Page 18 of Mechanic Next Door
“What?” I ask, a scowl forming on my lips. “No, Peach, you’re mine. You don’t invite other guys out like that. Not if they’re going to look at you the way he was looking atyou.”
“I’m not yours,” she says, pulling away from me. She takes a small sip of her beer. “I’m not yours. You said I didn’t want to get involved with you. And since you said it, it must be true,right?”
“Leave your beer here,” I tell her, taking the glass from her hand. “We’re going outside to talk rightnow.”
She lets out a small huff and I follow her to the door, threading through the thickening groups of people. I feel hollow inside. Gutted. When we get outside, she starts down the sidewalk and I follow closelybehind.
“Okay, I am now at the end of my rope, Thomas. I’m at the end of my fuckingrope!”
“Hey,” I say, “don’t talk likethat.”
“Why not? What’s the matter? Am I too frail to curse? It doesn’t matter anyway. You aren’t the boss of me and I don’t have to listen toyou.”
“Don’t you walk away from me,” I say afterher.
“What?” she throws over her shoulder. “What do you want from me? What do youwant? You don’t want me, but no one else is allowed to have me, either? I can’t take this anymore. This living in limbo. I can’t takeit.”
“Where the hell is this coming from?” I ask her, spinning her around slowly. I crouch a little so I’m closer to her. “What are you talkingabout?”
“Last night,” she says, her voice falling to a whisper. “Or this morning. Whatever it was. You wouldn’t…you wouldn’t fuck me. You said we couldn’t be together. I understand it, okay? I get it. I threw myself at you. You’re…you’re just a man, and I understand that maybe what I did was…I don’t know, unfair? Unfair to both of us. Unfair to me because my feelings run much deeper for you than simply wanting to sleep with you. And unfair to you because I probably made you confused and conflicted. I’m sorry. But I don’t think I can be your friend anymore if this is how it’s going to be. James is notsome other guy. Because that would imply that there’s a different guy, a guy who I’m supposed to be with. And that isn’t you. We can’t be together. It’swrong.”
“No,” I say, taking her hand and checking behind me. “No, Peach.Listen.”
I guide her around the corner so we can have some privacy. There’s a guy at the loading dock smoking a cigarette and when he sees us he does us the courtesy of flicking it away and making his way backinside.
“What?” she asksme.
“Goddamnit, Peach. Your eyes are breaking my fucking heart rightnow.”
I take her face in mine and lower my lips to hers, salty tears running down her cheeks as I kiss her, taste her, markher.
“I made a mistake. I never shouldhave…”
“I know,” she says, trying to push me away. “I know you never should have done what you did to me. So why are you trying to kiss me right now?Why?”
“Because my mistake wasn’t doing what I did. It was not doing what I really wanted. It was not telling you that you’re mine and no one can take you away from me.Ever.”
I push her against the wall and bruise her lips with mine, claiming her with the first kiss of obsession, possession, need. I pour more of myself into this kiss than I’ve poured myself into anything before. I put my hands on her hips, pulling her body against me as I pin her to the wall. I put a hand behind her head to catch her. I grab her ass and make her legs wrap around me. I push the hardness in my jeans up against her hot core and I give her my breath with my lungs, I give her my lips with mykiss.
“I’m so fucking in love with you that I think I could die if I have to wait one more minute to have you, Peach.” I press my hips against her and she moans into my mouth, her hands coming to the sides of my face to pull me closer, closer. “I’m sorry. I fucked up. I never should have tried to convince myself we could go back. There’s no going back,Peach.”
Her lips open up and I feel her breath shudder through her, through me, through us. I glide my hands down to her waist, her hips, hitching her uphigher.
“You love me?” she whispers between the kisses I plant on her lips. “Did I hear youright?”
“I don’t just love you,” I say. “I’m in love with you. I’m all in here. I’m all in onus.”
“I’m in love with you too,” she mutters against my mouth, pulling her lips away from me. “I’ve been in love with youforever.”
A fierce growl breaks through mychest.
“Are you going to fuck me right here?” she says, her eyes flashing blue and gold, a small smile playing on her lips. “Are you really going to make me lose my virginity up against a wall outside abar?”
“Fuck no, baby. I am going to make you lose your virginity somewhere you can fall asleep in my arms after we’re done. But we are never going to be done, Peach. Never.Never.”
