Page 26

“She turned fifteen today. You should send me back with a good gift,” Melony suggested.

Slowly my brother’s shoulders relaxed as she kept talking. I cleared my throat, and our eyes met briefly.

“I’ll leave you to it.”

Melony waved me off and continued to talk about the ridiculous theme of her niece’s birthday party. I stepped out of the townhouse and sucked in a deep breath. Now that I was no longer distracted by Gin my mind instantly raced to Tex. I ground my molars and pulled my phone out.

Fifteen minutes later, my car was dropped off. I was distracted the entire drive. Even through traffic, all I could think about was Tex and the way he’d laughed and hugged the woman at the club. He’d seen me, and I’d felt a spark the moment our eyes met but he’d turned away from me.

Remembering only made me angrier. I slammed the car into park in the parking lot of Tex’s apartment. I hadn’t planned on coming back, at least not this soon.

I was out of the car and at his front door in seconds. Gin’s words came crashing through my mind before I could break the lock. Boundaries. Did it still count if I’d already broken in? I was tempted to call Gin and ask him the rules on boundaries if one had already been crossed or if I’d already done it. My head hurt. Instead of entering, I leaned against the wall next to it.

Minutes turned to hours, and it was well past two in the morning when I heard Tex’s smooth voice. He was saying goodbye to the girl in the taxi. She waved at him, laughing as he stumbled toward the building. He didn’t notice me right away, but the moment he was close enough and I could smell the beer on him, he jumped.

“Fuck!”

I caught Tex before he could fall back. He blinked rapidly at me. “What the fuck are you doing here, asshole? Here to go through my shit again? Once wasn’t enough?”

My head tilted. I took in the anger in Tex’s eyes and the way his mouth dipped in a heavy frown. He is upset.

“You’re angry with me?”

“No, I love it when a guy who fucked me left me at a hotel alone comes back around randomly to clean my place and go through my shit. It’s the goddamn best feeling ever.”

“Then why are you frowning?” I asked.

“You…You can’t be fucking for real.” Tex shouldered me out of the way. He was still unsteady on his feet as he cursed under his breath, trying to get the key in the lock. “Motherfucking cocksucker,” he continued to mumble under his breath.

I moved closer, my body nearly touching his. He went still as I reached around him and took the keys. I slid it into the lock and turned it with ease. Tex leaned back toward me as if seeking me out before he shook his head and snatched the keys away.

“Thanks, now fuck off.”

He opened the door and stumbled inside. The fluffy orange cat greeted us at the door, and Tex scooped him up.

“Hey, Penelope. Ready for bed?”

I stepped in behind him and shut the door.

“You don’t understand English?” Tex asked.

“I do.”

He placed the cat back down. Penelope wove between my legs, but I stayed watching Tex as he headed for the kitchen.

“Where the fuck are my glasses?”

I opened the cabinet closest to the small white fridge. It made sense to have them close to where he stored his drinks. I handed it to him, and it slipped through his fingers and crashed to the laminate flooring. Glass scattered everywhere.

“Fuck my life.” He bent down to clean it, but I stopped him.

“Sit down. I will get it.”

“I don’t need you here. I can handle this.” Tex wavered, and I glared at him.

“Sit.” I pressed my fingers between his impressive pecs. I dreamt of fondling them too many times. Tex continued to stand there, and I got closer lowering my voice. “Sit, Tex, or I will make you, and we both know it will hurt.” My head tilted along with the corner of my mouth. “Maybe you want me to hurt you again.”

Tex’s Adam’s apple bobbed, and his pupils dilated, eating at the gorgeous blue of his iris.

“No?” Tex said, licking his lips.

“Then sit down.” I directed him to the small living room.

He plopped down on the couch as I turned around. I made Penelope was locked away in his bedroom before fixing a cup of water.

“Drink this and take this.”

“Not a drug to knock me out, is it?”

I smirked. “I want you awake for anything I do to you. Your reactions are too good to miss out on. It’s ibuprofen.”

I placed the pill in one hand and the cup in the other. Turning away from Tex, I focused on cleaning up the mess on the floor.