AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Like invite him in.
ChapterTen
CHRISTIAN
“Where the fuck do you think you’re going?”
I’m not sure why I’m angry, but I am. Mia drives me fucking insane. It ticks, like a clock or bomb, inside me. Pressure builds.
We were on the porch, having a nice time, all relaxed. And then, boom. She ran like I wanted to stab her. I’d been talking shit about things I’d never say to anyone else, stupid, meaningless things that made her laugh. And it was good.
If I live to a thousand, I’ll never understand this woman.
Every time I think I have a grip on her and who she is, she shifts on me. Morphs.
She’s visited hell, sure, but she knows I’m never going to force myself on her, not in that way. I’ll push, I’ll test boundaries I probably fucking shouldn’t, but I’m not going to rape her.
And on the fucking porch? Right then? I didn’t even fucking touch her. Didn’t even make a move like I’d do that.
Goddamn it all.
“I asked you a fucking question,” I say.
Mia stops, her back stiff, but she doesn’t turn. “Going to bed.”
“Bed?” I almost laugh at that. Instead, I cross my arms and glare a hole in her back. “You’ve barely eaten today, sweetness. And the sun is barely down. So, what the fuck?”
“I’m tired.”
“Is that an invitation, Mia? Because all you gotta do is ask, and I’m saying yes.”
“It’s not an invitation. Jesus. Can you stop being a fuck boy for two seconds?”
“Wasn’t aware that’s what I was doing.” I take a step toward her as I drop my arms to my sides.
Then I stop and rub the back of my neck.
“Y’know, when I’m trying to get a woman to fuck me, or how do you put it? Fuck boy? When I’m being a fuck boy, I don’t tend to talk fucking nonsense. So, I ask you, since you don’t want me to take you to bed and show you more of my moves,” her spine stiffens a little at that, “and you suddenly take offense at my humor, what is it you want?”
“Not. You.”
“Really?” I clench my hands. “I think you do.”
“Well, isn’t that just typical asshole thinking? It’s bad enough you’ve forced your way in here, making me pretend we’re together. Fine, but I don’t need to spend every second with you.”
Her words are like a gut punch, and I don’t know why.
Yeah, I do. She’s pushing me away when she wants me. And I’m too much of a bastard to really let her. Not when I know she needs to be pushed back.
I know when someone isn’t into me. And when they are. And Mia, whether she wants to admit it or not, is into me. Like I’m into her. She’s in my blood, but that doesn’t mean I’m blind to her.
Then something clicks.
She’s running away. From me. From her own feelings. From memories.
There’s no way she wasn’t thinking about what happened with her at Ellie’s place. No way that set off Mia’s own memories of her past.
It’s clear from what Ellie’s mom said the girl’s ex was nothing more than an abuser. And I mean girl. Her mom can’t be too many years older than me, maybe pushing forty, and there’s no way Ellie’s gonna be older than her early twenties.
