Page 22 of Kitten Kisses

That hadn’t been what Alex really wanted to say, but he’d stopped himself from telling Slater to go fuck himself.

“Alex,” Slater said, taking a step closer.

Spinning around, Alex stormed toward his car and opened the driver’s door, using it as a barrier between them. “I won’t tolerate someone trying to dictate or threaten my life, Slater. We’re finished.”

As he drove away, tears stung his eyes, and he could feel himself unraveling. It shouldn’t hurt this much—like a chisel hollowing him out. But it did, and Alex didn’t know how he was still managing to drive because, inside, he was crumbling.

But he couldn’t stay. If he did, things would never be the same between them. He would grow to resent Slater for trying to control him, just like he hated his father for doing the same.

The mere thought of William added fuel to the fire inside of him, a mixture of anger and pain churning on an already stormy sea.

Alex pulled over to gather himself and watched as Midnight Falls slowly came alive under the early morning sun.

Maybe his feelings for Slater were all in his head, a projection of his own longing for something more meaningful in his life. It was foolish of him to become so attached to someone he’d only met two days ago. Worse, he’d convinced himself they were meant for each other.

They weren’t. It was just a physical attraction, a fleeting moment of pleasure he’d tried to turn into something deeper and more significant.

That had to be true. If it wasn’t, why did Slater simply stand there and let him walk away? He didn’t even try to stop him, which only added to Alex’s heartache and confusion.

And what about the beast inside Slater? Had Alex even felt it pulling him in, or was that just one more thing he’d foolishly convinced himself of?

Resting his hands on the steering wheel, Alex watched the traffic go by as he took deep breaths to calm himself down. He wouldn’t let this defeat him. He would work through these emotions and get back on his feet again.

Even though he knew he would never be the same after this.

Alex glanced up when someone in a police uniform stood at his car door. For a brief second, his heart skipped because he thought it was Slater. A mixture of disappointment and relief filled him when he saw it was Deputy Tenshi instead.

Wondering why Tattoo Sleeves was there, Alex rolled down his window. The nickname had grown on him. “Is something wrong? Am I parked illegally or something?”

The guy was so massive Alex was staring at his stomach. Either Alex needed to get a car higher off the ground or Tenshi needed to shrink. He couldn’t even see the guy’s face.

As if reading his thoughts, the deputy crouched down to meet his gaze. “How’re you doing, Alex?”

Frowning, Alex replied, “Okay. Are you using pleasantries because you’re about to give me a ticket?” He looked around, but as far as he could tell, he was legally parked. Maybe there was a time limit, but he had no idea how long he’d been sitting there lost in thought.

Tenshi’s intense stare felt like a silent interrogation, making Alex feel uneasy. “I just wanted to check on you,” he finally said.

With a mischievous smile and a wink, Alex said, “Because I’m just sitting in my car creeping on traffic. I promise I’m not trying to find a potential victim to stalk.”

The deputy’s eyes wrinkled in amusement. “Found any yet?”

Alex narrowed his eyes playfully. “I was eyeballing this maroon Lincoln Navigator that passed by a few minutes ago. Wanna stalk it together?”

He chuckled. “I wouldn’t mess with Ian Grant if I were you. He doesn’t take kindly to being hunted.”

“In that case, you pick the target. Just point out a car and we can talk mad shit about them, even if we have to make it up.”

There was a twinkle in Tenshi’s eyes as he smiled and shook his head.

When Alex narrowed his eyes again, it wasn’t for fun. “Why exactly are you checking on me, Deputy Tenshi?”

There could be a multitude of reasons. Mike and his buddies, William, or…Alex took a shuddering breath. He didn’t want to admit it hurt something fierce, that he was hoping Slater had sent him.

But what they’d had wasn’t real, only an illusion Alex had foolishly believed. Biting his lip, he pressed his palm against his chest. What they had might not have been real for Slater, but Alex had stupidly caught feelings, and it had turned into something real for him.

So real that the anguish was screaming for release.

The deputy’s gaze softened. “Do you want to see him?”

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