Page 96 of There's No Us Without You
There’s no denying I’m so drawn to him, and his words have me wondering if he feels the same towards me. Honestly, with him, it’s anyone’s guess.
I jump the final step, feeling a little more enthusiastic about my day, and start towards the kitchen. I’m grinning to myself until I’m almost knocked off my feet by a half-naked Will. He grabs me around the waist and hauls me to his chest, mine now heaving not only from the scare, but from his proximity.
And damn, does he smell amazing, his spicy scent making my mouth water like one of Pavlov’s dogs.
I probably should have brushed my teeth before coming down here, but I hate the taste of toothpaste in my mouth when drinking coffee.
But Will? I bet he’d taste amazing with anything.
“You good?” Dark eyes on mine, he digs his fingers into my waist.
Frowning, I push against his chest, his skin so smooth and warm, and I wish I wasn’t so desperate to escape him. “I’m fine. You just... scared me is all.” I clear my throat and step around him to race into the kitchen.
That does nothing because he’s right behind me when I pull a mug from the top cupboard in the corner and shove it into the coffee machine.
Oh god, I’m not prepared for round two.
I’m not sure I’ll ever get used to the work of art he is, either. The tattoos on his upper half are a colourful display of his dominance. I want to trace each one of them, feel his soft skin beneath my fingertips. Run my tongue over every cut of muscle, taste the saltiness of his skin.
My wayward thoughts are interrupted when Will slides a glass of orange juice and two ibuprofen tablets over to me. “You’ll need these,” he says, nodding to the items and crossing his arms over his chest.
I stare at the pills. “What for?”
“Your headache. I’m just assuming, considering the state you were in last night.” There’s a hint of annoyance in his tone.
“Right... thanks.” Clearing my throat, I pick up the glass and the two red pills. “You didn’t have to do that.”
Will watches me, eyes dark and brooding, as I shove the pills into my mouth and scull down the orange juice like I’ve been deprived my whole life.
The sweetness ignites my tastebuds, and the hint of sourness is evidence it’s freshly made.
Some of the juice slips from my mouth and trickles down my chin. Groaning, Will takes a step closer and swipes it away with his thumb. A small, involuntary whimper leaves my lips when he shoves that same thumb into his mouth and sucks it clean, all the while keeping his eyes focused on my lips.
I’m momentarily paralysed, my feet planted firmly on the tiles beneath them, while my heart attempts to escape out of my throat.
The sensations racing through my body have me confused. I can’t decide if I want to launch myself at him or run away.
“Anyway,” he says, taking a step back. “How was getting drunk with my brother last night? You enjoy yourself?”
Talk about whiplash.
I frown. Where is this going?
“It was . . . fine.”
What else do I say? I can’t exactly tell him I got a little deep and meaningful with his brother, now can I? I’m not sure he’d appreciate that.
“Fine?” He scoffs. “So you went behind my back to go to a party that was just... fine?”
“Why are you mad at me?” I throw my arms up. “I should be mad at you for dragging me out of there like a crazy person.”
Will clenches his jaw, his body tensing, his nostrils flaring for a quick second. “I’m not mad,” he says. “Just disappointed. And for your information, I did it for your own good. They aren’t the sort of people you should be hanging around.” Stepping closer again, he snatches the empty glass from my hand—the one I forgot I was holding—and places it in the dishwasher.
I don’t get a second look when he marches from the kitchen and disappears up the stairs.
Disappointed? Why do I feel like I’m being reprimanded right now? And why does it... turn me on?
Damn it. I want to disobey him again. I want him to punish me—whatever that means.
