Page 356 of The Tempted

“Kitten,” I pleaded.

“I said don’t call me that,” she shouted, slamming the door closed before turning and closing the distance between us. She pressed her palms flat against my chest and shoved me backward.

“I’m not your fucking Kitten,” she hollered. “And you most certainly are no Tiger,” she added.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” I asked, narrowing my eyes.

“You’re a pussy, Riggs,” she answered, dropping her hands from my chest. “Tell me something? Do you do that with all the girls you pretend to give a shit about? Fuck them and ignore them?” she shook her head, about to turn around but stopped, glancing over her shoulder at me. “Just tell me one thing…should I be worried?”

“Worried?”

She rolled her eyes.

“I don’t go having unprotected sex all that often. Actually, ever. I never do that stuff. I know it’s probably an everyday occurrence for you, so what I’m asking you is; are you clean?”

How fucked up was I that I didn’t even remember not wearing a rubber? It happened so quick I wasn’t thinking of covering myself up, I was just driven by the need to make her mine that night.

Then another thought crossed my mind. While I was off ignoring her, afraid she’d be a clinger, she was worrying I had given her an STD.

I owned the title of scumbag. Look it up in the dictionary, I bet Merriam-Webster had my picture next to the word.

“I’m clean, Lauren. I always wear a rubber,” I said, as I stared at her, fighting the urge to touch her. “Always,” I emphasized.

“Um, am I interrupting?” Adrianna asked, raising an eyebrow as she stood next to the passenger door of Lauren’s car.

Great.

“No, we’re done,” Lauren declared, turning around and climbing inside the car, slamming the door closed.

I turned around and saw Adrianna still standing next to the car, her hand poised on the handle as she stared at me.

“What?”

“If I find out you hurt Lauren, so help me God I’ll make my mother-in-law look like June Cleaver,” she threatened, pulling open the door.

“I’m sure you will,” I mumbled, stepping onto the sidewalk because I wouldn’t put it past Lauren not to run me over.

“There you are,” Anthony exclaimed, pointing his keyring toward his truck parked across the street and unlocking it.

Fuck my life.

“Come on, we’re taking a ride,” he declared.

Double fuck my life. Did he know? I watched Lauren’s car peel away from the curb.

Fuck, he definitely knew.

“I’ll take my bike,” I said.

“Nah, leave it here,” he said, crossing his arms against his chest.

“Some punk ass kids were just fucking around by my bike. I’m not leaving it here. Where are we going anyway?”

Please don’t say the beach. I don’t want to sleep with the fucking fishes.

“The Dog Pound,” he said, narrowing his eyes. “You’re sweating,” he pointed out.

I reached up and swiped my hand across my brow.

Fuck, I was sweating.

At least he wasn’t going to whack me.

Not yet anyway.

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