Page 26 of Silver Player

A kiss from me.

10

Kiss and seek

[Billy]

Why the fuck did I have to kiss her?

Have to? my head clarifies.

Had to, my dick responds.

First, that Clyde takes her out of the pub before I know what she’s doing in there, and then I see them through the front window. She tips up on her toes because Clyde is tall, and she kisses him.

In front of my pub.

In front of me.

The second Clyde returns, I’ve finally extracted myself from Kristy, ignoring her pleas for another night together—big mistake happening the first time—and I’m brushing past Clyde for the front entrance with a muttered, “I’ll be back.”

I cross the street with long strides, racing up behind her before she can reach her stairs and then…

Although I knew I’d scare her a little, those eyes snapped to mine, and when our fingers linked in my grasp, I just had to have answers.

Why did she kiss Clyde?

In typical Roxanne form, she sidetracks and reroutes and accuses me of marriage and other women and just…dammit that woman. I reach for the large handle of the pub door and yank the thing open. The swell of loud country music and the blare of sports games on the TVs fill my head but do nothing to stop my racing heart or the throb in my jeans. I’m sporting a major boner as I cross through the bar. I should have adjusted myself, but this isn’t going down without something to relieve it.

I ignore every greeting and a few smacks on the back as I rush to my office. Then I slam the door, throw the lock, and fall against the barrier. Both hands cover my face, and I swipe down my cheeks.

What the fuck have you done this time? my brain screams.

Why didn’t you let me out? my dick weeps.

Fucking Roxanne McAllister and her fucking delicious lips which kissed me back for a moment there. She opened for me with a sweet sigh and an eager tongue. Her hips rolled forward, begging my thigh to separate hers, and my fingers twitched to grip those hips, forcing her to ride my leg. But I couldn’t release her face. Her skin is so soft, my thumb stroked over her cheeks as I moved her mouth with mine.

My fingers brush hastily over my lips, and I toss my hands to my thighs.

Goddammit.

I’m still stiff as a pine tree, and it’s only getting worse, the longer I think about her lips mixing with mine.

Then I consider the things she said.

Not going to be pushed out of Sadie’s life.

Need to step up for Sadie.

Kissed Kristy before her.

I did not fucking kiss Kristy. What does she take me for? But I know the answer. She thinks I’m a player, and I have no evidence to prove her wrong. My history corroborates the truth, and Sadie is exhibit A that I’ve slept around.

My shoulders slump against the door, and my head falls forward.

Sadie.

Roxanne wasn’t wrong there either. I should have called. I should have gone to see her. This is all new to me, but like Roxanne reminded me the other day, it’s new to Sadie. She’s a kid, and she’s been through a ton of changes lately, and while my mother likes to say kids are resilient, I don’t know how well I’d be if everything were piled on at once like that.