Page 25 of Better Run
“No.” He cocks an eyebrow and shuts the fridge.
“I can help.” I flip a pancake.
He narrows his eyes.
“I’m bored as fuck all day. I’m not trying to run. I used to help my dad with stuff like that.”
He knows I grew up on a farm. He did his research on me for whatever reason. I can see him run through a bunch of different reasons I’d offer. Finally, he says, “Fine.”
“I promise. You can cuff me to you if you really think I’m going to run.” I put a stack of pancakes on a plate.
“I can cuff you anytime I want, kitten.”
The morning stretches on. Neither men mention work or jobs. Surely two men in their thirties have to work sometime? But I don’t ask. Cole hangs out downstairs and whittles upstairs while shooting the shit with Jayden. They appear totally relaxed. Dicks.
I’m anxious to go to the garage, but I don’t push it. Finally, in the late afternoon, Jayden gets up and walks past me to the door. “Let’s go. See what you got.”
I scramble up from the couch. He doesn’t offer me shoes, and by the time we walk across the frozen ground to the garage, my feet smart. He has the ATV parked under the balcony.
“Can’t get her to start up.”
“Hmmm.” I go to it and begin to look at it, quickly falling into a rhythm from when Dad and I used to tinker around. Jayden and I go back and forth, theorizing and testing certain things. He goes from being skeptical to having an open conversation with me.
The shop lights bathe over his arms and shoulders, reminding me how muscled they are. I also get a closer look at his tattoos. He has tribal swirls up his right arm in a full sleeve, and on his left are pocket watches, dates, and what looks like a wolf on his shoulder under his shirt sleeve. One of the dates on his arm looks fresh. It’s dated the 22nd of November. I realize it must be close to the 22nd today, so, only three months old.
“What’s that for?” I point at his arm.
He looks down. Something flashes across his face, but he says in an emotionless tone. “My mother.”
Oh. Shit.
I see the problem in the ATV quickly. Jayden keeps brushing his hand over it but doesn’t seem to realize.
“I don’t know. We might have to try again later. My dad had a model similar to this one a few years ago. I can’t remember working on it much, though. Give me a little to think about it.” I wipe my hands on a rag and give him my best naive girl look.
He glances at me then back at the ATV, brow furrowed. He hesitates and then runs a hand through his dark hair. He looks unguarded, and I reluctantly admit how pretty he is. His cheekbones are cut, and his lashes are thick and dark.
He notices me staring. I blush.
“Like what you see, kitten?” He smirks, his face becoming predatory.
I cough. “I’m cold. Let’s go inside.” I start walking to the door.
He laughs, “Wait.”
I barely have time to turn and he’s on me, one hand around the back of my neck and one on my chin. He faces me up to him. I see his black eyes glint, and then he crushes his lips to mine.
He’s warm and heavy on me, hands pulling me into his kiss. I part my lips in shock. He takes advantage, swooping his tongue in. He licks and sucks before I have the presence of mind to pull away.
He doesn’t let me and continues savaging my mouth. I struggle. He hardly lets me move. I nip at his tongue, but it only deepens the kiss and the pressure. And it feels heavenly. I’ve never been kissed with such passion. It feels like he’s branding my mouth.
He feels me relax into his hold. The hand around my chin drops away. His passion flows into me.
I start to meet his tongue, and then I hear the click of a picture being taken.
I look to my left, and he has the cell phone out. He took a picture of us kissing.
I cry out against his mouth. He’s grinning now, looking mean and hungry.
