Loving War(60)

I realize she has no idea that she’s offending me, but it’s still pissing me off. She doesn’t have to do anything with him.

“Kode is grown man, and he’s not the one you’re marrying. Don’t you think it’d be a little odd to show him so much attention when you’re engaged to his brother? Especially given your history together?”

Why did I have to bring that up?

“It’s not like that, Tria. Kode had a thing for me, but he’s over that. My attention toward him is sisterly, not romantic. You know this. Dane certainly knows. But Kode is, well, he doesn’t have anyone besides me and the guys to look out for him. Their parents are great, but they don’t interfere in their lives. I’m good at meddling.”

I don’t know whether to scream at her for wanting to be there for him, or if I want to thank her for being such a good friend to him. This is all becoming a mess. I also want to thank her for acting as though his attraction toward her wasn’t as big a deal as I initially thought. That’s twice I’ve had that downplayed, so it makes me feel better.

“Rain, it’s not on you to fix Kode. Personally, I think you should trust that he has reasons for everything he does. Kode didn’t get this far in life and have the success he has because he’s reckless.”

I realize I’m essentially giving myself away right now, but I don’t care. It doesn’t feel right to hear her criticizing him, even though she’s only doing it out of love and concern.

“You sound very defensive. Considering what an ass he has been to you lately, I assumed you’d be very onboard with me trying to make him change.”

My smile forms without my permission. “People are who they are. They change how they act based on who they’re with. Kode might be different than even you know.”

Yeah, it’s a crappy jab at her, but I’m only human. And Kode is different with me than he is with anyone else. Not because I expect him to be different, but because we’re all different based on who we’re interacting with. I used to bring out the worst in him, but now I get to see a side of him that no one else does.

Kode’s car pulls up as Rain continues talking about his behavior toward me. She just doesn’t understand. No one does. Hell, even I don’t understand.

I stand at the window, watching him as Rain becomes forgotten. Dale and he are speaking, both of them looking rather confused. They weren’t gone a terribly long time, but I managed to get everything packed—since I was incredibly excited.

“Rain, I love you, but I’ve got to let you go right now.”

Kode waves at Dale before he heads toward the house, leaving his car in the driveway instead of pulling it into his spacious garage.

“Fine. Talk to you tomorrow.”

I hang up, put my phone on the windowsill, and just watch as Kode nears the door, my eyes inexplicably glued to him. His black T-shirt fits him just right—not too snug, but not too loose. His jeans hang in that way that has me biting my lower lip as he uses his sexy gait without knowledge.

The door opens, and Kode’s eyes immediately find me standing in the foyer. His smile slowly spreads, and I don’t waste time. Too much time has already been wasted.

I move to him, trying to be sexy, but I’m fairly positive I look too eager to be sexy. Fortunately, he doesn’t seem to mind. As soon as I reach him and tug him to me, his lips come down on mine hard.

I want to jump up and wrap my legs around him, but I know he’s hurt, so I rein in the urge. Instead, I start kissing him hungrily, letting him know this game is over.

“Missed you, too,” he murmurs against my lips, grinning salaciously when he realizes he just won. “And you look damn good in my shirt, baby.”

I can’t help but grin, and that just makes me kiss him harder. It’s a rough kiss, one that turns savage and loses all the romantic taste. We’re two sticks of dynamite right now, both of our fuses lit and burning toward an inevitable explosion.

He picks me up by my ass, and I forget about the fact he’s hurt—until he winces and grunts. Apparently he forgot, too.

I jump down, which forces the kiss to separate, and he grins sheepishly at me. “Looks like you’ll be on top,” he says, grinning bigger.

Trying my damnedest to look sexy, I start undoing the button on his jeans, making short work of the zipper next, as he backs me against the wall.

“Or we can fuck on the counter in the kitchen,” he says hoarsely as my lips start sliding down his neck.

We’re not far from the kitchen, barely out of the foyer.

As soon as his pants drop, I start pushing his black boxer-briefs down, taking only a second to appreciate how good they look hanging just below his hip bones.