Page 45 of Clear Your Mind

Buddy stands and places me back on the chair as he paces. Raking his strong hands through his hair, he reminds me of a predator in a small enclosure.

“I completely detached from my brothers. And they were the only family I knew as an adult. Morningstar, my prez, sent us here. I was fucking angry about it. I was convinced he was punishing me for not being enough, not confiding in him, not trusting the brotherhood. I was even more pissed that he’d make Dude pay for my crimes by banishing us to hell.”

A whole lot of my sympathy flees in an instant. “So, coming to Texas and meeting me was a hardship. Wow.” I spring to my feet, ready to go toe to toe. I don’t know why I’m so angry about him saying those things, except maybe because he just dropped theLword. Now he’s in hell? I really shouldn’t be taking it personally, but I am.

Shoving him out of the way, I reach for the doorknob. I just need a minute to catch my breath. Buddy’s having none of it and grabs me from behind. Carrying me across the room, he tosses me on the bed with all the gentleness of a caveman.

When I try to spring up, he lies on top of me. His lips search for mine, but I turn my head back and forth.

“No, damn it. You can’t tell me coming here, to me, is hell and then kiss away the words.” I beat against his chest, but it’s like punching a mountain.

“Damn it, woman.” He catches my arms deftly. Wrapping one of his large hands around both my wrists, he shoves them to the bed above my head. I shift my weight, ready to use my legs if I must, but of course Buddy doesn’t miss anything. His muscular thighs clamp tight against mine.

“I’m not trying to kiss away my words. I’m trying to get you to hearallof them, damn it.”

“I did. Texas sucks, and you want to go apologize and get your place back in Reno.”

The puzzled look on his face gives way to a blinding grin.

“No, love, I didn’t say any of that.”

“You said you blame him for banishing you to hell.”

“No, I saiddid. Iwasangry about it. I realize now he did it for me. I wasn’t happy there; I didn’t fit in the way the other guys did.”

My brain is slowly realizing the truth. I am so caught up wondering at the validity of his love confession that I’m looking for any reason to discount it.

His words are out of sync with the beaming smile he’s sporting while staring into my very soul.

“Why are you smiling like that?”

If possible, his grin gets wider…and more seductive. “Because you love me too.”

“I…you…” I don’t know why I want to protest. He already said it, so it’s not like I’m saying it first, but I’m still worried it is just an overflowing of his emotions.

“You do, and sooner or later, you’ll admit it. But for now, I’ll settle for you screaming my name while you come on my cock.”

With zero prelude, we both strip, and Buddy fucks the protest from my lips.

More than once.

12

BUDDY

Pulling myself from bed this morning is damn near impossible. I want to stay, make slow, sweet love to Krystal and hold her on the edge of pleasure until she admits that she loves me.

But she’s not ready to let me in on that little secret, so I’ll just have to keep showing her what I say is true. I smile down at her exhausted face in sleep. Her full pink lips are parted slightly. Her wavy brown locks are fanned out around her in disarray, and her tits, fuck. I have to stop my inventory of her assets, or I’ll wake her with my tongue buried in my favorite place.

Yesterday was hard for both of us, especially her. And then I fell on her like an animal. Over and over. I couldn’t get enough. Can’t get enough. Will never get enough.

Well and truly in love, that’s what I am, and I’m baffled. Just last week, I was in the confirmed bachelor camp. Didn’t want or need attachments.

Meeting Krystal changed everything. It’s scary as fuck, but to fight it is even more so.

I shower and dress as quietly as possible before heading downstairs. Dude should be back sometime today, but I want to get as much shit together as I can before he does. Be the vice he needs. Make up for some of my dick moves.

When I step downstairs, I notice the absence of a pile of wood that has been my archenemy for weeks. I also smell polyurethane.

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