Jacked (Trent Brothers #1)(142)

“I appreciate that, but I wish you would have told me.”

“It was my decision,” he said flatly.

“Yeah, but if it affects you, it affects us. You know what I mean? This is part of that trust thing. Well, at least it is for me.”

He crossed his arms. “Stuff like this… you’ll just have to trust that I’ll take care of things.”

“No, that’s not how this works. I want a partnership with someone, Adam, not you thinking you know what’s best for both of us.”

He combed his fingers back through his hair, tugging while nodding at the floor. “Yeah, you’re right.”

I liked the feel of winning. It was warm and cozy and empowering. So was wrapping my arms around his thick shoulders, although it all paled in comparison to the overwhelming love I had for him. “Thank you.”

“I suppose I should get used to admitting that,” he joked.

“What? That I’m right?”

He smirked and rolled his eyes.

“That’s not why I said it. I’m just relieved that you want to take care of things.”

His hands slid from my hips to cupping my ass. “Speaking of which… I believe you mentioned something about f*cking my brains out?”

“Oh, you caught that, did you?”

He nodded. “It was well played, too.”

“She was a bitch.”

I found myself being lifted and relocated across the room. The mattress hit the back of my legs.

“As I said, well played.”

The billowy comforter caught me like a soft, cottony cloud. Adam pressed some of his weight down on me, pinning me to the spot.

“I was afraid she might try to take a swing at me.”

“I’d never let that happen.” He brushed the hair off my cheek. “I didn’t want any of this near you, but I see now that I can’t prevent it.”

Each piece he gave of himself made me fall hopelessly deeper to the point that the actual word hovered in my throat, desperate to be spoken. “You can’t hide parts just because you think I’m not strong enough to take it.”

“I know you’re strong enough; believe me.” His fingertip tickled through my hair. “Still doesn’t change things.” I loved his smile. It was devastatingly beautiful and quickly becoming something I feared I couldn’t live without.

He rolled his hips, distracting my constant need for self-preservation, snuffing my internal monologue that continuously reminds me of my fear of abandonment, and fueling my need to tell him I’m madly in love.

His lips sought my neck, working a path up to my jaw. “Getting all defensive and feisty. I like it.”

“Good.”

His heated stare roamed over my face. “Thank you.”

I sifted through his hair. “You’re welcome.”

He nuzzled into my hand. “My doctor says I need an attitude adjustment.”

I grinned at his playfulness. His need for me would have to be enough, for now. It’s a role I was capable of filling. I met his gaze, letting him see my raw honesty. “I’ll take care of you. I promise.” I opened my thighs wider and clutched the muscles under his back pocket, letting him settle in where he belonged.

His kiss was soft at first, then became demanding.

“Good,” he said, searing my mouth with another kiss. His fingers curled around mine, letting me see his own vulnerability in his hooded eyes. “I’m counting on it.”





“YOUR PHONE PINGS a lot.”

I don’t know why I stated the obvious out loud; perhaps it was my way of acknowledging Adam’s growing annoyance while he drove us through Manhattan and into the northern section of Queens.

He glanced at the screen and then tossed it face down in the cup holder. “Just ignore it.”

“Is it important?”

“No.” One word, delivered clipped, definitive.

“All righty, then,” I drawled.

Adam frowned.

“You know, the moodiness is not a very attractive trait of yours.”

He glanced over quickly, partially smiling. “Moodiness?”

“Yep. I’ve been studying it for a while now and it usually comes on when you’re either keeping something from me or you don’t know how to deal with me because you’re unsure how I might react.”

“Huh. Is that so?”

I stared out my window, watching the array of gray and brick buildings and graffiti-coated concrete slowly morph into a more residential area. “You scowl first—like this—and then you do that little thing where you chew on the inside of your mouth. Then your eyes get all squinty, like you’re trying to see the answer but it’s too far away.”

Adam snorted. “I think that’s my usual face, actually.”

“No. It’s not. Usually your face is relaxed, like everything is cool, and when you smile… those dimples come out and you’re absolutely adorable. But this, well, whatever it is, combined with short answers makes it pretty obvious something’s up.” I may not be an expert on relationships, but to hell with dealing with not knowing. “Just so you know, I’d rather hear the painful truth than the false comfort of beautiful lies.”

His broad shoulders dipped. “You don’t pull any punches.”