Page 33 of Chief's Addiction

By the time the doors slid open, I was good and riled up.

As I approached her door, I pulled out the lock-picking kit I kept on me for emergencies.

Within seconds, I had both locks open and was stepping inside. I threw the deadbolt, not bothering to be quiet. Maybe it was shitty, but I wanted her to know someone was in her apartment, to feel that spike of fear before she realized it was me. Maybe then she’d understand why I couldn’t leave her alone with all this shit going down.

The layout was exactly what I’d observed earlier, an open concept living room flowing into a small kitchen, with a hallway that led to her bedroom.

I approached her door and peeked through the crack in her door. She was lying on her back with her arms and legs flung out beside her. The blankets had been kicked away and her blonde hair was fanned out around her. For a split second, something in my chest twisted at how peaceful she looked.

And just as quickly I remembered how fucking stubborn she was, and my irritation returned full force.

Pushing open the bedroom door, I stormed over to the side of her bed, climbed up and straddled her hips, pinning her with my weight.

Her eyes flew open in the darkness, wild and terrified. She thrashed beneath me, kicking and twisting. When she opened her mouth to scream, I slapped a hand over her lips. Didn’t need her neighbors calling the cops.

“Stop,” I growled.

She froze instantly at the sound of my voice, those big eyes widening in recognition. Yeah, sweetheart. You pissed me off and now we’re going to talk it out.

Her body went tight and even in the dark, I could see the exact moment her fear turned into white-hot fury.

“I’m gonna move my hand and you’re going to be fucking quiet. Understand?”

She nodded, though the fire in her eyes promised retribution.

I lifted my palm from her mouth, bracing for the tirade I knew was coming.

Her lips parted and her eyes were spitting fire.

In that moment, as I looked from her blazing blue eyes to her pouty pink lips to the halo of blonde hair surrounding her, I snapped. I couldn’t take another second of not touching her.

Before she could register the move, my mouth was on hers, swallowing whatever curse she’d been about to hurl at me. She made a noise of protest, fisting her hands in my hair and pulling—hard. But hell if she wasn’t kissing me back; her lips were just as hungry as mine.

The kiss went on for long minutes before she bit down on my bottom lip, breaking the spell between us.

I jerked back, breathing hard.

“You asshole,” she hissed, her chest heaving beneath me.

She could call me an asshole all she wanted, but she was kissing me back just as fiercely.

Instead of calling her on it, I kissed her again, but this time slower, deeper. To my surprise, her fingers relaxed in my hair, sliding down to grip the back of my neck and pull me closer.

When I finally broke away again, her eyes were hooded and her lips were swollen.

She was so goddamn beautiful.

“Need you to hear me out, and then you can get pissed about me breaking in here,” I said, my voice rough.

Her eyes narrowed, but she didn’t try to push me off. “Talk.”

I took a deep breath, realizing this was my shot.

“I was married when we met. But it’s not like you think. I married Tonya because I knocked her up.” I could see that Cora wasn’t happy with that answer, but I kept on going before she could once again get the wrong idea. “She lied, Cora. She wasn’t pregnant. She only told me she was carrying my kid so I’d marry her. And I did, because that’s what a man does, you know? Takes care of his responsibilities.”

The fire in Cora’s eyes dimmed and her expression softened slightly.

“When I met you, the divorce papers were already filed. Had been for months, but her lawyer kept finding ways to drag shit out.” I shook my head at the memory. “I should’ve told you that first night, but I was... fuck, I don’t know. I was selfish. I wanted you, and I knew if I started talking about my soon-to-be ex-wife, you’d run for the hills.”

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