Page 15 of Hostile Cravings
Shit, she was bold and if Angie had been her regular self, I would have taken her up on it just to piss Angie off. Angie’s head shot up.
“Ty,” Angie said in a seductive voice that reached in and jerked my body the way this woman’s invitation hadn’t. Angie had done something to me that I couldn’t shake. It was like she’d damaged me, and I didn’t like it.
I turned to her as the doctor stood. She drew her other leg up, her skirt slipping further up her thigh, the doctor’s eyes falling to it. I clenched my fist and jerked away from the manager, stalkingover to Angie and yanking her dress over her leg, as far as the insufficient material would allow. Angie grabbed my shirt and pulled me to her lips, kissing me possessively and stirring a fire in me. Threading my fingers through her hair, I pushed her mouth further into mine. She was putting on a show, but the way she was kissing me was more than simply a way of staking her claim in front of another woman. It was a claim of ownership that seeped its way through my body. I needed to get a grip and so did she. We were enemies, two people who couldn’t stand being close to each other, who had hated each other for years. Since the moment I’d met her as a snotty eighteen-year-old and through the years as she’d become a woman, a sexy, confident, demanding thing who grated on my every nerve.
Her lips parted from mine and we stared at each other for seconds that seemed to last an eternity because that kiss had differed from the others.
“Keep your hands off my husband,” she said, her eyes never leaving mine, that claim clear.
Pulling myself together, I removed her hands from my shirt and smoothed down the material. The next move was mine. I could take us back to where we’d been, the comfortable hatred that sat between us, and leave the room with the other woman. Fuck my confusion out on her willing body and drive the wedge back between me and Angie. Hurt her like I normally would have. Or I could send the woman away, play the game that had turned dangerous. And not hurt her.
Her brown eyes were on mine, and in them I saw the plea. The need for me to let her win this battle, to not hurt her. Turning from her, I walked to the resort manager, bypassing the doctor who I’d deal with momentarily. Expectation sat in the woman’s eyes, and I heard the disappointed sigh from Angie as I reached my hand into the woman’s hair and pulled her closer to me. Her lips parted, and the emotion rolling from Angie in waves added to the silence that had encompassed the room.
“You heard my wife,” I said, tugging harder. “I’m off limits and I suggest you keep your hands and that tempting mouth to yourself, or you’ll need to find another job.”
Her eyes grew wide, and I released her hair, turning back to the doctor. “Tell me what’s wrong with her ankle and if I catch your eyes on any part of her body but her ankle, I’ll break every one of your fingers.” Without taking my eyes from him, I said, “Finch, see her out while we talk.”
I heard the manager grumble as Finch escorted her out. The doctor cleared his throat uncomfortably before apologizing and telling me it was only a minor twist, and she needed to rest it for a week.
“An entire week?” she asked.
“Yes,” he answered. “If you don’t, you’ll injure it worse and then you’ll be down for a month.”
“Looks like I’ll be carrying you everywhere, baby. Either that or we won’t be leaving this room.” I disliked how that thought caused a jolt in my system.
She pouted her lip out, crossing her arms and emphasizing her cleavage. Cleavage I’d purposely avoided looking at in the past, but that my eyes now sank to.
“Let me wrap it again and I’ll get you some pain reliever. That should help with the swelling and the discomfort.”
“Discomfort?” she said. “It hurts like a beast!”
“That’s because you’re wimpy, little viper. Your bark is better than your bite.”
“Don’t make me bite you, Tyson,” she retorted.
“I invite that, baby. Anytime you want.” And I wasn’t sure I didn’t mean it.
I walked away, squeezing the bridge of my nose as the doctor wrapped her ankle, giving her instructions to keep it iced and elevated. The balcony door was open, and I stood outside, taking in the warm air and the island view. Mason had ensured we had the best view, the beach below, the ocean stirring and never-ending beyond it. The room was large enough but there was only one bed and since Angie was stuck resting her ankle, that meant I was on the couch.
“Great,” I grumbled.
“She’s all set, Mr. Raines. I’ll have pain reliever sent to the room. Make sure she takes it twice a day. I gave her the first dose to ease the swelling. She’ll be up and about in no time. Just keep her off her feet for now.”
“Thank you,” I said, not bothering to look at him. I heard him leave but continued to take in the view, not wanting to deal with the one that was sitting in the bed behind me.
“Boss, we brought the luggage up. We’ll be outside and next door if you need anything.”
“Thanks, Finch.”
He left just as my phone rang.
“Mace,” I answered.
“How’s life with the viper?” he teased.
“Just peachy,” I said, turning to look at her. She was trying to scoot down the bed to reach the suitcases that were on the floor. Shaking my head, I continued, “The bitch twisted her ankle and now I’ve gotta deal with her whiny demands.”
She looked sharply at me. “Fuck you, Raines.”
