Page 49 of Shattered Mind

The disappointment in Bella’s voice is enough to have me stepping forward without thought. “It’s a good job we’ve got a third room then, isn’t it? You can stay with us.”

Two sets of eyes land on me in surprise. “Are you sure?” Daisy asks, her cheeks tinted pink.

“I wouldn’t have offered if I weren’t sure. Besides, it’ll be fun.” I shrug.

“Thank you, Liv.” Bella launches herself at me, pulling me into a strangling hug.

I hug her back with a laugh. “You don’t need to thank me. It’s your house as much as it’s mine now.”

The three of us spend a few minutes coming up with a plan to move Daisy in and then I get to work, allowing the two women time to catch up on each other’s lives.

The afternoon passes in a rush and before long the café is almost empty excluding the few stragglers getting their caffeine fix after a long day at work.

I busy myself with wiping down tables, refilling napkins and salt pots, and disposing of any rubbish left behind. I box up any left-over cakes and muffins, storing them in the fridge for the kitchen staff. Muscle memory kicks in asI start the close down process, and within an hour I’m locking up and climbing back into my car.

My phone chimes in my bag and I root around in the bottomless pit in search of the device. I’m ashamed to admit that my bag has been compared to Mary Poppins’ on more than one occasion. You just never know when you’re gonna need that extra pair of socks, or that spare toothbrush. Always be prepared.

I find my phone at the very bottom of the bag and pull it out. The screen is lit with a text from Grayson and an unexpected excitement courses through me.

Grayson: Meet me at my house in 30 mins.

Maybe he’s notso chickenshit after all.

CHAPTER 25

GRAYSON

Liv’s car pulls to a stop in front of my house just over twenty minutes later. She climbs out wearing a simple pair of black skinny jeans and matching black t-shirt with the Bella’s Café logo on. A pair of dark sunglasses cover her blue eyes, and her hair is pulled back in a high ponytail.

The ideas I get for that ponytail are instantaneous.

She closes her car door and stares at me, her hip cocked in attitude, and I wish I could see the heat that no doubt swirls in her eyes behind those glasses.

“You summoned me?” she snaps, and I bite back a grin.

She’s pissed.Good.

Angry Liv is my favourite.

“And you came,” I respond, keeping my eyes on her as she approaches me.

Liv shrugs, climbing the front steps and coming face to face with me where I stand at the open front door. She removes the sunglasses, pushing them up onto her head and raises a brow. “Got nothing better to do.”

I let out a sardonic laugh, snapping my hand out and wrapping it around her long ponytail before dragging her mouth to mine. She falls against me, and I stumblebackwards into the house, slamming the door behind her. Her lips move against mine with fury. Fighting for control as my tongue parts them. She moans into my mouth, sending vibrations through my body and straight to my dick.

I back her up against the door, pinning her there with my body and grinding my hardening length against her. She pushes back against me with as much fervour as she winds her arms around my neck. I pull my mouth from hers, dragging it down her slender neck and across her pulse.

“I don’t appreciate being ordered around like a dog,” she pants, her hands twisted in my hair as I nip and suck at her skin.

“Hmm,” I hum distractedly against her, and she tilts her head, giving me better access before continuing. “I won’t just come running every time you feel like getting your dick wet,” she says on a breathy moan.

“Shut up, Liv.” I growl into her neck.

I honestly couldn’t give a shit what she has to bitch about right now. All I care about is sating the burning desire coursing through my veins. Reaching down, I grip her around her thighs and lift her before turning and taking purposeful strides towards my bedroom.

My body is desperate for release. Wound tight after a shitty day at work and the only thing I want,need,at this present moment is to be buried inside of her. To forget the world for a while and lose myself in her heat.

I used you just as much as you used me.I think back to the words she said to me at my parents house. Maybe she was right. Maybe I’m just as bad as all those other women that used me over the years. Because here I am, after a bad day, summoning her to my house so I can distract myself from the war raging in my brain.

---