question.”
“And I answered your question.”
“No, you put me off.”
“Ben and I have been seein’ each other off and on for a few years. He doesn’t understand my relationship with my family so we never stick. I think the last time we broke up was the last time. That was about eight months ago. He seemed done with me and I’m sick of having the same fight. Is that enough of an answer for you?” I ask defiantly.
“And you’d rather have him here with you?”
“I didn’t say that,” I snap back, as he tips his head toward mine.
“What do you want?”
His breath tickles my neck while his scent begins to envelope my senses. The heat from his massive frame is warming the chills he’s causing to flutter over my skin.
“Loaded question,” I snort, trying to keep my wits about me. I know he’s fucking with me. I’ve been fucked with enough in life to recognize it.
“You can keep tryin’ to push me, Sully. It won’t work. I’ve had men like you pawing at me since I hit puberty. You’ll have to do more than that to get to me.”
When I finish, he steps away from me as if I just backhanded him. He immediately straightens his shoulders and removes the lust from his features.
“You’ve never had a man like me do anything to you. I’ve told you to trust your instincts with me, but let me clear up whatever fucked up shit you’re thinkin’. I’m not that type of man. I don’t force myself on women and I never have. I wouldn’t touch a child, and I sure as shit wouldn’t hurt one. I’m a danger to you because I’m something you’ve never experienced. I’m fire. I’ll burn you, Natasha. But if you keep your distance, I’ll keep you warm through the frigid storm of life raging around you,” he spouts confidently.
Okay, that’s honesty I wasn’t anticipating. I need him to back off. I need a clear damn head to figure this out. I can’t think when he’s pulling and pushing me simultaneously. My current state of exhaustion isn’t helping matters. Add that to the bizarre idea that Blake is entrusting me to this man towering over me, I’m lost.
I grew up with a constant feeling of unrest. My mother tried so hard to do the right thing, but she couldn’t. Her life was a mess and we were a part of that. I don’t hate her. I see her for what she is and that’s a lost, battered woman without the desire to change. Any time a man in her life found himself on the wrong side of Blake’s fists, she immediately kicked him to the curb and usually bruised his balls on the way out. Her problem was, and is, her picker’s broken. She would trade one bad seed for another.
Because we were often moving to get away from a boyfriend, I always felt uneasy. I never felt rooted in life. I can still pack myself and my belongings in twenty minutes. It’s a skill I’d rather not have. This home I’ve rebuilt feels solid beneath my feet, the walls around me a comforting embrace. My tiny bungalow has replaced an absent parent and a troubled brother. I need to feel safe here and when Sully’s within this space, I feel vulnerable. I can’t have that.
“I’ll call Ben. It’s for the best,” I finish, moving around Sully’s dominating presence.
I think I hear a growl rumble in his chest as I pass, but I ignore it. It’s late to be making a phone call to an ex-boyfriend. I don’t really have a choice right now.
“Hello?” Ben’s easy kind voice answers on the second ring.
“Hey, Ben. It’s Natasha,” I respond softly, pulling the bathroom door shut for some privacy.
“Hi, honey,” he breathes out, almost sounding relieved to hear my voice.
“How are you?”
“I’m well. You?”
“I’ve been better,” I answer honestly.
“What’s wrong, Natasha?” his tone is instantly alert.
“Blake’s in some trouble. So am I,” I whisper, embarrassed and regretting making this call.
“That’s nothing new,” Ben grumbles.
I push down the need to defend my brother to Ben’s judgment. I
“And I answered your question.”
“No, you put me off.”
“Ben and I have been seein’ each other off and on for a few years. He doesn’t understand my relationship with my family so we never stick. I think the last time we broke up was the last time. That was about eight months ago. He seemed done with me and I’m sick of having the same fight. Is that enough of an answer for you?” I ask defiantly.
“And you’d rather have him here with you?”
“I didn’t say that,” I snap back, as he tips his head toward mine.
“What do you want?”
His breath tickles my neck while his scent begins to envelope my senses. The heat from his massive frame is warming the chills he’s causing to flutter over my skin.
“Loaded question,” I snort, trying to keep my wits about me. I know he’s fucking with me. I’ve been fucked with enough in life to recognize it.
“You can keep tryin’ to push me, Sully. It won’t work. I’ve had men like you pawing at me since I hit puberty. You’ll have to do more than that to get to me.”
When I finish, he steps away from me as if I just backhanded him. He immediately straightens his shoulders and removes the lust from his features.
“You’ve never had a man like me do anything to you. I’ve told you to trust your instincts with me, but let me clear up whatever fucked up shit you’re thinkin’. I’m not that type of man. I don’t force myself on women and I never have. I wouldn’t touch a child, and I sure as shit wouldn’t hurt one. I’m a danger to you because I’m something you’ve never experienced. I’m fire. I’ll burn you, Natasha. But if you keep your distance, I’ll keep you warm through the frigid storm of life raging around you,” he spouts confidently.
Okay, that’s honesty I wasn’t anticipating. I need him to back off. I need a clear damn head to figure this out. I can’t think when he’s pulling and pushing me simultaneously. My current state of exhaustion isn’t helping matters. Add that to the bizarre idea that Blake is entrusting me to this man towering over me, I’m lost.
I grew up with a constant feeling of unrest. My mother tried so hard to do the right thing, but she couldn’t. Her life was a mess and we were a part of that. I don’t hate her. I see her for what she is and that’s a lost, battered woman without the desire to change. Any time a man in her life found himself on the wrong side of Blake’s fists, she immediately kicked him to the curb and usually bruised his balls on the way out. Her problem was, and is, her picker’s broken. She would trade one bad seed for another.
Because we were often moving to get away from a boyfriend, I always felt uneasy. I never felt rooted in life. I can still pack myself and my belongings in twenty minutes. It’s a skill I’d rather not have. This home I’ve rebuilt feels solid beneath my feet, the walls around me a comforting embrace. My tiny bungalow has replaced an absent parent and a troubled brother. I need to feel safe here and when Sully’s within this space, I feel vulnerable. I can’t have that.
“I’ll call Ben. It’s for the best,” I finish, moving around Sully’s dominating presence.
I think I hear a growl rumble in his chest as I pass, but I ignore it. It’s late to be making a phone call to an ex-boyfriend. I don’t really have a choice right now.
“Hello?” Ben’s easy kind voice answers on the second ring.
“Hey, Ben. It’s Natasha,” I respond softly, pulling the bathroom door shut for some privacy.
“Hi, honey,” he breathes out, almost sounding relieved to hear my voice.
“How are you?”
“I’m well. You?”
“I’ve been better,” I answer honestly.
“What’s wrong, Natasha?” his tone is instantly alert.
“Blake’s in some trouble. So am I,” I whisper, embarrassed and regretting making this call.
“That’s nothing new,” Ben grumbles.
I push down the need to defend my brother to Ben’s judgment. I
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