AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Okay.” He grinned.
“Fuck off, Parrish. It’s not.”
“I said okay.”
“Yeah, but you said it in a way that says you disagree.”
“Sounds like someone is deflecting.”
I shook my head, not having the energy to play this game. “I spent years in prison because of your family.” How could he not see that?
But he checked on Grandma. He helped her. He hadn’t known what happened.
“I know. But like I told you, I’m not like them. I’ll prove it to you, and I’ll make sure they never cause you any trouble again.”
I didn’t speak as he got up and started to collect his clothes. What was I even supposed to say to that? I didn’t need to be protected, and even if I did, I didn’t trust Parrish to do it.
Neither of us said a word while he got dressed. The last thing he said to me was, “See you at work on Monday,” and then he closed the door behind him.
CHAPTER TEN
Parrish
“You still grumpy?” I asked Riven the next Friday afternoon as he handed me his form to sign. We’d spent the whole week ignoring what happened between us—mostly Riven’s doing. I was following his lead because the way I saw it, this was a whole lot more screwed up for him than it was for me.
The good news was he hadn’t been as anti-Parrish as he’d been before I’d had dinner with him and then sucked a load out of his balls. The bad news was I couldn’t say he was friendly either. When he did speak to me, it was usually with sarcasm or talking shit. When our crew stopped to eat lunch, he didn’t sit with us. When we laughed and chatted and told stories, Riven never responded or joined in the conversations. He kept himself locked up tight, detached, and it pissed me off. Not at him, but because of the situation. After everything that happened to him, I figured Riven didn’t know any other way to be.
“I’m not grumpy. I hate the world. There’s a difference.”
I risked a step closer, glancing around to make sure Wayne or Smitty weren’t nearby. “I don’t think you hated having your dick in my mouth.”
“A mouth is a mouth.” He shrugged.
I chuckled. “You’re a real bastard, you know that?” The thing was, I didn’t think that was true at all. Not really. Sure, he could be an asshole, but I thought it was more about protecting himself than anything else.
“That’s what I’ve been trying to tell you.” He pointed to the paper in my hand. “Are you going to sign that?”
“Why do you think he uses actual paper? Isn’t there an app for this?”
“Because he likes to torture me by making me talk to you. And also because he works for the state. They don’t give money for stuff that helps people like me or programs like mine. They don’t give a fuck how dated it is.”
He had that right. I sighed, signed it, and handed it back to him. His perma-scowl on his gorgeous face made those bow lips of his a straight line rather than plump and kissable the way they naturally were. I wanted to see him lose himself the way he had last weekend. With his dick in my mouth, Riven had let go, been free, and he deserved more of that. I wanted to be the one to give it to him.
“Let’s do something tonight,” I said, just as Wayne approached.
“You took the words out of my mouth, boss. We can head down to your uncle’s bar and grab a beer. Riven here needs to learn to relax.” Wayne wrapped an arm playfully around Riven. The second he did, Riven’s gaze hardened, and he pushed Wayne away.
“Don’t fucking touch me.” His words were sharp enough to cut glass.
Wayne stumbled a few steps backward, and I stepped between them. “Riv…chill out.”
It was fine if he didn’t like to be touched or whatever his issue was with what Wayne had said or done, but he didn’t get to assault people. Especially not when he was on parole and we were currently at his job. Wayne was harmless and just liked to have a good time.
Riven clenched his jaw, a muscle pulsing in the left side. I cocked my head, studying him, trying to figure out where the anger was coming from. Had something bad happened to him? Besides the obvious.
“Riv?” I asked again, but it was like he’d shut down, like he didn’t even see me.
“Hey, my bad,” Wayne said. “I get up in people’s space sometimes. I didn’t mean any harm.” He held his hands up and stepped around me so we could both see him. “My cousin spent some time inside. I get it. I wasn’t thinking. We’re cool.”
Jesus, thank God that had been Wayne and not someone else. He was really like a big golden retriever.
