Page 49 of Alec’s Dream

“I don’t want you here.”

“Too bad.”

“Too bad?” My body jerked and pain from my torn lips ricocheted when I pressed them together. “Do not fuck with me, Alec. Not today. I’ve already had one man in my face—”

Suddenly I wasn’t two feet from Alec I was hauled to his chest, his arm like a steel band holding me tight against him.

“That motherfucker will pay for putting his hands on you, I can promise you that.” His harsh whisper fanned over my ear and across my neck. “But don’t you dare pile me in with either of those two pieces of shit. Not the one who fucked you over for years, and not the son of a bitch who put his hands on you. I am not them, and you know it. Drop the shields, Macy, they aren’t necessary. I am going to get Rory what she needs so neither of you has to leave the house. Either I’m picking up your son or Becky is, who isn’t is you. And swear to Christ, Macy, you try to leave this house, I will board the front door closed.”

“You say you’re nothing like them but you threaten to imprison me?” I huffed at the audacity of this man.

“Dial back the drama, babe. Josh is roaming the streets. It’s not safe for you to be out there alone with your kids and you know it. Are you really so hell-bent to remain stubborn you’d put your kids in danger?”

I hated that he was right. Hated it with everything inside of me. My kids were in danger all because of Doug.

“Fine, Becky can get him and she’ll pick up stuff for Rory. I don’t want you coming back.”

“Too fucking bad. I’m coming back.”

“You’re not—”

“No, Macy. We tried it your way. I listened to you on Saturday. I backed off. I was wrong. Now we’re doing it my way.”

The arrogance of this asshole.

Seriously.

“Right. So if big, bad, tough Alec Hall had been around he could’ve saved poor, little damsel Macy from getting the shit knocked out of her, is that it? You have a God complex? You think I need a man by my side to fix all my problems?”

“No, babe, I wouldn’t have been able to stop shit. I would’ve been at work and you would’ve still been here all by yourself. What happened here today rests firmly on that motherfucking, cocksucking prick’s shoulders. He did this to you, but I sure as hell am gonna make sure it never happens again. But that is not why we’re doing it my way.”

“Then why are you here?”

“Because I can’t stop thinking about you. The last five nights I’ve gone to bed with that kiss on my mind. The way you taste fresh in my mind. I want more of that. I want more of you.”

My body heated even though I didn’t want it to. There was no denying Alec was gorgeous. Tall, dark, and handsome didn’t begin to cover it. His appeal went beyond his looks and called to a place inside of me I’d tried my best to shut off. I didn’t want to feel anything for him.

“So you want sex? How about we let the bruises on my face heal and I’ll give you a call. In the meantime, stay away from me.”

We were still standing close, his arm still around me, so I didn’t miss the twitch around his eyes or the spark of aggravation.

“I lied to you,” he blurted out. “Saturday when I told you I wanted to take it slow, be friends—I lied. I also told you I wasn’t asking you for your soul—that was another lie. Fair warning Macy, you get seven days of slow.”

“Don’t you dare fuck with my kids.”

“There it is—that fire in your belly. When you're protecting your kids it’s hot as hell. Told you once, but I’ll remind you. I will not hurt your kids.”

“Seven days is not slow. Seven days is crazy. My kids—”

“Your kids will not need more than seven days to know what kind of man I am. Now, I’m going but I’ll be back in an hour. Call Becky.”

“Don’t tell me what to do,” I hissed, and Alec smiled.

“Be back, babe. Call me if you need anything else while I’m out.” Alec kissed the top of my head and walked across my lawn to the SUV Nixon Swagger stood in front of.

“Macy?”

I was so enthralled watching Alec, I nearly jumped out of my skin when Jonny called my name.