Page 53 of Hot Zone

“No, but now I don’t have to, right? I have this hoodie.”

“Exactly. From the moment you moved into Samuel’s house, he’s been taking care of you.”

“So there’s a chance I’m not screwing this all up?” I asked hopefully.

“There’s a very good chance you’re not. But if you’re worried, you should talk to Samuel. Communication is key in a relationship, especially one with a power imbalance. You have to be honest if you want it to work.”

“Fair enough. So, why did you tell me you were off men? You seem to know a lot about this stuff.”

Mika looked away for a moment. “Not everyone is lucky enough to find a Daddy like Samuel.”

“I can see that. Did you have a bad experience?”

He scoffed. “Bad experience is an understatement. I got mixed up with a really bad dude. I should’ve known better, but I got carried away with the idea of being important to someone who didn’t give a damn about anyone or anything but himself. I’m not sure how else to explain it really, except that everybody knew that he was bad news. They always talked about how he’d never settle down or claim a boy for himself, and I guess the fact that he wanted me made me feel special, and that kinda blinded me to what an ass he actually was.”

“I guess that’s why bad boys are so appealing,” I said.

Mika shrugged. “I wish I could say that I’d been strong enough to leave the first time he laid a hand on me, but I wasn’t, and by the time I realized who he really was, it was too late, and he wouldn’t let me go. I did the only thing I knew to do. I ran… just took the clothes on my back and left. That’s how I ended up here in Vesper.”

“I’m proud of you for leaving,” I told him.

“It was hard, but I figured a mid-sized city in nowhere West Texas was my best bet. No reason someone from Nevada would look for me here.”

“I’m glad you chose Vesper, and I’m glad you’re safe.”

“Me, too. But the problem is, he was totally my type. I love big bad alpha men who feel a little bit dangerous.” He rolled his eyes. “I know what I like, and that’s why I don’t trust myself when it comes to men.”

Chapter 17

Mars

I spent the rest of the day checking my suppliers for things I wanted to stock for the holiday season, but I couldn’t get what Mika said before he left out of my head.

My ex had been a selfish user, but I’d never been afraid of him. I couldn’t imagine what that must have been like. I was just glad my new friend was here in Vesper and was safe, but it did make me sad that he didn’t trust himself to date. I hoped that, withtime, he would find someone he could trust, although I was sure trust was hard for him after his past experience.

I wanted to fix dinner for Samuel, so I left the shop early so I could go to the store and get what I needed. One of the dishes I’d learned to make for Troy was stuffed shells with a homemade Bolognese sauce. I might have kicked Troy to the curb, but I was keeping all the recipes.

This dish took a while to make, but the results were worth it. By the time Samuel made it home, the food was in the oven, and I was cleaning up my mess.

“Oh man, it smells fantastic in here,” Samuel said, stepping up behind me and kissing my neck.

My hands were wet and soapy from the sink, but I turned in his arms, put my hands on his face, and pulled his mouth to mine for a quick kiss. Then I spun back around and went back to work. He wiped his wet beard against my cheek before giving my ass a swat and mumblingbrat.

“So what smells so good?”

“Stuffed shells with a homemade sauce. It’ll be ready in about half an hour.”

“Is that another of your spite dishes?” he asked.

“No, just a dish I learned to make. It’s one of my favorites. I also make a mean pot roast, but that’s a weekend dish because it cooks for about four hours in the oven.”

“Stuffed shells sound great, and I’ll be looking forward to your pot roast. If they’re half as good as that shrimp dish you made, I’ll love it. You’re really an excellent cook.”

I chuckled. “I’m good at following directions.”

“Mmm, I do love a boy who can follow directions.”

I rolled my eyes and tried to give him a playful hip check, but he quickly hopped back out of the way.

---