Junkyard Dog(38)

The sight of her bouncing on my cock is too gorgeous to look away. The f*cking hotel could burn down around us, and I don’t think I’d be able to pry my gaze from Candy and her jiggling tits.





TWENTY FOUR - CANDY


The hotel reeks of sex by the time I take a shower. The hot water feels great on my sore body. Despite aching between my legs, I’m more relaxed than I’ve been in my life. The sex was shockingly incredible, and I finally understand why people get so worked up over the act. With Hayes, f*cking is addictive.

I walk out of the bathroom and find Hayes sitting in the corner chair. He’s focused on his phone but slowly looks up and meets my gaze.

“Do you want to shower and wash off the sex smell?” I ask, feeling shy for no apparent reason.

“No,” he says, standing up and shoving his phone in his back pocket. “I like having your *’s scent on me.”

“If it’s so great, I should bottle it. Candy Stank for Women.”

Hayes smiles, but he seems different now. We walk to the elevator and out to the truck before I realize what’s changed. For the first time since I met him, Hayes is relaxed. Mellow even. The man always carries coiled hostility in his shoulders even when he’s otherwise relaxed. Now he’s like a stoned hippie, and I’m afraid the world is ending.

We don’t return to the office but stop at a restaurant instead. I frown at him when we arrive.

“We ate a few hours ago.”

“After a f*cking like that one, I want a steak and a shot of bourbon.”

Smiling slightly, I climb gingerly out of the truck and let my crotch adjust to the change of position. Hayes walks around the side and looks me over.

“Problem?”

“You have a big dick,” is all I say before walking past him.

I hear him chuckle behind me, but he catches up by the time I arrive at the front door. The waitress sits us in Hayes’s usual spot, and I grimace a few times before getting comfortable.

“That bad, huh?” he asks, actually looking worried.

“You nearly split me in half.”

“Sorry.”

“Are you really?”

Hayes shrugs as if he doesn’t give a shit. I know he’s lying, so I slide closer and lean my head against his shoulder.

“A little pain is worth feeling that good.”

His gaze holds mine, and I sigh at the warmth of his expression. The moment is too cozy for him, and he quickly looks away.

“Tonight, I’ll sit on an ice pack,” I whisper, wrapping my arm around his. “When do you think we can sneak off again?”

“I don’t know. We missed a lot of work.”

Frowning, I turn his jaw so he’ll look at me.

“Look, boss, I get how you have commitment issues, and I’m a clingy woman stepping on your giant ego. That’s fine, but don’t act cold, or I’ll act cold too. We both know you can’t handle when I’m cold to you. Last time, you nearly cried.”

Hayes smirks. “Arrogant little bitch.”

“You can insult me, but it only makes you look weak.”

“Why weak?” he asks, losing his smile.

“By devaluing me so you’ll look better in comparison, you actually make yourself look like a punk.”

“Thanks, Doctor Phil.”

Narrowing my eyes, I scoot over in the booth and pull out my phone. I ignore him for five minutes before he breaks down and dramatically sighs.

“Fine. You’re great. I’m stupid. Whatever you need to hear, I’m saying. Now put the phone away and act normal.”

Slowly, I rest my phone on the table. Hayes pats the spot next to him, and I scoot over.

“You’re weird,” I whisper.

Hayes gives me a side glance and nods. “You’re not exactly normal either.”

My hand caresses his resting on the table. “You said you feel vulnerable during sex. If that’s why you’re acting weird now, just keep something in mind. I’m your friend. I don’t want anything from you. I’m happy with the way things are now. I’m not working a con. You’re safe with me.”

Hayes frowns at my tone. I know he hates being babied. I also know he worries I can hurt him. Keeping everyone at a distance kept him safe as he took over White Horse. He relies on no one person. This gives him safety in some ways but makes him vulnerable in others.

“I don’t trust people either,” I say once our food arrives. “I don’t want to be sucked into people’s drama or feel like I owe anyone.”

“Do you trust me?”

Without thinking, I shake my head. Hayes grunts in response.

“Do you trust me?” I ask.

Hayes’s frowning face softens. “No.”

“So then we’re on the same page.”

Finally, the big grump smiles. “I guess we are.”

“Trust is overrated anyway. When you trust someone, you give them the power to f*ck you over.”

Hayes cuts his steak into big pieces and then smiles again. “You’re a great broad, Candy. If this f*cking thing doesn’t work out, don’t throw a fit and quit. I like having you around.”

For him, this is one hell of a compliment. He might as well say I’m the most special person ever! Hayes knows he’s gushing. His face struggles to shift into a frown, but he can’t manage it. Between the morning of sex and a good piece of meat, the guy is in heaven.