Page 40 of Insatiable

Holy mother of God.

I grab my book and hold it tight in my grip as I let my gaze fall down his body.

He was lean before, but now? He’shuge. I let my eyes take in his powerful back, muscles upon muscles bunching as he pulls things out of his bag. His arms look different without a top on, like he could crush my skull with his bare hands. My lungs give up when he straightens and turns to me, flashing his abs, chest, that perfect V of muscle and happy trail.

Dark tattoos litter his tanned skin – ones he didn’t have before that cover older ones that had meaning for me. There are snakes. A lot of snakes. An hourglass with clock hands behind it covering what used to be a blooming rose he’d had done for me over his heart.

Despite that, he’s a work of art – he always has been, but the Kade I once rolled around in bed with and laughed with while watching our usual movie is even hotter than before.

“Yeah.”

And his legs? They could suffocate someone with their size. He has designs wrapping around one and distorted animals on the other. The ink vanishes up into his boxers, and I wonder if he has his—

“You done?”

My eyes quickly fall to my book, a blush creeping up my neck to my cheeks. “I was daydreaming. Don’t get any ideas that I’d waste my eyesight on you. And you can sleep on the floor.”

I can feel his anger. If he can talk to me like shit on the bottom of his shoe, I can do the same to him.

“Why would I?”

“Because I hate you,” I reply, deadpan. “I’m not sharing a bed with you.”

He knows I don’t mean it.

He chuckles, pulling on grey cotton shorts and grabbing his toothbrush and toothpaste. “For the record,” he starts, pausing as he starts brushing his teeth, “I’d rather set my balls on fire than share a bed with you.”

“Charming. Is that how you usually get the ladies into bed?”

“Nope. It comes naturally,” he says around the toothbrush. “You of all people should know the tricks of getting into people’s beds. What was it Tylar said? You’ve had plenty ofpracticelately.”

“Plenty.” I flip a page and fail to hold in my anger when I look up at him. “I’m seconds from smacking you, Kade. Either get into bed or fuck off.”

“This angry side of you doesn’t work. You’re as scary as a puppy.”

I scoff.

He washes his face, turns off the bathroom light then crosses his arms at the foot of the bed. After a few seconds, I feel his gaze on me, my skin heating as I attempt to not look back. “Problem?” I ask, keeping my eyes fixed on my book.

I flip three pages instead of one – completely unfocused.

“If I get in, do you promise not to grab my cock again?”

My gaze flies to him in horror as he walks to the other side and lowers himself onto the bed beside me.

“I need to answer work emails, and the last thing I need is an unwanted hard-on like last night.”

An aggravated groan is pulled from my throat as my eyes return to the book. He can claim it was unwanted all he wants, but I felt how hard he was and had his heavy breaths on my neck. He was all over my boob, for crying out loud. Nope, fuck him. He can have my silence, if only to keep him from issuing any more insults.

I swallow when he gets comfortable beside me. My silk shirt is buttoned to my neck, but the matching shorts mean my legs are bare, and my nerves catch fire as he leans forward.

“What are you reading?”

I shut the book. “Go away and stop distracting me.”

Kade smirks. “Do I distract you a lot, Freckles?”

“Stop calling me that.”

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