Page 14 of Love in Mission City: The Shorts

His breathing was harsh against my shoulder and then, without warning, his teeth settled on the fleshy part and he applied pressure.Not enough to break skin.Likely not even enough to leave a mark.

But enough that I’d feel it later and know he claimed me.

Without warning, he withdrew.

I winced.

His hand was on my back, but not in a soothing gesture.No, he was telling me not to turn around.He withdrew it, and a moment later, a knotted condom fell at my feet.The sound of a zipper.Then the squeak of his shoes as he left.

The door slammed.

Well, then.

I leaned against the wall.Not just for support, but for the cool against my heated skin.That’d been one of the hottest sexual encounters in my thirty-five years and also, perversely, one of the least satisfying.I wanted… To hold him.For him to hold me.For, God help me, cuddles.Something to assure me we’d resolved our differences.Something that promised we’d do it again.

As I righted myself, I made a vow.We’d do that again.And again and again and again.

Until I got Dickens out of my system once and for all.

Chapter Five

Dickens

Goddamn arrogant asshole.

Referring to yourself or him?

Or both?

Fuck off.

I often held epic discussions with myself in my head, and apparently today was going to be one ofthosedays.I pushed through the front door, only belatedly realizing I hadn’t locked it when I stormed out to confront Spike.Holy shit.Someone could’ve come along and taken everything while I was fucking Spike against the wall.

And fucking was the right word.I’d let the animal side of my brain take over.Gave in to the need to dominate.To claim.To own.

Which made no sense.I was angry with the man for playing rock music half the night.That in no way explained why I’d felt the need to be inside him as quickly as I could.

I halted mid-stride.

But it’d felt so good.I couldn’t remember the last time I’d been intimate with someone.A hookup during the winter, if I remembered correctly.Some random guy I met on Davie Street in Vancouver when I’d been lonely and headed into the big city to scratch an itch.I’d wound up back at random guy’s apartment and we’d had a night of fun.In the morning, when I’d slunk away, I hadn’t offered my phone number, and he hadn’t asked for it.

Before that?I’d been seeing a guy regularly from Chilliwack.Not exactly long distance, but not convenient either, especially during the rainy season.I wasn’t one for adventure.Nope.I was here, and I was content.I needed for nothing.I was comfortable with my life.Did I jerk off a lot?Yes.Did I wish for a warm body?Sure.Was I going to beg motorcycle dude to get sweaty and naked in my sheets?

Fuck, no.

The bells drew my attention.Sunshine stepped into the store with the sun streaming in behind her.The light drew the blueish tinge from her hair.All natural.The woman was stunning.And brilliant.And funny and kind and had a dozen other wonderful attributes.

Colton Pritchard is an asshole.

She removed her sunglasses, gave me the once-over, smiled, and said, “Well, glad to see someone got lucky this morning.”

Don’t blush.Don’t blush.Don’t… Too late.Heat raced from my chest up my neck and spread across my cheeks.

She winked.Then meandered over to the window where she cooed and petted my ever-grateful cat.

Ari stretched then head-butted Sun’s hand.

I spun around.“Coffee?”I said the word as I headed into the back room.

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