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“Look, I support all sexual orientations, as long as it’s consensual and not incestuous. To be honest, I would love nothing more than for you to be gay.”
“But I’m not gay.” He snaps to a sitting position, his tone harsh and cold.
“Who cares if you are?”
“I’m not. Far from it.”
“Okay, okay. Simmer down.”
“Just so we’re clear, I love it for other people, just not for me.” He returns to his casual sprawl at the edge of my vision and relights his cigarette. “I’m into women. Not men. Not goats. Just women.”
Um… “Okay. Speaking as a woman, I would appreciate it if you wore clothes, so I don’t have to see just how into women you are.”
“Legit.” He laughs but doesn’t move to cover himself.
Fuckhead.
The bench creaks as he leans toward the coal stove. I look away to avoid getting flashed while he throws more water over the rocks.
Steam billows thickly, vaporizing him into a blurry silhouette.
He returns to his bench, and I recline on mine, closing my eyes.
Until the door opens.
I shoot up and hug my legs, peering through the fog.
Leonid.
I don’t know how I know. Maybe it’s the sudden animosity clotting the air.
If his presence had a flavor, it would be tequila, ghost peppers, and a bonfire that sits at the back of my throat.
He steps in, wearing tight, dark briefs, looking every inch the primal, well-fed, killing machine.
I start to rise, but he forces me back with a scathing look and lowers onto the bench beside me.
Unease creeps up, and his hand comes down, gripping my thigh.
“You want to run.” He meets my eyes, staring straight into my soul with venom and malice.
Don’t show fear. It’s what he craves.
“You’d like that, wouldn’t you?” It takes everything I have to stretch out my legs, relax on the bench, and lie through my teeth. “You don’t scare me, Leonid. I know how to handle a bully.”
15
Wolfson
—
“Do tell.” I lean in, loving Frankie’s fighting spirit. “How does one handle a bully?”
Leo chuckles in that cold-hearted way he does, but he’s curious, too. He can’t help himself, hanging onto her every word.
I knew he would show up. Honestly, I’m surprised it took him this long. He’s been driving himself mad since she arrived as if she’s a harbinger of doomsday or some shit.
His head is a scary place.
But not as scary as mine.
“You ignore them,” she says.
I seriously doubt she can ignore Leo for long, but I ask anyway. “How does that work?”
“Bullies have so many insecurities they crave attention and feed on fear. Don’t give it to them. Give them nothing, and poof! They disappear.”
“Fascinating.” Leo bends toward her, lowering his voice. “If I’m a bully, why is your thigh trembling beneath my hand? Put your words into action. Ignore me.”
I can’t remember the last time I was this entertained. Sucking hard on my smoke, it goes dry. Fucking ciggies never stay lit in here.
As I strike the lighter, Frankie rises to her feet.
Oh, shit. She’s going to run.
Swinging my legs off the bench, I move to follow her. Only she doesn’t turn toward the door. She steps between Leo’s knees then straddles his lap.
What the—?
He jerks, clearly as shocked as I am, and his back hits the high bench behind him.
I bite down on my knuckles. The anticipation is everything.
Stretching out his arms along the seat at his back, he leans away as if trying not to touch her. He doesn’t seem to know what to do.
One thing is certain. I haven’t seen his chest heave like that since he took down a grizzly in the meat shed two summers ago.
It’s glorious.
“How does it feel?” She slides a hand down his sternum and grips his stomach.
Dude. Is she digging her nails into his scar? That’s fucked up.
Fucked-up awesome.
“Do you know why your entire body is trembling, Leonid?” Purring his name, she scrapes her teeth on his earlobe. “Because I’m the bully. Ignore me.”
I’m instantly hard.
He springs to his feet, shoving her away with a guttural growl.
“Stay away from us.” He points at her, snarling and pacing in the small space.
If he wants away from her, why doesn’t he just walk out the door? I know. Because he’s hopelessly ensnared—hook, line, and sinker.
I can’t stop laughing. “That, my dear, just upped the bar on the entertainment in the banya.”
Shooting me a ferocious scowl, he collapses onto the lower bench beside me and pulls a knee up. I don’t think she saw it, but he’s sporting a serious chubby in his briefs. He’ll be beating that one to death until the early hours of morning.
Lucky me.
I would sleep on the couch if it weren’t already claimed by Kody. They both really need to get over their aversion to her. She’s fucking spectacular.
She should be celebrating her win against Leo. But instead, she stares off into space with a look of shame marring her doll-like features. Is it biter’s remorse? She’s married, but would biting another man’s ear be considered cheating?
