Page 36 of Banshee
“Why were you outside?”
“I couldn’t sleep. I just wanted to sit outside and look at the stars.”
She was keeping something from me. She refused to look me in the eye, instead focusing on her hands that gripped the blanket tight.
I pulled her legs onto my lap and pulled off her socks. Gently rubbing her feet, I asked her again, “Why were you outside?”
“Am I a prisoner?” she asked, pulling her feet back. She stood up from the couch, not waiting for my answer, and walked down the hall, letting the door slam behind her.
I laid my head back against the couch. I guess I was sleeping out here tonight. She wasn’t a fucking prisoner, but she wasn’t fucking safe either. I pulled the blanket over me and closed my eyes.
The next morning, I woke up when I heard Diesel’s nails clicking down the hallway. I kept my eyes closed until her footsteps stopped and she gasped. The pillow to the face caught me off guard, and I smiled at the sound of her muttered, “Asshole.”
When the front door closed, I stood up and stretched my back. I was too fucking old to be sleeping on couches anymore. But it was clear I couldn’t trust her not to run.
I padded my way across the room and started breakfast. I was just setting the plates on the table when the door opened and Diesel rushed in, heading straight to the bowl I’d filled with his breakfast.
“Could you put some clothes on, please?” she grumbled.
I caught her hand and pulled her against my chest. “You don’t like my body?” I whispered in her ear. She shivered in my arms, and I knew anything other than yes was a bald-faced fucking lie.
Her hands rested on my pecs, while her eyes stared at the tattoos inked under her fingers. My dick stiffened, and when he made contact with her belly, she gasped.
“I told you I fucking wanted you.”
She pulled away and turned her back to me. “Get dressed,” she demanded. My smile was wide at her discomfort. I whistled my way down the hall and jumped in the shower.
My food would be cold by the time I was done, but I had more pressing matters. Namely, the hard-as-steel cock that rarely went down when Aspen was near.
If she thought putting jeans on would hide the bulge she’d caused, well, then she hadn’t been looking at me the way I wanted her to. If she had, she’d know exactly how I felt about her, and she would never again question whether or not I wanted her.
I came out of my room and found her sitting in the corner of the couch reading a book. She didn’t look up, and I frowned.
“I put your plate in the oven and set it to warm.”
“Thank you.”
I retrieved the plate and sat at the table, placing myself in a position to be able to watch her while she read.
“Are you planning to stare at me all day?” she asked, her eyes focused on the book in her hands.
“Are you planning on trying to run again?” I countered as I shoved a forkful of food into my mouth.
“I wasn’t running.”
“Bullshit.”
She slammed the book closed and turned to me. “You don’t get to call me names. Any names. No baby girl. And you certainly don’t get to call me a liar.”
“Then don’t lie to my face.”
She inhaled angrily. She was so fucking hot; I reached down to adjust myself. Her eyes widened, and she growled. I shouldn’t have laughed; I knew that. But I was so damn happy to see an emotion other than sadness and submission.
I wanted to see the girl who flipped off her brother. Who ignored his command and lived her life the way she wanted. I wanted that girl back. The one I first saw. The one that was happy. Carefree.
I wanted her to be happy.
Aspen slammed the book onto the couch and stomped to the door. “Come on, Diesel.” The two of them went outside, the door slamming behind her.
