Page 37 of Never Fear (Whiskey Ridge)
At the sight of my smirk, she grabbed the pillow behind her and chucked it at my face. I caught it, tossing it back on the bed, then grabbed both her wrists and pinned her flat to the bed.
“Don’t give me a reason to tie you up, McKenna.”
“I thought I was the one in control tonight.” Lust still coated her voice, and it took all I had in me not to slide between her bare legs and fuck her raw.
“Just tonight, baby. Fuck me in my sleep if you want. I don’t care. But after?” I leaned closer, her breath fanning across my cheeks. “I’ll show you what it’s like to be mine.”
Her eyes flared, intrigue lighting in them like she couldn’t wait to find out what that meant. But then her stubborn side came back full force, and her eyelids narrowed slightly. “Tonight wasn’t a free pass to my pussy whenever you want it.”
“I know.” I shoved off her, gaze tracing over her collarbone and the swell of her breasts under the blanket. “You letting me slip an ice cube in your ass was.”
Her mouth formed anO, and then she grabbed the pillow again and chucked it, the soft fabric making impactwith my shoulder before falling to the ground. “Bring me a shirt from my drawer, asshole.”
I grabbed her towel and walked back to the bathroom, hanging both of ours on the rack. Then I pulled on my boxers and grabbed my shirt from the floor, inspecting it for blood. No way would I let her sleep with Marv’s blood touching her. Once I was sure it was clean, I stepped into the bedroom and tossed it at her.
“This isn’t mine, Austin,” she practically growled, as if I could seriously mix up our clothing.
“That’s the point, McKenna. Now put it on.” Without watching to see if she did, I yanked her curtains shut and left the room, heading for the couch. With that little mean glint in her eyes, I was sure she’d refuse to let me sleep in her bed, despite my tongue having been inches inside her mere minutes ago. Because yeah, laying next to each other was a step too far.
Made complete and total sense.
Even so, I wasn’t leaving her alone tonight. My little kitten could try to hide it all she wanted but I could tell Marv’s death shook her up. Our stunt in the shower surely helped get her mind off it, but I knew she was staring up at the ceiling right now, replaying the events in her mind over and over again.
So I grabbed a thin blanket off the back of the couch, one that had probably only ever been used as decoration and not to cover a six-foot-three man, if my feet sticking out the bottom was any indication.
If she woke from a nightmare, I’d be here. If she wanted to talk about it, I’d be here.
I wasn’t leaving McKenna’s side anytime soon.
If ever.
Chapter 16
McKenna
The wind banging against the window screens was making it really fucking hard to fall asleep. Not only that, but the memory of Austin’s mouth between my legs kept coming back to haunt me. Like, literally haunt me.
He was every single one of both my dreamsandmy nightmares. Was he the most attractive man I’d ever met in Whiskey Ridge? Yes. Did he have a way with words that sometimes made me feel the need to jump his bones? Yes. Which was very hard to do, because even thinking about a relationship with someone was scary. What do you mean, I wanted to tie myself to a man only for him to hurt me later on? No, thanks. I’ll pass.
Austin made me secretly consider it sometimes, though.
But then I’d turn around and find him sitting at a booth in the diner, watching me as if his eyes laid claim to my body. He was overly possessive, annoyingly protective, and irritatingly addictive.
What a terrible fucking combination.
The stalking was inconvenient, but he kept me safe, so I couldn’t really be mad at him, could I? On the other hand, it also kept the image of him and his stupid smile and little dimples fresh in my mind. So yes, I could be mad at him, because who gave him the fucking right to look that good?
I needed him out of my system for good, but if he looked at me while I cleansed my mind and body of him? It’d never work.
My mind wandered back to when he’d casually said I could fuck him in his sleep, and an idea sparked. If he was sleeping, he couldn’t convince me not to end whatever this was after I got over him. I could have what I wanted, and he wouldn’t be able to pull me in with his alluring gaze.
Perfect.
Crawling out from under the sheets wearing only his shirt, I carefully padded across the room and into the hallway, making my way to the living room. The house was silent—a good sign, given that if it’d been filled with earth-shattering snoring, I’d have even more problems with the man sleeping on my couch.
As soon as I entered the room, I stopped in my tracks. Austin lay there, his chest bare as it rose and fell in a steady rhythm. He was almost unrecognizable in this state of complete peace. His jaw wasn’t clenched, his hands weren’t fisted, his eyes weren’t searching our surroundings for a threat. His veins weren’t as apparent, his muscles still on display but somehow softer-looking. Moonlight washed over his tan, ranch-worn skin like a spotlight meant to entrance me—which was exactly what I didn’t want.
Shaking my head to stop myself from drooling over him from afar, my bare feet padded across the rug, slowing as Iapproached. I’d never…fucked anyone in their sleep. Never really had the desire to, either. Then again, I’d never let anyone shove ice where it didn’t belong, and I sure as hell didn’t welcome a stalker into my house willingly. So maybe I was venturing intomanydifferent territories lately. Might as well check this one—and this man—off the list while I could.
