AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Still, next to Cash, I don’t feel up to par.
I haven’t bothered with makeup since I quit at the club. Today, however, I swipe a little mascara on my lashes before adding some blush to my cheeks.
I still feel less, but since I have nothing more, it’ll have to do.
Staring at Cash’s sweater longingly, I decide mythin leather jacket will have to do for just one more morning. It’s one thing to snuggle up in his sweater when he can’t see me. It’s another thing to wear it out and about, even if it is warmer.
The fact my jacket is worn so thin is probably one of the only reasons it hadn’t went missing while living with Cara. I’d had more clothes when I initially moved in with her, but little by little, anything with any real value vanished. Never once did she admit to being the thief, even though both me and Marley knew. Now, I had two pairs of jeans and three pairs of leggings. Three t-shirts, four long-sleeve sweaters, two bras and a handful of panties and socks, and my jacket.
It's amazing my laptop didn’t grow legs. The fact I took it with me everywhere I went and slept with it next to my head might explain that single good grace.
It’s early Saturday morning, but I want to beat the rush and get myself to the mall. I’ve noticed the dropping temperature every morning, and now that I’m not dropping loads on rent and bills, I have a little money to spare to buy myself a winter jacket and maybe a couple outfits. I won’t go crazy, because I’m definitely putting some green stuff into my rainy-day fund. Heck, it won’t be a rainy day when Cash finally realizes his plan is bananas and kicks me to the curb. It’ll be a cold, dark, blizzardy day.I want to be prepared.
In the kitchen, I hit start on the coffee machine andpull my phone out to search bus routes and times. I’m not expecting Cash to be up so early, because he played a show last night, so when his bedroom door clicks open and he appears wearing nothing but black pyjama pants low on sculpted hips, dark hair messy, and expression rather scowl-ish—I quickly turn my attention back to my phone.
“What’re you doin’?”
“Making coffee,” I say chirpily.
“It’s seven in the morning.”
“Sure is.” I make the mistake of flashing a glance over my shoulder to see—a whole lotta abs. My cheeks burn. “Want a cup?”
He grunts something unintelligible as he prowls around the island to stand close. “Why are you awake?”
“No reason.”
I can feel his eyes burning into my back. “And you’re dressed. Why are you dressed?”
I don’t want to tell him my plans. I don’t want him coming with me as I scope out discount items on sale racks. I doubt Cash has ever had to shop in such a way, and although I’m not ashamed of it, I’d like to do it in peace.
“I just am.”
Cash moves in closer, so close I can feel the heat of his body at my back. My hands begin to tremble as Ipour coffee into two mugs, figuring that unintelligible grunt he gave me means he does, in fact, want coffee.
As soon as I put the coffee pot back, I feel a big hand wrap around my ponytail. Cash tugs not quite roughly, but not entirely gentle, either. Suddenly, my back is pressed into his hot, bare chest and my head is angled back into the curve of his shoulder, tipped up for his inspection. His eyes sweep my face, something dangerous flooding his expression. “You wearing makeup?”
Little currents of electricity zap through me.No one has ever held me like this.
I’m breathless. “Just a little.”
His eyes are alert now as they search my face. They narrow. “What are you up to, Kitten?”
Those currents sizzle, erupting. Every part of my body ignites. I’m hot all over.
Maybe it’s the way he’s holding me. Maybe it’s the way he’s manhandled my body simply by wrapping a big fist around my hair. Maybe it’s the way his eyes peerintome. I don’t know what it is. All I know is I’m helpless to hold back from him. God, if he kissed me now, there’s no doubt in my mind, I’d melt. Combust. Burn from the inside out.
I admit breathlessly, “I was going to go to the mall.”
He raises one single brow. “The mall?”
I nod. He doesn’t release my ponytail and I feel the tiny nip of pulled hair at the movement. “It’s getting cold out. I need a jacket.”
A muscle in his jaw twitches. “I’ll come.”
“No,” I reject his offer fast. Too fast. His brows slam inward, and he growls a sound that has me quickly explaining, “I like to shop alone.”
He stares at me for a long moment, and then he does what I least expect. He drops his mouth to mine. In every position Cash comes at me with, his body always, always dwarfs mine. This position is no different.
