Page 40 of Mine for 24 Hella-Hours
She does.
If it was up to me, he’d be fishing my boot out of his ass for whatever he’d done to her but in reality, it’s not the time nor the place.
I pull her softly and move past him, “We have business to attend to. Nice to meet you.” It really isn’t but I’m a civilized guy. Minus the introduction part—I couldn’t care less. I definitely don’t spare him a second glance either. I shuffle us to another aisle away from this party pooper.
I spill the content in my hand to the floor and capture her face in my palms. “Are you okay?”
The flakes of yellow in her hazel eyes twinkle with lust. Want. Need. “Yeah.”
“What did he say to you?”
“If I’m still playing hard to get and some other shit,” she shakes her head, “I dated him once. It was over before it began. He wanted another shot.” Her shoulders sag. “Too bad I have none to spare.”
Damn right, you don’t.Fucking-idiot.
I hope he didn’t hurt her in some way. “What did he do?”
“It wasn’t just him. He was a number in a parade of emotionally unavailable guys who treated me like an irrelevant part of the equation. And stomped on my emotions time and time again. It was about them more than us together. And when I met truly nice guys, they lost interest so fast it was crushing. And at some point, I became the one losing interest.”
“Look around you, baby.” There’s no judgment in my tone. “You’re free to roam wherever you’d like. Why didn’t you walk away from him?”
“I tried, but my legs wouldn’t budge. He needed to say his peace to move on. Sometimes getting something off your chest right or wrong is the way to really let go of something. I needed to hear him being the same guy I thought he was, to remind myself; that it wasn’t me who put up walls around herself and set invincible standards but guys who didn’t have any and lacked emotional intimacy. I’m entitled to hold on to them despite my frustrations.”
“You’re exactly who you need to be. Don’t let these idiots convince you otherwise. You’re not the problem, they are. You’re entitled to have someone who will break the rules with you and push your standards even higher so that no other man will compare to your relationship because it will be you and him exploring it together.”
He should thank her for blessing him with her presence not harassing her.
“I’m not Luka,” she registers softly.
“I didn’t like the way he touched you. You hated it. I could see it in your body language and your eyes. Wildflower, as long as you’re with me, I won’t let anyone hurt you. Even if it’s only for a day, you’re mine to protect.”
“I’m fine. I didn’t like seeing him but I’m past guys like him. They don’t deserve my attention or my time.”
That’s my girl. I crack a smile.
She grabs my hand for reassurance. “Come on, let’s pay for the groceries and then I want to show you something.”
I like the sound of that.
“Deal.” I collect the mess of ingredients at my feet and follow her lead.
Hoping on the bike once again, she instructs me where to go next.
Luka
Wepullnexttoa small shop on the corner of a quiet street.
Rhodes & Stark.
“Is this place yours?” I point at the sign.
“Mine and Sophie’s,” she answers, shuffling her keys in the lock. “Rhodes is my last name.”
“Okay, Dylan Rhodes, what do we have on the menu today?”
She opens the door. “You mean other than orgasm me to Avalon.”
Damn, that mouth.
