Protect Me: Oakville Series:Book Three by Kathy-Jo Reinhart Page A

door.
    “You aren’t your father, Paul. You are nothing like him. You’d never hurt a woman --- especially one you loved.”
    “You don’t know a fucking thing. And who said anything about love?”
    “Just don’t let something epic slip through your fingers because you’re a stubborn douche. Now, go home and put some ice on that hand. It’s gonna hurt like a bitch in the morning.” Kyle laughs as he locks the door behind me. Asshole. I know he’s right about letting her slip away, but it still doesn’t change anything. I can’t be with her. It’s for her own good.
    When I pull into the parking lot of the apartment building, the nausea returns full force. Just thinking that Angel or some other guy is in there with her right now makes me want to hurl. Quickly, I get out of the car. I need a drink to calm myself before I do something stupid. Walking into my apartment and straight to the liquor cabinet, I grab a bottle of whiskey. I twist off the cap and guzzle right from the bottle, welcoming the burn. I bring the bottle with me to my room and set it on the nightstand. After pulling off my shirt, boots, and socks, I turn out the light and sit in my bed. I take another drink from my bottle. Before I can swallow it, I hear a noise from next door that causes me to spit a mouthful of whiskey everywhere. “Please don’t let that be what I think it is.” I forgot how thin these walls are. Kyle had the apartment next door before he had the one above the bar finished. I could hear every little moan from the women he brought home. I used to think it was funny back then. It’s anything but funny right now. I have to know who she’s with, even if it kills me…or him.
    I scoot closer to the wall and rest my ear against it, trying to hear what’s going on. There aren’t any voices, but I can hear Holly breathing heavily. Another pleasurable moan slips from her lips, leaving me as hard as stone. How I wish I were the one making her moan like that. The moans get louder and the panting heavier. I know she’s getting close. I know she’s in there with another guy, but hearing her and imagining being with her has me so turned on, I can’t help myself.
    I slide my hand down my chest to the button of my jeans. As soon as I have my cock in my hand, something hits the wall right where my ear is resting. I jump back, my heart beating a mile a minute. Shit! That scared the hell out of me. Quickly, I put my ear back to the wall. I hear Holly cursing like a sailor. Something’s definitely pissed her off. Did this guy do something to her? I’ll kill him. It’s then when I realize I haven’t yet heard any voice other than Holly’s. Relief washes over me. Maybe there isn’t anyone in there with her after all. Then, it’s confirmed. “Fucking batteries. Always going dead just when you need them. That’s what I get for not finding the real thing,” Holly shouts from her room. Obviously, she has no idea just how thin these walls are. She’s about to find out. I pull my phone from my back pocket and begin to type a text message.
    Our walls are pretty thin, doll face. Why don’t you let me come over and finish what that battery operated imposter couldn’t?
    I hit send and wait. If I can have sex with women I don’t know, why couldn’t I handle a purely sexual relationship with a woman I kinda like? So, maybe I more than kinda like her, but I can still keep the feelings out of it. When I hear the ding from my phone telling me she’s responded, my heart drops to my stomach, worried over what her response might be.
    Are you out of your fucking mind! You embarrass the hell out of me and then invite yourself over to fuck me?
    I wasn’t even thinking that I might embarrass her. Shit! I’m an idiot. Quickly, I try to type a reply that will remove my foot from my mouth.
    You have nothing to be embarrassed about. That was the hottest fucking thing I’ve ever heard. You had me so hard, I had no choice but to take matters into my