Page 51 of His Hot Mess

“I wasn’t going to do this.”

“Do what?” I said, even as my stomach did a full-on deep dive inside of me. I realized how badly I wanted her to stay with me and knew at the same time how bad an idea it was.

“I wasn’t going to get involved with anyone when I got here. I needed space to figure things out. I wanted to get my own life sorted before getting messed up over a guy.”

“Am I messing you up?”

She smiled again and shook her head. “No. I don’t know.”

“Do you want to stay here and work?” I asked. Then I held my breath.

Please say no.

Please say yes.

But please say no.

Sadie looked me in the eye. Then she lunged forward and kissed me hard, with an almost violent need. Like she was fighting something off and kissing me was the only way to keep it away.

"Whoa," I said, like an idiot, when she sat back down in her seat.

"Let's go," she said.

I had the presence of mind to stop at Aubrey's for take-out burgers for lunch, which we devoured on the drive over to my place even though by then it was only ten in the morning. I’d never been so hungry in all my life, and by the way she polished off a whole burger before even touching her drink, neither had Sadie.

This was crazy, I knew. It went against everything I held up as the framework of my life. Hard work. Responsibility. And especially not getting involved with women.

I’d been with women when I was traveling. That had been safe—hooking up with someone on the other side of the world couldn’t lead to anything else. And I’d had the odd one-night-stand here, but never close to home. And I never stayed over or promised to call. Things were always clear on both sides.

But Sadie... I’d broken all my rules with Sadie. Even as we argued over what was the best way to dress a burger, I wanted her. Even as she stuffed fries in her face on the highway, I wanted her. As she unrolled the window and closed her eyes, the sun on her face and the wind whipping her hair around, I wanted her.

I wanted her.

I wanted her.

There was nothing getting in the way of this. Not right now. Fuck responsibility. Fuck my personal rules. Fuck all of it.

When we got to my place, I didn't show Sadie around. She didn't even seem to notice, beyond a vague appraisal of how pretty my cabin in the trees was.

Once again, we didn't even make it to the bedroom.

At some point we dozed, exhausted. Then we woke up and did it again. Whatever had been bothering Sadie earlier was forgotten or ignored as we flung ourselves together, grasping and growling and clawing at each other like wild animals.

Never in my life had I been so insatiable. I lost count of how many times I made her come. I lost count of my own. All I knew was that at some point I finally looked at my phone and was astonished to see was eight at night. I’d missed several calls and texts from Graydon and various clients and sub-trades.

"Shit!" Sadie exclaimed from next to me on the bed.

She'd found her phone too. I shoved mine aside and leaned back against the pillow. This day was always going to end. I’d just been hoping some divine miracle would make it last forever.

“Everything okay?" I said, my eyes closed.

"Lucy's been calling."

I knew I should be worried. What would happen if Lucy, and by extension, Graydon, found out we hadn’t done jack shit on the job all day?

The two of them already knew we’d hooked up on Friday. Graydon would probably think it was funny. Before kicking my ass and telling me to get this job done. Lucy I wasn’t so sure. She was protective of Sadie.

So was I.

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