by Ward, Tamryn
Oh God, he was going to kiss her again.
I need to find Aeron.
She tried to step back but he held her hips, keeping her in place. His head tipped to the side and slowly drifted toward hers. “Bobby,” she said, leaning back. She didn’t want him to kiss her again.
A little quiver raced through her.
“Hmmm?” His voice was a low rumble. His fingers dug into her hips, the sensation making her nerves snap and sizzle.
Ohmygod, did she want him to kiss her?
Yes?
No?
She cleared her throat. “Aeron is here somewhere. I need to find him. I need to pay him and let him go home.”
“Yes.” Despite his response, his head kept dropping. Lower. Lower. Jenn’s heart started galloping in her chest like a wild colt. Her eyelids drifted shut just as his mouth found hers. A little whimper slipped from her lips as his mouth claimed hers.
Aeron wanted to punch that bastard in the face. He wanted to see blood. He wanted to hear the crunch of bones breaking.
Frozen in place, one foot on the top step, he gripped the railing. His heart thumped heavily in his throat.
That asshole was kissing Jennifer.
Mine. She should be mine, not his.
Moving silently, he lifted his second foot.
Neither had seen or heard him. They were too busy shoving their tongues in each other’s mouths. Was Jennifer really kissing that bastard back? Did she really want him?
He watched for a torturous moment. Watched her lift her hand to the jerkoff’s face and cup the side of his head. He watched her curl her fingers into his hair. He watched her chest rise as she gave a shuddering sigh.
Fuck.
She did want to kiss the asshole.
And there was nothing he could do about it. Not a fucking thing.
Never had he despised his life more than now. This moment was pure hell. More agonizing than any he had ever experienced.
Turning, he blinked away blinding rage and quietly retreated to the living room.
This was wrong. Watching Jennifer be seduced by another man. Watching her give her heart to someone who probably didn’t deserve it.
But fuck, he had no right to stop her. None. The truth was he hated the asshole not because he was a bad guy. In all honesty, Aeron didn’t know anything about him--Bobby, as Jennifer called him. For all he knew, Bobby might really care for her. Maybe he could take care of her. Maybe he would help her heal after she lost her brother.
Did he have any right to deny her that comfort? Or happiness?
No.
But he would like to have a conversation with the guy. One-on-one. Man-to-man. Find out what he was thinking. Was he just looking for an easy screw? Or was he looking for more?
Yes, they would have that conversation. As soon as possible. Tonight. And God help that asshole, if he said the wrong thing.
God help him.
He headed downstairs, dropped onto the couch and shut his eyes. He probably wouldn’t sleep. But that was okay.
He would wait.
Until Bobby came down.
* * * * *
God, he was beautiful.
His jaw was so strong. Sprinkled with dark stubble. His nose was a sharp blade. His cheekbones sculpted perfection. His eyelashes. So long and thick. But it was his mouth that she couldn’t stop staring at. Those perfect lips.
Aeron’s perfect lips.
Jenn was standing next to the couch, watching him sleep and wishing she could snuggle up against him.
After she’d just kissed Bobby.
What am I doing?
She forced herself to turn away. It was hard. Almost impossible. Then he mumbled something and she whirled back around. He’d rolled onto his back. His arms were crossed over his chest. He looked cold. Not sure whether he would want her to wake him so he could go home or let him sleep, she grabbed the quilt off the back of the couch and spread it over him. Turning, to head back upstairs, she reminded herself that he didn’t want her. She needed to stop being such an idiot. Stop wishing for the impossible.
Something caught her wrist as she stepped away. A hand.
She glanced over her shoulder.
He was awake. “Can I talk to you for a minute?” Looking very sleepy, very sexy, he sat up, patting the couch seat.
“Sure.” She sat, angling toward him. Getting chilled, thanks to her thermostat having to be set at sixty-two at night, she tugged the quilt, pulling it over her legs. “I have your money if you need to go home—“
“Don’t worry about the money. I don’t want it.”
“Okay. Thank you.” Curious to know why he was looking at her with such dark eyes, she nodded and waited for him to speak.
“It was great. You know how I feel about Logan. He’s a good kid.” He picked up the quilt and draped it over her shoulders. “That’s not what I wanted to talk about. I know this is none of my business, but I’m worried about you.”
“Worried? Why?” She gathered the quilt tighter around her body. Someday she hoped she would be able to crank the heat up to eighty if she wanted.
“I just don’t trust your friend, Bob.”
How funny, that Aeron didn’t seem to care enough about her to want to try to make things work, but he didn’t want to see her with anyone else, either. “You’re jealous.”
“I have no right to be jealous.”
“But that doesn’t mean you aren’t,” she stated.
He didn’t speak for a handful of seconds. Did he have the guts to admit the truth? Did he even realize the truth? “I’m not jealous. I’m worried. There’s something about him I don’t trust.”
So much for that. If he couldn’t admit to himself that he was jealous because he wanted her for himself, what was the point in talking about this with him? There was none.
She tossed off the quilt and stood. “Well, thanks for the concern.” She was not having this conversation with him. Either he cared for her or he didn’t. Either he wanted her or he didn’t. He wasn’t going to mess with her head anymore. “But like you said, it’s none of your business. Do you need to be heading home?” She stopped at the foot of the stairs, which happened to be across from the front door.
He shrugged. “If it’s okay, I’ll just crash on the couch and go home in the morning. Cojack’s upstairs and I wouldn’t want to wake up Logan.”
“Fine.” She checked the door’s lock then stomped up the steps.
Guys.
They never knew what they wanted.
It was enough to drive a girl crazy.
Well, that had gone great.
Not.
Instead of making Jennifer see that Bob was just trying to get into her pants, he’d just made her angry and defensive.
Aeron lay on his back, staring up at the big jagged crack in the ceiling, directly over his head. His intentions were good. He’d wanted to protect her, to warn her about Bob. But he was pretty sure he’d screwed up royally.
Now, more than ever, he needed to have a little friendly talk with Bob. And if Bob was just trying to hook up with her, he would convince him that was a mistake.
A big one.
Sixteen
Aeron found his chance to talk to Bob the next morning. Jennifer was in the shower, after having sent Logan off to school. Bob was in the kitchen, getting some coffee going. He was looking a little bleary-eyed as he stumbled around, filling the coffeemaker. He probably wasn’t in the best frame of mind for their discussion. But Aeron knew he might never get this chance again.
He approached Bob with a friendly smile, “Morning.”
“Morning,” Bob grumbled, blinking several times as he measured out a scoop of coffee. After dumping it in the filter and putting the filter in place, Bob turned to head somewhere else. Aeron blocked him, using his body and the L-shaped counter as obstacles.
“What?” Bob snapped.
“I want to talk about Jennifer.”
“What about her?”
�
�I want to know…what are your intentions in regard to her?” Aeron demanded.
Bob blinked at him. He blinked again. His jaw clenched. “Fuck you.” He tried to step past Aeron, but Aeron shifted positions.
“I asked, what are your intentions in regard to Jennifer?” Aeron repeated, determined to get an answer.
“I don’t have to tell you that.”
“Right, you don’t. But you should.”
“Why should I tell you anything?”
“Because I’m her friend,” Aeron offered. It was the shittiest excuse ever, but it was all he had.
Bob rolled his eyes. “Back off, asshole. You are no prince charming.” He shoved at Aeron’s chest. “And Jenn doesn’t need to be saved. Not from me. Or anyone else.”
Aeron didn’t budge. “If you hurt her, I’ll—“
“What? Kick my ass? I’d love to see you try.” This time, Bob shoved harder, and Aeron couldn’t hold his ground. The guy was stronger than he’d thought.
Someone’s cell phone rang. It wasn’t Aeron’s.
Bob grunted, shoved his hand into his pocket and slapped his phone up to his head. “What?” He slanted a gaze at Aeron then turned toward the wall. “No. I can’t.”
Interesting.
Aeron wanted to inch closer, to see if he could eavesdrop on the conversation, but he doubted he could get close enough.
“No, dammit. No.” Bob grumbled something under his breath and he glared at the phone. Evidently, whoever he’d been talking with had hung up on him. He rammed his phone back in his pocket and turned around, gave Aeron a back-off glare and snapped, “What?”
“Problems?” Aeron asked. He didn’t trust this guy. Not one bit.
“Nothing I can’t handle.”
They both heard Jennifer’s footsteps approaching at the same time.
Aeron whispered, “Just remember what I said.”
“Sure.” Dismissing the threat with a smirk, Bob grabbed a coffee cup out of the cupboard, pulled the pot out from under the stream of coffee ejecting from the coffeemaker and filled it. He thrust it at Jennifer the second she stepped into the room. “I made coffee.”
“Thanks.” Jennifer’s smile was sweet. She put the mug to her mouth and peered at Aeron while she sipped. “Whew, hot. But good.”
“I gotta go to work,” Bob announced as he filled a travel mug.
“Thanks for the coffee,” Jenn said, watching him screw the top on his mug. “See you later.”
“I’ll be home around six.” Bob slanted Aeron a sneer. “Don’t cook. I’ll grab something for dinner on the way home.”
Asshole. Trying to buy his way into Jennifer’s bed.
“That’s sweet Bobby, but you don’t have to—“
“I know. But I want to. I had a great time last night. Thank you.” The asshole leaned over and gave Jennifer a small kiss on the cheek. Then he turned another cocky leer that she couldn’t see toward Aeron. “Happy Birthday, Jenn. Well celebrate later.” He winked.
Oh, hell no. Hell. No. Aeron’s fingers curled into fists. He’d give something for that asshole to celebrate.
Jennifer watched him leave the room then turned her attention back to Aeron. Her face was a little flushed. “I…it’s not what you’re thinking.”
“What am I thinking?” Aeron shot back, trying hard not to let her see how pissed he was. His blood was boiling right now. He was shocked there wasn’t steam blasting out of his ears. That bastard hadn’t just touched Jennifer; he’d kissed her. What else had he done? What else?
“That I’m…that Bob and I are…that we’ve hooked up.”
I’ll let that happen when Hell freezes over.
“Your personal life is none of my business,” he snapped. Dammit, he had to pull himself together. He couldn’t let that asshole get the better of him, by making him so furious he made an ass out of himself and in the process royally screw up his friendship with Jennifer. In less than a week he would be gone. Six days, to be exact. He had no right to interfere in her life any more than he already had. Soon he wouldn’t be a part of it.
Soon she wouldn’t be a part of his.
Shit. He felt sick.
“I know it’s none of your business, but…” Her gaze dropped to the cup, cradled in her hands. “Well, you and I…”
“We’re friends,” he stated. The words were sour in his mouth. Friends. Fuck friends. He wanted more.
Her gaze lifted. Her eyes were so full of confusion and pain, Aeron’s insides twisted at the sight. “Right. Friends,” she echoed.
Shit. Fuck. He was hurting her. Again.
Confusing her.
“I should go.” He wanted to wrap his arms around his Jennifer and hold her close. He wanted to kiss away the pain he saw in her eyes, and tell her she would never feel that way again. He wanted to make her happy.
But he fucking couldn’t. He couldn’t do any of those things. Especially the last one. Shaking his head, he started toward the door. Better to get the hell out of there before he said something to make things worse.
She stopped him, catching his arm. “Thanks again for last night. I owe you.”
“You don’t owe me anything. More the other way around. I owe you.”
She tipped her head to the side. Her eyes were wide now, full of curiosity. “You owe me? For what?”
“For putting up with my shit.”
“Your shit?” she echoed, her lips pulling into a soft smile. Dammit, did she know how beautiful she was when she smiled like that? Or how hot his body burned for her when she was so close? Or how his skin sizzled from her touch?
He explained, though he knew there was no need. She knew what he meant. But saying it out loud…it was the right thing to do—to confess. “I’ve pawed at you like an asshole, practically fucked you, and then I shoved you away. More than once.”
Her gaze dropped for a second. “Yes, but…”
“But what?” Her reaction angered him more. She deserved a whole hell of a lot more than what he’d done to her. She needed to know that. She needed to stand up for herself, not take shit from any guy. “There’s no excuse for how I’ve treated you, Jennifer.” When she didn’t look up again, he cupped her chin and lifted it. Her eyes were closed, long, thick lashes fanned over the pale, fragile skin under her eyes. “You deserve so much more than that. More than what Bob can give you, too. Don’t take any less. Not from anyone.”
She whispered, “Bobby isn’t such a bad guy once you get to know him. I swear.”
“Are you sure about that?” he challenged.
Her eyelids lifted. Her gaze searched his. Her lips parted, but she didn’t speak.
She wasn’t sure. He could see it in her eyes. But she was afraid to admit it to him.
Maybe she was afraid to admit it to herself, too.
He doesn’t want you.
He doesn’t want you.
Quit making an idiot out of yourself and remember that!
She’d heard herself say that Bobby wasn’t a bad guy. She believed it. So why had she sounded so…unsure?
Dammit.
Her skin was sizzling where Aeron was touching her. The warmth was spreading. Down her neck. Across her chest. That was why she’d sounded so breathless. It had nothing to do with doubt.
Did it?
“Yes,” she muttered, responding to what she suspected was meant to be a rhetorical question. “Yes, I am sure.”
Aeron tipped his head lower. “What did you say?”
Somehow, she pulled in a deep breath. As she exhaled, a lock of her hair dropped across her face. “Yes,” she repeated, louder.
“That time you sounded more convincing. But I’m not fooled. I see the doubt in your eyes.” He smoothed the stray strand of hair back, tucking it behind her ear. “Listen to your instinct, Jennifer. Your gut instincts are strong.”
“If that’s the case, why do I feel like you want me, even though you keep saying you don’t?”
Strong, deep emotion flashed in his eyes. Pain.
Frustration. She wasn’t sure. But whatever it was, it was intense.
“I care about you. I won’t deny that. I’ve never denied that.”
“If you care, then why don’t you try to make things work?” Letting her body say what she was still terrified to speak, she grabbed his arms and clutched them tight. Her fingernails dug into his skin. “So what if you have to move away? People have long distance relationships all the time. They email. They Skype. They text. Facebook. Whatever. And when they get a chance, they travel to see each other.”
“I won’t ever get back here.” He released her chin, and she nearly wept from losing that connection.
Dammit, this was it. If there was any hope of convincing him to give this thing between them a chance, it was now. Tomorrow--an hour from now, a minute from now--would be too late.
Tightening her grip on his arms, she yelled, “How can you be so sure?”
“Because…I never go back to the same town, Jennifer.”
“I don’t get that. Why not? Doesn’t matter. Maybe you’ll move to another city close by? I could come and see you--”
“Dammit, Jennifer.” He jammed his fingers through his hair. “You’ll be hurt. That’s all that can come out of this.”
“Can’t you see? I’m hurting now. I’m hurting already.” Jerking as hard as she could, she yanked him close and smashed her lips against his.
He didn’t respond. Seconds ticked by, marked by the galloping thump of her heartbeat.
She wouldn’t give up. Hell no. She knew he wanted her. She wanted him. It was time to end this fucking game. He himself had told her to stand up for herself. Well, that was exactly what she was going to do.
She moved her mouth over his, caressing his tight lips with hers. Again, and again. Finally, his mouth softened. It slid across hers. A deep rumble vibrated in his chest, sounding like a low growl. One of his arms looped around her back and pulled her flush against him.
And just like that the kiss changed. All the passion he had been holding back came out in his kiss. It was a raw and fierce claiming. His tongue shoved into her mouth as his hand slid down to cup her ass.
Shuddering at the intensity, Jenn clung to him. It was scary how powerful, how overwhelming his need for her was. He wasn’t just kissing her, he was possessing her. Her mouth. Her body. Her very soul. He somehow spun her around and crushed her back against a wall. His tongue thrust in and out of her mouth, an erotic dance. He scooped her up and as she wrapped her legs around his waist. Ah the pressure against her heated center felt so good.
