Page 23 of The Prodigal

Realizing he’s still gripping my wrist, he drops my arm and takes a healthy step back, folding his arms across his chest. He looks like he’s readying for an argument. Knowing our history when communicating, arguing is a strong possibility.

“Why is your stepfather harassing you?” His tone demands an answer.

I plan to give him one—just not one he’s going to like. “Why do you stay here at the motel instead of on campus?”

Remington’s mouth tightens. I can tell he’d like nothing more than to shake me. Hell, he probably wants to scream at me. But he doesn’t. Instead, he leans back against the door. “Who says I don’t?”

I shrug. “Seems like if you lived on campus, I would see you at school more than I see you here.”

He completely avoids my observation about his sleeping arrangements and answers, “What mistake won’t your mother and stepfather make again?”

Popping a hand onto my hip, I narrow my eyes and blatantly challenge him. “Why do you want to know? It’s not like you’ll defend me if they try to do it again.”

He’s saved me twice now, and every time I bring it up, he makes some excuse that someone was in his way or that he needed sheets. If he wants answers from me, then he’s going to contradict himself and admit that he has defended me. I want proof that he isn’t the terrible guy he wants me to believe he is.

A chuckle slips out from between his lips as he pushes off the door, coming nose-to-nose with me. He’s so close. All I can focus on is how he smells. The deep, masculine scent of pine and leather saturates the air around me. And then he opens his mouth, and the warmth of his breath ghosts over my lips like a faint kiss as his hand snakes through my hair. I’m basically melting in this man’s arms as his body moves closer, consuming the very air I breathe.

“Eden.” He breathes along my neck, and chills race along my skin.

“Mm-hmm.”

I don’t think I’m capable of forming words with him this close—especially not after he took care of me by bandaging my hand.

“I won’t ask again. What did Gerald mean?” A faint rumble goes through his chest.

Why is he still on Gerald? Can’t we both just enjoy the moment of him not being a shit and me not overanalyzing everything?

“It doesn’t matter.” I nearly moan when he tugs my head back so I can look at his enchanting brown eyes.

“I’ll be the one who decides relevance.” His voice is husky, and if I wasn’t tingling in a thousand different places, I would tell him that he isn’t in control as much as he thinks he is. His persuasion tactics are failing him.

I hold his steady gaze and slide my hands through his hair. Tit for tat has proven to be our favorite pastime. “How much is it worth to you?”

His mouth flattens as his body pulls taut. “This isn’t a negotiation.”

“It is for me.” I shrug. “I have several more hours of an overnight shift. I could stand here all night.” I flash him a smirk. “But you, with those dark circles under your eyes, could use the rest.”

I swear I can feel the anger rolling off him in waves. If he didn’t want the information so badly, I have no doubt he would throw me out of his room without a second thought.

“Fine,” he growls, yanking me flush against him, “I don’t stay in the dorms because I’m not here to get a degree.”

“What are you here for then?”

He flashes me a smile that isn’t friendly at all. “It’s your turn now.”

Goodness gracious. This freaking man.

“Fine.” I sigh dramatically. “Gerald and my mother won’t make the mistake of letting me survive again.”

It’s like the proverbial bucket of ice water is poured over Remington’s head. He drops his hands and jumps back like I pushed him. “What do you mean they won’t ‘let you surviveagain’? Did they try to kill you?”

His entire demeanor has shifted to something more threatening. Something that I should definitely be scared of.

“I’m afraid that’s all the bedtime stories you get for tonight.” I point to the closed bathroom door and smile. “Unless you want to share another story with me…like, what you’re here for if not for school? Aren’t you from Texas?”

Dark eyes stare down at me hard, and just when I think he’s going to shut me down by throwing me out, he answers, “I’m here for revenge.”

My heart literally spasms in my chest. I needed proof Remington isn’t as awful as he wants me to believe, and here he is, freely admitting he’s here for revenge. Granted, Midnight Gardens isn’t an up-and-up place for law-abiding citizens. We’ve had our share of drug deals and brawls, but I never knew about those things in advance. I mean, should I be concerned that Remington is here to possibly commit a crime? But what if he simply just wants to sucker-punch a dude for breaking up with his sister or something? It could be that simple. After all, Remington is a college student. How pissed off could he be?

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