Page 40 of Reckless

“What do you want?” He doesn’t stop advancing on me, and I have to step back to stop him from crashing into me. “Seb. What the hell?” I say, as his hands latch onto my hips and force me inside.

“What was he doing here?” he bites out.

I drop my arms down, breaking his grip on me as I stand there for second before turning and walking away unable to deal with the conflicting emotions waring inside me. He marches down the hall after me. Ranting about how I need to stay away from him and what was I thinking. Blah, blah.

Keeping my back to him, I pick up the first aid kit and place it back in the cupboard as he continues to hammer me with questions and accusations. Suddenly, he stops talking and I turn to face him. He’s standing in the middle of my kitchen, looking down at the spots of blood on the floor.

In an instant, he has my face gripped in his hands, eyes searching my face and looking me up and down for any sign of an injury. I bring my hands up to rest on his wrists, trying to pry them away. The touch of his skin on mine sends my body and mind into a spin. His gaze is so intense it makes my bones itch with the fire he ignites in me.

“What happened? Why is there blood on the floor? Jamie talk to me.”

Only I can’t. The words won’t come while his hands are on me. While he’s looking at me like the very thought of me being hurt, hurts him too. I go to speak but the words stutter out as I see the flash of gold in his eyes. He rubs his thumbs across my cheeks.

“I…er…it’s nothing.” I try to drop his gaze, but he holds my head in place. I swallow thickly. “I dropped a plate and cut my hand while I was clearing it up, that’s all.” I see the relief at my words, and his hold relaxes a fraction when he realises that I’m telling the truth.

Time seems to stand still as we stay looking into each other’s eyes. Then just as quick, the moment is broken.

“What was he doing here, Jamie?” He keeps his voice low, but the underlying tone is loud.

Anger flares inside me again. “None of your business, Seb.” My words are slow and gritted out between clenched teeth. I rip his hands away from my face, turning away from him. “You made your feelings perfectly clear the other night, so please, unless you have a reason to be here, I’d like for you to leave.”

“You’re wrong.” My heart stutters a beat as I think I was right about what I saw the other night. “Rick sent me.” And those three words fracture any illusions, any hopes, I had.

“Well, as you can see, I’m fine. I have work in a few hours, so if you don’t mind.” I give him a tight smile. The lie burns on the way past my lips, but I need him to leave.

“You’re a terrible liar, do you know that?”

“Yeah, well it takes one to know one.” I berate myself for letting him bait me into replying.

He steps into my space, and my body locks up as he reaches out a hand, snatching a handful of my hoodie and pulling me into his body.

“I’ll go. But don’t think you can hide from me forever, Firefly,” he says before slamming his mouth down on mine, trapping the air in my lungs. Coupled with his kiss and unique scent, which wraps around me, it doesn’t take long for me to become lightheaded. Just as I think I might pass out, he breaks the kiss. With nostrils flaring and eyes like liquid gold, he drops a kiss to my nose and then just walks away.

I want to scream. Scream so loud the whole damn city will hear me. Why is this man always walking away from me? Why do I let him?

Because you want him. Because you think you could love him.

“Piss off. What the fuck do you know? Stupid conscience.”

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