Page 18 of Ignite
“Just what?” Curiosity won out, and my mood began to simmer downsome.
“Nothing…” She glanced at the door. “I’d bettergo.”
“Yeah,” Imuttered.
“I can look after myself,” she went on. “You don’t have to get all…” She waved her hand at me, lost forwords.
“If you say so, little mouse,” Idrawled.
She frowned, and her eyes took on a sadness that seemed never ending. It was like she’d expected me to brush her off, and itstung.
Wriggling out from where I’d backed her against the wall, she shrank into her jacket and practically fled. I watched as she walked through the doors, her hips swaying back and forth, her head down, and it took everything I had not to rush after her. I couldn’t handle thisshit.
It wasn’t meant to be this hard, right? You found someone you liked, you got together. Easy. Thinking about Ali, I shook my head. It was all kinds of complicated with her. In the space of a week, she’d turned my peaceful little life ass over tit. I wanted any little scrap of attention I could get until she got too close, and then I pushed her away like a completeass.
She was…nice, sweet, genuine, passionate, thoughtful…naive. I couldn’t live up to anyone, especially not her. All I was doing was making things worse forher.
Cursing for what felt like the hundredth time that night, I walked out back to the change rooms. Showering, I contemplated jerking off to relieve some stress on my poor cock but decided against it. When I was this amped up, a wank only ever made things worse. Instead, I changed back into my street clothes and went into thewarehouse.
Making the rounds, I soon realized Ali was nowhere in sight. She was probably upset with me and had gonehome.
Spying Faye by the bar, getting ready to leave herself, I stalked up toher.
“Hey,” I said, my voicerasping.
“Hey yourself,” she said, looking me over with a raised eyebrow. “Nice fighttonight.”
I grunted, my gaze falling to her tits. I wondered if Faye was up for ittonight.
“You and Ali?” she asked, cocking her head to theside.
I grunted again, tearing my gaze from her tits and focusing on her face like agentleman.
“You sure seem protective of her. If I’m not mistaken, it looks a lot likelo—”
“Wanna fuck tonight?” I asked, cutting heroff.
“You know I’m always up for it with you, but…” She glanced over my shoulder to where I knew Ali haddisappeared.
“Don’t go there, Faye,” Isnapped.
“She’s really cool, Liam,” she countered. “You’d be good together. I can see it in your eyes when you look at her, youknow.”
“I seriously doubt you can seeanything.”
“You wanther.”
My scowl deepened. “Leave off,Faye.”
“Admitit.”
“You know this conversation will only end one way,” I said, glaring at her. “Wanna fuck or not? Last time I’maskin’.”
Rolling her eyes, she asked, “Why do you sabotage yourself likethis?”
“Fine, I’ll go find someone else.” I turned, angry as a bee in a jar. Faye grabbed my arm before I could stride off, her fingernails digging into myskin.
“Liam,” she said firmly. “Don’t run off like that. You’re pissed, and I pity the poor woman who’s on the receiving end of it. Hang on asecond.”
