like shit that I have to run away from her every time we have sex. I hate the space.
But it’s the only way I can stop it from happening again.
It’s the best thing for both of us, because every time we see each other we end up more drawn to each other than before.
After my shift at Vortex I left and came straight here to Express to work on putting together the tables that came in yesterday morning.
I was only able to afford six tables for now, but it’s a start.
I’m in the middle of piecing together the third one when Sebastian walks through the door sporting an annoying grin.
“Hey, big guy. I figured you’d be here when I didn’t find you at Vortex.” He takes a seat at one of the finished tables. “You’re always at one or the other. Shit, your life makes me sad. All work and no play. Well, outside of the bedroom at least. I’ve seen the girls you’ve left Vortex with and damn . . .”
I grunt and look over at him when his words trail off. “What the hell do you want? If you’re not here to help then you can see your way out. I’m not in the mood for any shit today, and trust me, seeing your grinning face is almost enough to make me snap already.”
I flip the finished table up to its legs, before moving on to the next table.
“You’ve been extra pissy and demanding lately. Have anything to do with that chick Tegan who told me you weren’t at Vortex about twenty minutes ago? She was fucking slamming hot. Too bad she was with that pretty boy. What’s his name again . . . shit . . .”
“Parker,” I say stiffly.
He snaps his fingers. “Yes. That’s the dude’s name.”
His words have me gripping the table in front of me. She’s at Vortex right now with that fucker?
Why does it piss me off that not only is she there with Parker, but also that she decided to wait until I left to go there?
It shouldn’t, but it does.
“I don’t know what the hell makes you think it has anything to do with a girl,” I bite out, trying my hardest not to look as if I’m ready to kill someone. When I look up he’s still grinning like he can see right through me. I’m not going to entertain how I’m feeling right now. “Alright, what do you really want? I’ve got work to do and you’re slowing me down.”
“My parents are back.” The smile on his face is no longer present. “They’ve been sauced since the moment they stepped through the door last night and my dad is extremely angry at life like usual. Mind if I stay at your place tonight and maybe even tomorrow?”
I shake my head and release a frustrated breath. I can’t even begin to deal with his parents right now; not when all I can think about is getting to Tegan. “I don’t mind.” I reach into my pocket and toss him the key to my apartment. “Keep the door unlocked for me.”
He stands and holds up the key. “Got it, Man. I’ve gotta go meet my friends.”
“Don’t let any of those little assholes into my apartment, got it?”
“I know the rules,” he mutters. “You don’t have to remind me every time. I’m not going to forget, shit.”
“Hey, I’ve gotta make sure, because I don’t want to have to kick the shit out of some underage kid’s ass for stealing my shit or touching something that doesn’t belong to them. Just keep your friends out and we’re good.”
“Yeah, yeah. I’ll see you later. They’re waiting on me.”
Once he leaves I spend the next thirty minutes finishing up the tables, before locking up and heading out.
I get into my truck with my mind set on going to my apartment and calling it a night, but I find myself pulling up at Vortex instead.
It’s the last place I should be, but I can’t help wondering if Tegan is still here. From the looks of the parking lot Parker is already gone, but that doesn’t mean she is too.
It’s a Thursday so it’s pretty quiet, which would make it ideal for her to work on her book out back without too many interruptions.
I walk inside and Gavin nods at me from behind the bar. “What are you doing back, Boss?”
Ignoring him, I make my way around him and pour myself a shot, slamming it back. “I needed a drink and I don’t have my place stocked up yet. Where’s Alexander?”
He nods toward the stairs. “In his office with some chick. They’ve been up there for a while. Might want to knock first if you’re headed up.”
“I’m not.” I reach into the cooler for two beers and pop the tops off. “Colby still out back?”
“Yes, sir . . . shit. I didn’t mean to call you sir.”
“Relax, Gavin.” I grip his shoulder. “You act like I’m going to rip your head off or some shit. Just don’t call me sir again and all is good.”
He nods. “Okay, Micah. Thanks.”
Apparently, I really scared the shit out of this kid when he first arrived, because he’s been tense around me ever since.
I’m sure he’ll be happy to know that soon enough someone like Parker will be his boss instead of an asshole like me.
When I step out back, I see Colby hanging around Tegan’s table, but as soon as he sees me watching him he says something to her and walks over to join me.
“So . . . Parker came in a little while ago for some training and his face was all fucked up.” He smirks. “Know anything about that?”
I take a swig of beer. “Is that what you heard?”
He laughs and steps behind the bar. “Nope. He said he got into a drunken fight the other night with some guy he didn’t know.”
“Is that right?” I look straight ahead, keeping my gaze on Tegan as she types away on her computer. “Weird. He must’ve touched something that didn’t belong to him,” I say stiffly.
Tegan looks up from her computer, her eyes locking on mine from across the patio.
My heart skips a beat as she shifts in her seat. I make her nervous just by being here.
Fuck, I like that I can make her nervous.
It means I affect her.
I just don’t know if it’s a good or bad thing.
“Bring us two more beers in about ten minutes.”
Colby nods. “Will do, Man.”
I make my way toward Tegan, not breaking eye contact with her until she closes her laptop and looks away. She’s frustrated that I’m here.
Well, I’m just as frustrated at me being here too.
“How’s your book coming along?” I ask, while taking the seat across from her and setting a beer down in front of her. “You look like you could use one of these.”
She releases a long breath and reaches for the bottle. “Well, I have about six more chapters to write and they need to be done in enough time that I can send it to my editor in two weeks.” She pauses to bring the bottle to her lips. “I was hoping to get some inspiration by coming here, but so far it’s been a shit night.”
I watch as she tilts the bottle back and all I can think about is how sexy her lips look. If it weren’t for Alexander being able to see our every move from where we’re sitting, I’d remove that bottle from her lips and run my tongue along them, getting another taste.
My cock twitches at the thought.
I clear my throat and tilt my bottle back, slamming half of it in one drink.
“Yeah, well maybe you’re at the wrong place for inspiration. Especially since Parker was hanging around.”
She huffs and takes another drink. “It was a lot fun explaining to Parker why someone who I’m not dating punched him in the face for kissing me. Luckily, he dropped the subject after I apologized to him and explained that you thought he was making me uncomfortable when he grabbed my ass so you were only trying to protect me like my brother asked.”
“Well, wasn’t he?” I ask. “If not . . .” I take a quick swig, needing a second to calm down. “Then I’ll be sure not to disrupt your next date.”
“I told him I wasn’t looking for a boyfriend, so don’t worry, there won’t be any more dates for you to ruin.”
“Was that the truth,” I ask, leaning in close. So close that my breath hits her neck as I speak.
“What?” She swallows and her eyes close as I risk moving in closer until my lips are brushing her ear.
“That you’re not looking for a boyfriend?”
“Well . . . um . . .” She seems lost for words, as if she doesn’t know how to answer my question. “I can’t think with you so close and you know it.”
“And I love it too . . . the affect I have on you that no one else seems to.”
She opens her mouth to speak, but stops when Colby sets two fresh beers down in front of us.
When I look up at him he shrugs and begins backing away. “I don’t know shit and I’m not saying shit, but if Alexander watches those cameras half as hard as you do then I’d be careful. It looked like you two were kissing from where I was standing. Just saying . . .”
I flex my jaw as he walks away.
“You know what . . . I should go.” Tegan stands and grabs her computer, packing it into a carrying case. “I can’t work here and–”
“Come on.” I stand and reach into my pocket, tossing down some cash for Colby. “I’ll give you a ride.”
“I don’t need one,” she says quickly. “Jamie is coming soon.”
“Well text her and tell her not to.” I place my hand on her hip and give it a squeeze as I move in close behind her. “You’re not going home anyway.”
I can hear her breathing quicken from my closeness, and it causes my lips to curl up into a cocky grin, loving the way her body reacts to mine.
“What about my brother?”
“Go to my truck and I’ll talk to him if he asks any questions.”
I expect her to fight me further on this, but instead she just nods and walks away, disappearing inside.
Once she’s out of sight I stand here for a moment, trying to talk myself out of what I have planned, but I can’t.
“Dammit.”
I open the door and step inside to see Alexander talking to Gavin, but he looks my way just as I’m walking up to him.
“Are you giving my sister a ride home? I just saw her walk outside as I was coming downstairs.”
“Yeah.” It’s not a lie. Just not the whole truth. “I’d rather she gets one from me than some stranger driving a shitty taxi.”
“I’m trusting you’ll keep her safe for me.” His voice deepens as he pours himself a shot. “I saw Parker’s face earlier and I’m going to assume that was your handy-work. Don’t let me find out that it was for a reason other than you keeping an eye on her for me.”
He watches me with narrowed eyes, while slamming back his shot.
“I’ll keep her safe,” is all I say, because if I say anything else then it’ll be a lie. Me punching Parker had nothing to do with me being a lookout for him and everything to do with me being selfish.
“You’re my brother, so I’m going to trust you. Don’t let me down or I’ll kill you.”
I steel my jaw as he slaps my back and walks away.
He’s going to kill me no matter what, because even if he doesn’t find out today, tomorrow, or next week, the truth always comes out eventually.
And the truth is that I’m a piece of shit friend who’s too damn selfish to protect his sister from the one person she should be protected from: me.