Page 4 of Control Freak
Beck nods, eyes cast downward. A wounded puppy. I hate myself for wanting to get inside his head, to kiss his wounds until he’s better. I’m good at spotting this type of man. Unfortunately, I always end up broken-hearted by them because there is no fixing them. It’s a lesson I should’ve learned by now.
My lips press into a tight smile and I tiptoe into the other room, careful not to disturb anything. I’m afraid to even sit on the sofa, so I lean my hip against its arm while I google the nearest garage and give them a call.
No trucks available.
I try another one, and it’s the same story. Three more, and even the one over two hours away, is busy towing other cars stuck in the same situation I am in. Darkness begins filling the room. The last hope is calling my brother, but of course, he doesn’t answer.
Unbridled rage courses through me. I take a few deep breaths, knowing I’m going to have to tell Beck that I’m shit out of luck and now my problem is officially his as well. I raise my lips into a smile, fake it ’til you make it applies to moods as well as abilities.
“Well, bad news, Beck.” I saunter into the kitchen where he sits hunched over his laptop. His massive frame makes it look like a toy computer. My body betrays me, pussy clenching at the thought of what those big, strong hands would feel like all over my body. “I can’t get a tow.”
He finally looks up at me, a blank expression on his face. “Nothing?”
“I’ve called every place in a hundred-mile radius, and I’m officially stuck.” I sidle up next to him on the stool. In return, he jumps off the stool like I’m on fire. He paces across the kitchen, the floor bouncing slightly under his weight. I’ve never seen a man this big in real life. With his massive shoulders up at his ears, I imagine laying my hands on his sculpted traps and massaging them until every ounce of anxiety leaves his toned, sexy body.
Beck’s pacing halts. His jaw clenches. Looking me dead in the eye, it’s clear he’s made a decision. “You’ll stay here. Just until someone can come and get you.”
The authority in his voice practically melts me. I nod, a smile crawling across my lips. “If you say so.”
Chapter Four
Beck
There’s a stranger in my house. A smoking hot, curvy goddess that’s sending my libido into overdrive, but a stranger nonetheless. I throw another weight on each side of the bar and lie back on the weight bench. The stress of it all became overwhelming, so I had to blow off some steam the only way I know how—maxing out on weights.
My arms shake as I exhale and press the bar in the air. A feeling of calm washes over me by the third rep. By the fifth, I’m nearly spent, but keep pressing. This is more than I’m used to, regarding both my workout and having Isla in my home.
Fuck. I’m not used to relinquishing control. I steady my mind, concentrating on the up and down movement of my chest presses. The music in my earbuds thrashes as I focus on the ceiling.
What was I supposed to do, leave her to freeze to death in her car in the middle of a snowstorm? It was an emotional decision to bring her in, and that worries me. The last time I made a choice using my feelings over pure logic…
A grunt escapes my mouth. My arms turn to spaghetti, threatening to give out as I place the bar back onto the spotter stand. Is my heart going to explode? It sure feels like it.
I can’t get the sexy woman—the one in my fucking house—out of my mind. Not just the fact that she’s here, but her entire presence has disarmed me. The way she laughs when she should really be quiet, or how she stretches the tip of her tongue across her top teeth when she smiles. But God, it’s her soft, curvy frame that’s got me going mad.
My cock stiffens, which pisses me off even more. It’s yet another sign of how out of control I am. I need to get a fucking grip.
The downstairs shower is calling my name. A steady stream of warm water beats against my shoulder blades, palms against the wall. Not allowing myself the temptation of stroking myself, thinking of peeling off little Miss Sunshine’s clothes one layer at a time until there’s nothing between the two of us but the night air.
“Fuck.” My fist pounds against the wall. These thoughts are definitely not helping. I can’t shake the image of what Isla would look like if she were in the shower with me, right here. Right now. Her auburn hair wet, pressed against her full breasts while her pert nipples play peek-a-boo between the tresses.
Fine, another deep breath.
And another.
And another.
When my erection’s finally at ease, I grab a towel and wrap it around my waist. When I reach for my clean clothes, I realize that I forgot to bring down a fresh set. If Isla weren’t here, I’d make the journey naked. She’s nothing but a nuisance. A gorgeous nuisance, but a diversion from my daily life nonetheless.
I quickly dry off and re-wrap the towel around my waist. At the bottom of the stairs, I strain for any sounds that would give away her location. It’s fairly silent. I have no choice but to brave the journey.
Like she’s never seen a naked man before.
My fingers rake my wet, dark hair away from my face as I open the basement door and head into the living room. I turn the corner, making my way down the hall to my bedroom, when I stop dead in my tracks. Isla is standing there, her finger pressed against one of the framed photos on the wall. Her golden brown eyes find mine.
“I didn’t know you were a firefighter?” Mitch, my best friend and former teammate, stares back at me from the photo. My blood turns to ice.
“Why are you in my hallway?.” I snatch the photo from her hand.
