The first time in years that I wasn’t the only one fighting for myself.
Some might call it counterproductive.
A contradiction.
I figured anything that made me feel this alive should be considered therapy.
The one thing I knew for sure as I stood there facing away from him was every hair on my body stood on end.
My body hewn in anticipation.
Shivers raced far and fast, and my heart catapulted into warp speed.
I could feel him lingering behind me, the searing severity of his gaze making a slow path down my backside.
There wasn’t a casual thing about it.
“What the fuck are you wearing?” he grunted. “Wildfire, doing your best to do me in.”
I bent over a little farther, hoping to give him a little peep show of my bottom.
This morning, I’d suited up in my favorite denim dress, the top fitted and the short skirt flowy, hemmed in a matching denim ruffle.
Nude heels to match.
It always made me feel powerful.
Powerful when my control was slipping.
I had none of it then when I straightened and began to slowly turn in his direction, bracing myself to look at him.
I didn’t know why I bothered. I already knew I was going to get swept away by the undertow.
A riptide at my feet.
My knees knocked the second I caught sight of Silas standing in the same spot where he always stood glowering at me.
Though now I recognized that glowering for what it was.
Pure, unfiltered want.
Okay, fine. There was a little hate there, too. I wasn’t a total fool.
Hate that he wanted me so badly. It was the type of hate that I completely understood because I felt a bit of it, myself.
No question, both our spirits were a bit peeved over the fact that one single person could affect us this way.
We were opposites, me playing it safe and him living on the edge.
We sure as hell didn’t match.
Natural born enemies.
Neither of us could really fit into the other’s life, even if we wanted to.
I felt all of it as sure as I felt the tremor rock through me as I took him in.
He wore jeans and a tight white tee and his cut over the top. Worn motorcycle boots on his feet.
