Page 18 of Restorations

I nod my head, still not moving from my spot by the door and briefly wonder if she wants toplay. I try to brush that thought away though. Besides, sheplayswith Sawyer now. The cruel jealousy I wish I didn’t feel creeps up, thinking about his hands on her. “And does Sawyer love them too?”

She doesn’t look at me, but I can see her thinking as she sits with her back against the padded headboard, her fluffy comforter pulled up to her neck. “You know? I have no idea whether he likes scary movies or not. It’s never come up.”

“Wow. You guys really aren’t together.”

It wasn’t really a question, but I’m still not sure I believe it. Her eyes meet mine in the darkened room. “I told you we weren’t.”

I scoff bitterly. “Right. And I should definitely believe everything you tell me.”

She looks annoyed and a little hurt as she shifts her attention back to the movie, apparently deciding it’s not worth the fight.

I take a step closer to her bed. “I didn’t believe you.”

“I don’t really care, Asher,” she sighs and sounds tired but not from the day. Of me. She watches the screen, her eyes wide and lost in the moment as someone dies a gory death that she’s already seen many times.

I watch with her, taking a seat on the edge of her mattress as far away from her as I can get but still being here with her. I can’t seem to stay away. I want to. I know I should.

And it confuses me.

It infuriates me.

And it sickens me.

“I’m not in a relationship with Sawyer. I never was. I thought we might head in that direction, but we just didn’t click that way.”

I scoff again, my hand running through my hair as I keep my eyes trained on the television. “It seemed like you wereclickingjust fine the other night.”

I hate the jealousy seeping from my voice. “Sex. It’s sex, Asher. You think of me as this girl that gets attached to any dick that comes her way.” My eyes widen as I turn around to look at her over my shoulder, surprised by her words. “But I've told you for a long time that’s not the case.”

“So, youarea Tinder girl after all.”

She shrugs her shoulders, letting the comforter drop to her waist, and I wish she hadn’t. I don’t want my eyes to float overher chest in that thin t-shirt, her nipples pressing against the fabric, revealing that she’s not wearing a bra.Christ.“I guess I am.”

My mouth is watering now, and I can tell myself it’s because I’m just a horny guy in my early twenties, but it hasn’t beenthatlong since I got laid. It has everything to do with the memories of her.

“So, you couldn’t replace me with Sawyer?” I keep my tone level and my eyes on her face.

Her pretty eyes roll. “That’s not what I was trying to do. You guys may be similar, but you’re not the same men, not by a longshot. He cares about me. I care about him. He loves Baz, and we have some really great mind-clearing, freeing sex when we feel like it.” Her words sting, but I'm trying like hell not to show it. “It’s easy with him.”

Easy. Unlike with us. Nothing was easy with us.

I turn around on the bed, my body crawling closer to her, stalking her as she sits up even straighter against the headboard, and I hover directly in front of her on my knees. “So,” my eyes slide over her, “Sawyer wouldn’t be upset that I’m in your room?”

I watch her throat as she gulps, my close proximity clearly affecting her. I watch, mesmerized as she chews on her bottom lip. “Why would he?”

I hate that she clearly wants me still after all this time. After leaving me with no one, she still has a strong desire for me. My throat feels dry, and my voice nearly cracks like I'm in puberty as I stare at her teeth resting over her bottom lip. “You’re still doing that?”

She knows what I'm talking about, and I notice she’s breathing faster now than any horror movie could make her do. “I guess I’m turned-on. It’s a habit I can’t break.”

Fuck. Me.

When did she get so bold?

I despise the feral need inside me to touch her, but I don’t. Not yet. I stay there, frozen in front of her, my gaze locked on hers, but my body leans closer to her. I pick up on her clean scent. It’s sweet. The flowery smell is subtle, yet somehow overpowering and so completely her. “So, scary movies aren’t the only thing you find thrilling?”

I watch her tits move up and down with her rapid breaths. She’s actually panting with need for me. “You know me. Always craving the wrong thing,” she bites out with an edge I'm not used to from Viv.

And fuck if I don’t love it.

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