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“I can do other things besides fight.” I’d totally earned that, considering I oftendidend up in fights. But I could tend bar, too. That was relatively easy work for the most part. I couldn’t afford the dock in pay.
She quirked her auburn eyebrow, and I couldn’t help but bite down on my tongue ring to distract me from how sexy she was. I had to be still tripping on the morphine or something to be thinking of that right now. Then again, it sure chased away the ache in my side.
I’d always wondered what Sarah’s kiss would taste like. What her lips would feel like against mine. Her body against mine. Not that I ever would experience the latter—at least not in the sex department. Then again, maybe—
“Stop looking at me like that.” She straightened her white shirt—wait, that wasmywhite shirt.
“Is that mine?”
She nodded. “Had to snoop for it, since I wasn’t really dressed for a night of nursing. You didn’t have any pants or sweats I could make work, so I settled for a shirt.”
Damn she looked good in it. Sure, it was a little big for her, and it covered up her rocking figure, but the fact that she was wearingmyshirt…that was enough.
“Drey?” she whispered, and I realized I’d stepped toward her again, leaving only a few feet between us. “You…feeling okay?”
If she only knew. It’d been so long since I’d even kissed a girl. Even longer since I’d had sex. Two years and four days, actually. That’d been the day I lost my…Amberly…and vowed to never have sex again until…well, until I’d settled down.
I prepared for the onslaught of memories of Amber dying in front of me from an overdose, and my preemie baby girl struggling through her only two breaths on this earth.
Only two breaths…
Instead of images flashing, Sarah’s face stayed front and center. Her almond-shaped green eyes and high, smooth cheekbones. I could tell she’d had some work done, for some reason, but she pulled it off. Despite her young age, she looked like she’d lived life hard.
Considering how much she drank, I could see it. And for some reason that triggered my rescuing complex something fierce. I’d failed Amber and Amberly, my mom, my brother…
“Drey. I should…go.” Her palms landed on my chest as I closed in. “You…I.” She swallowed loud. “Can’t.”
“I know we shouldn’t.” I drew in a deep breath and caught a hint of lilac. It was subtle, but I caught it. She’d worn that scent before, and I should know. I’d taken care of her drunk ass several times, always hoping she’d straighten out. See me in a different light.
“You’re hurt.”
“Be gentle,” I whispered, not believing what I was saying. I knew damn straight we shouldn’t do this. But I had to have one kiss. Nothing more. Not…until she stopped going with every guy at the bar. No. She wouldn’t go with another.
Ever again.
I leaned in but stopped with less than an inch before our lips met. “Thanks for taking care of me.”
She drew in a breath, but didn’t say anything. She stood there, frozen. Was it fear? Disgust? Pity?
“What’s wrong?” I whispered, her breath mingling with mine as I held back with every ounce of strength in me.
“I—I’m not—ready for…” She glanced to the side, and I stepped back. Her chest was heaving and her fists were tight at her sides.
I cupped her face, resting my thumbs below her captivating eyes. “You can tell me.” I bumped her nose with mine.
“I’ve never…kissed anyone.”
That surprised me. “What?”
“On the mouth.” Tears rimmed her eyes. “Too…personal.”
I stared at her in awe, but as I thought back, I’d never seen her kiss anyone on the lips. Then again, when I saw her hooking up with someone, I didn’t want to pay attention too closely.
“What do you mean too personal?” I asked, totally curious. This girl had layers, didn’t she? And man that made me want to peel them back. Even despite the risk of her peeling back some of mine.
“Nothing.” She pushed at my chest. “Let me—”
“Wait.” My hands slid from her cheeks to her neck, and I threaded my fingers through her hair until I found the nape of her neck. Her eyes closed as my fingers moved along the upper part of her spine.
