Page 17 of Unhinged Cravings
“Never?”
I turned back to him, seeing the curiosity there. “Never. I didn’t grow up near the ocean and it didn’t seem worth the two-hour drive to get to the shore when I moved to Bridgeville.” I lowered the mug. “Why do you live here?”
He sat up and rested his elbows on the table, clasping his hands in front of him. “It makes for a distraction from life, I suppose. There isn’t much beauty in my life, so this suffices.”
I picked at the handle. “No beautiful women in your bed every night.” Unsure where that question had come from, I focused my sight on the mug handle and avoided his eyes.
He snorted. “Not every night.”
My eyes flew up as something in my chest became uncomfortable. “But some nights,” I said, hating how I had wanted him to say something different.
The corner of his mouth lifted. “When I’m in themood. I suppose it’s different when you have a boyfriend you can sneak onto airplanes and fuck.”
The way he said fuck left my core heated. That he was fishing for my status as much as I had been for his had me confused. “He wasn’t my boyfriend.”
He waited for more, his stare penetrating.
Grinning, I said, “He was the bartender from the wedding. I don’t do boyfriends; they get too clingy.”
“So, you don’t do commands, and you don’t do boyfriends. There are so many things to unpack there, wildcat.”
My heart beat out of rhythm, halting my breath momentarily. This was bad and wrong, and I was enjoying it too much. I suspected he was enjoying it just as much.
“I doubt that,” I said, finding my voice.
Dropping his arms and leaning further in, he said, “What were you dreaming about last night?”
The sudden change of topic had me flustered. “I…nothing,” I stuttered, lowering my eyes again.
“Ava.” That commanding tone had returned.
Pushing my chair back, I rose. “Nothing. It was just a nightmare.”
“That wasn’t just a nightmare,” he countered, rising as well.
I walked away, hearing his steps behind me. Prisoner. That’s what I was, no matter how comfortable our talk had been, or how gorgeous he was. But I didn’t know how long I would be here and if the nightmares were returning, they would get worse.
Halting my steps, I turned back, finding his solid chest right in front of me. I looked up at him, only then noticing how he towered over me.
“I need my meds,” I said, hating that I had to ask. Straightening my spine, which only gained me a half an inch, I added, “Or else they’ll continue.”
“The nightmares?” His brows creased and concern lined his blue eyes.
“Yes. The medicine I take helps keep them away. I need to take it three times a day, and I’ve missed two doses already.”
Pulling his phone out, he said, “Do you know the dosages and the name of the medication?”
“Yes.”
“Good. What other meds do you need?”
I couldn’t help but stare at him. “You’re going to get my medicine for me?”
“Just tell me what you need.” He hit a number and brought his phone to his ear. A man’s voice answered after one ring. “Reach out to your supplier. I need…” He looked at me.
I gave him the name and dosages, then listened as he repeated them.
“And?”
