Messy Love(23)

“Listen—''

I shook my head and stopped her with a hand held up between us. “Give it some thought. I’ll get your phone number from Ralph, and I’ll call you in a few days and see where we stand. You’re the one calling the shots.’’

“Since I’ve met you, it didn’t feel that way.’’

I smirked at her, the kind of lip twitching higher on one side that had women usually melt for me and I stood up. She tipped her head upward to look at me, and it bared her throat, drawing my attention there and lower to the swell of her breasts under her skin-tight t-shirt with InkSpired written in white block letters. Possibilities of what I could do to these perfect tits distracted me from the matter at hands, but when her frown deepened it brought me back to the present.

“I like holding the reins, babe, but I don’t mind giving up control once in a while.’’

With that, I turned around and walked away, gritting my teeth while my hard cock pushed against the restraint of my jeans.

I didn’t know how long I could ignore what my other head told me to do when I was with Marissa. Of course, I could always call some chicks I didn’t care to get laid and solve my current problem, but I wouldn’t. It’d be too fucking easy, and somehow right now I didn’t want easy.

Once Marissa Thornton was out of my system things would get back to normal.

At this point, I had no doubt.

I was going to fuck her, and in doing so, I’d probably fuck her over. She’d hate me more than she already did and she’d steer clear of my family.

It'd be okay even if I’d hate myself for hurting a girl like her, but it’s who I was.

I hurt people.

Just like my biological father.





MARISSA


“Still nothing?’’ Sophie asked me as we lounged in the back office with our steaming cups—coffee for me and blend tea for her.

I frowned down at my dark beverage and shook my head. “Nothing. It shouldn’t bother me, though.’’

She rolled her beautiful blue eyes at me and sipped her tea, making a humming sound. “If you want, you can—.''

“If you’re about to say I can call my birth mother to get Wyatt’s number I’m going to grab one of your precious needles and pierce you somewhere it hurts. And I don’t know how to pierce so…’’ I ground out and frowned deeper when she laughed behind her cup, doing a poor job at hiding herself.

It’d been three days since I had last seen Wyatt and I was waiting to hear from him as promised. During these three days, I’d been tortured by Sophie’s excitement at the weird story unfolding between Wyatt and myself. Just last night when we had lunch at my place she went on and on about the apparent sexual tension between him and me and how I wouldn’t be able to resist him for long.

She wasn’t entirely wrong, and considering how I mostly hated his guts I should be ready to turn my back on him and forget all about him. But in these three days, I’d had enough time to rehash our last chat and his parting words.

He had played me that day, and it’s sad to say I fell victim to his game.

“You’re fiery,’’ she noted and slid her thick-framed glasses up her nose. “All I’m saying is that you’re making it harder on yourself, Mar. You’re not usually so strung tight with guys.’’

“It’s different this time. It’s not about dating or… You know.’’ I flushed at the thought of something happening between Wyatt and me. It wasn’t like I hadn’t thought about it. If anything, it’s something I’d had a hard time not envisioning at night, alone in my bed. Or in my shower.

Sophie chuckled at my expense and patted my knee, bent to my chest on the sleek couch Kam bought a few months ago. “Isn’t it, though?’’

“Argh! I don’t freaking know!’’ I stood up and put my mug next to the coffee machine. I didn’t need a mirror to know the extreme warmth in my body reflected on my burning cheeks. I kept my back to Sophie, ashamed she’d see me react so strongly. Since we’d met, I’d had a couple of boyfriends and a one-night stand. None of these guys ever made me act like this. They’d never made me feel such diametral opposite emotions at once either. I both hated and lusted after Wyatt which was a complete mindfuck.

“I have one question for you, Marissa,’’ she said softly, and I didn’t detect a hint of her amused smile in her voice. I turned around and found her watching me intently. “Are you afraid to start something with him because of who his mother is? I mean, it must be difficult for you.’’

I leaned back against the metallic furniture behind me holding the shop’s paperwork and on top of which was my mug, a few others and the coffee machine full of fresh coffee. “I’d rather forget the circumstance of my encounter with him. He’s not the settling type anyway so it’s not like I’d be in his life in the long run. And if he only wanted friendship, I bet his temper would drive me away before the end of the year.’’ I tightened my ponytail, cringing when a few strands of hair tugged harshly on my scalp. “I don’t expect anything from him.’’

Sophie stood up and arched an eyebrow at me over the thick frame of her glasses, her lips pursed in obvious doubt. “Right. That’s why you’re wrung so tight. Don’t lie to yourself because it’s only going to hurt you.’’