Page 27 of Never Fear (Whiskey Ridge)
We held each other’s stares for what felt like minutes, a silent battle passing between us as if we both knew that wasn’t true, but he was eager to push my limits to find out.
Finally, he took a step back, gesturing to the hallway. “Better get to sleep. It’s past your bedtime.”
I shoved away from the counter, not even having realized I was leaning against it. Maybe I was finally tired, all thanks to Austin’s cock.Ugh. “You’re right. I’m exhausted after having to do all the work tonight.” I placed a quick peck to his cheek before sidling past him and down the hall. “Good night!” I called over my shoulder before heading into my room and closing the door.
I looked down at the lock and ultimately decided to leave it.
If he wanted to watch me sleep, so be it.
A little door in his way wouldn’t stop him.
And I wouldn’t want it to, either.
The way he turned me on so easily pissed me off, but for now, I’d let it happen. He was a distraction. One I welcomed right now.
I wasn’t ready for whatever this was to stop, as much as I kept pretending I was.
And it seemed to me he felt the same way.
Chapter 13
Austin
I’d lost count of how many times I sat in this booth watching McKenna. She seemed to finally be taking the whole death note thing seriously, given it was no longer the only threat made on her life at this point, but that wasn’t going to stop me from watching her.
Truthfully, I wasn’t even sure if I was following her everywhere she went because I wanted to keep her safe, or because I enjoyed the way her hips swayed when she knew I was looking. This was never supposed to be more than me keeping her safe. Brynne would cut my dick off if I let anything happen to her best friend. And quite frankly, I hadn’t wanted to see any harm come to McKenna because of the actions we took. But I noticed the way I was standing more on edge, getting more mad at myself for not being by her side every second of every day.
This wasn’t only a favor for a friend anymore. I was slowly getting used to her presence, and that was likely very bad. But me and things I should stay away from? It only made me want them more.
It’d been a few days since I watched her wrap her pink lips around my cock, and I wanted more of that side of her. Not just to get me off, but to sate my growing addiction to her. I wanted to know if that strawberry flavor presented itself between her legs. Was it in her body wash, too? Her shampoo? I’d have to check the next time I was at her place. I knew for certain it always stuck to that tongue of hers. When she’d spit my cum into my mouth, I’d tasted it like I’d plucked the strawberry straight from the bush myself.
Was never much of a fruit guy till I met her.
Now I wanted to swap ranching for strawberry farming simply to smell her every damn day.
I dropped my head, losing a sigh before pulling my shit together and bringing my focus back to her. Not her scent. Not her lips on my cock. Not her in that damn diner outfit that gave every man in this room whiplash when she walked by.
It was nearly closing time, the streetlights outside having buzzed on hours ago with the early sunset. Marv was supposed to have clocked out and left by now—I’d studied the schedule on the corkboard in the back and knew Marv’s work habits—so the fact that he was still here pissed me the fuck off.
“What’s the frown for this time?” McKenna asked, coming by to take a sip of my water. She’d gotten into the habit of that today, and I liked it. Liked seeing her lips wrap delicately around the straw?—
I sat back in the booth. “Why’s he still here?”
She took her time, her throat bobbing as she swallowed. I watched each little movement with rapt attention beforerunning a hand down my jaw. I needed to get a handle on this.
She set the glass down, ice cubes clinking together. “Who?” As if the cold water had heightened the scent of the gum in her mouth, strawberries wafted over me when she spoke.
I didn’t answer. Didn’t take my eyes off her to indicate which idiot I was referring to. She knew who the fuck I was talking about.
She looked over her shoulder, blonde ponytail swaying. Definitely strawberry-scented shampoo, if the burst of air that just hit me was any indication. “Oh, Marv?” Her eyes found me again.
I stayed quiet.
“Peter went home sick,” she finally explained. Peter was her very quiet, very nerdy coworker. He bussed tables while the others took orders because he was too shy to talk to patrons.
Peter needed to grow some fucking balls.
“That doesn’t tell me why he’s still here.”
